Bacteria will naturally begin to coat your teeth once you eat. The bacterial film is known as plaque, which is sometimes hard to notice. It can slowly harden into tartar if you fail to clean your teeth by brushing. Over time, tartar can form a calculus bridge by covering several teeth. A calculus bridge is challenging to clear through routine brushing. Your dental expert can safely remove the calculus bridge once it develops. You can prevent a calculus bridge through consistent dental care and professional dental cleanings.
Understanding Calculus Bridge
A calculus bridge refers to tartar, a calcified and hard deposit that develops on your teeth because of dental plaque buildup. Plaque is a colorless and soft film of bacteria that forms on the gums and teeth. It can harden or mineralize over time if you fail to remove it through regular brushing and flossing. Mineralization can happen because of phosphate and calcium present in saliva. This mineralization will turn plaque into a rigid substance called calculus. Calculus can develop below and above the gum line. Supragingival calculus often develops on the outer surfaces of the teeth and is visible above the gum line. This can occur particularly near the salivary glands. On the other hand, subgingival calculus develops beneath the gum line and can be hard to detect and remove. Calculus can affect the aesthetics of your smile and can cause various dental issues, including bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease.
Causes Of Calculus Bridge
You can have a calculus bridge when plaque, a sticky, soft coating of bacteria and food particles, is not cleaned up through routine brushing and flossing. Over time, plaque combines with minerals in saliva, hardening it into calculus. The following are the significant causes of calculus bridge:
Misaligned or Crowded Teeth
It can be hard for you to brush your teeth if they are not properly aligned or are crowded. Plaque and tartar often develop faster in areas that the toothbrush cannot reach.
Smoking
A calculus bridge can develop on your teeth if you use tobacco for a long time. You also risk suffering from gum disease.
Dry Mouth
Saliva plays a significant role in the mouth because it removes food particles between the teeth and neutralizes acids produced by bacteria. A dry mouth can be caused by certain medical conditions and medications, which can lead to the development of plaque and calculus bridge formation.
Diet
A diet rich in starch and sugar can lead to plaque buildup because bacteria in the mouth often feed on the sugars, producing acids that can cause the spread of plaque.
Genetic Factors
A calculus bridge can easily develop on your teeth because of genetic predispositions related to saliva composition or tooth structure.
Skipping Dental Visits
Plaque and calculus will not be professionally removed if you skip regular dental cleanings. This can lead to the formation of larger plaque and calculus deposits.
Poor Oral Hygiene
Poor brushing and flossing can cause plaque accumulation, and the resulting tartar can develop into a calculus bridge. The tartar can grow and spread to other teeth if not removed.
Side Effects Of A Calculus Bridge
You can suffer various adverse effects on oral health because of a calculus bridge, especially if it is not treated quickly. The following are some of the potential side effects you can experience:
Tooth Sensitivity
Exposed tooth roots and gum recession caused by calculus can enhance teeth sensitivity to cold, hot, and sweet stimuli.
Increased Risk Of Systemic Health Problems
Chronic gum disease related to calculus development has been linked to a high risk of systemic health issues, including diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory problems. Bacteria in the gums can enter the bloodstream and affect your overall health.
Aesthetic Issues
A calculus bridge is often brown or yellow, which can be unsightly and affect the aesthetic of your smile and teeth. Your teeth can also appear larger than normal because of gum recession.
Tooth Mobility
You can lose bone support around your teeth because of advanced gum disease caused by a calculus bridge. As a result, your teeth can become loose and, in severe cases, lead to tooth loss.
Receding Gums
Because of a calculus bridge, your gums could start pulling away from the teeth, leading to gum recession. If this happens, the roots of the teeth will be exposed, making them susceptible to decay and sensitivity.
Tooth Decay
Calculus can trap food particles and bacteria against your teeth, increasing the risk of dental cavities. The hardened calculus can also make it challenging to clean your teeth properly, enhancing tooth decay.
Bad Breath or Halitosis
Calculus development harbors bacteria that produce a bad smell, which can lead to continuous bad breath. You could experience bad breath even if you observe routine brushing and use of mouthwash.
Gingivitis And Periodontitis
Gingivitis is the initial stage of gum disease, characterized by swollen, red, and bleeding gums. You can suffer inflammation because of the irritation of the gum tissue caused by a calculus bridge.
You could suffer from periodontitis if gingivitis is not addressed. Periodontitis is an advanced stage of gingivitis. This condition can damage your oral tissues and bones, which anchor your teeth, eventually causing tooth loss.
Treatment For Calculus Bridge
A dental expert can help remove a calculus bridge because it is hard to remove hardened tartar through normal brushing and flossing. The following are the ways of eliminating calculus bridge on your teeth:
Antibiotic Therapy
Your dental expert can recommend antibiotics to help control bacterial infection if you have suffered severe gum disease linked with calculus bridges. You can also apply antibiotic rinses or gel to the periodontal pockets directly. Antibiotics are used to lower inflammation and bacteria, enhancing the effectiveness of scaling and root planing.
Laser Therapy
Your dentist can use laser therapy to remove calculus and treat gum disease. The purpose of the laser is to remove calculus, disinfect the periodontal pockets, and enhance tissue regeneration. Unlike traditional methods, this procedure is less invasive, more comfortable, and has a quicker recovery.
Gingival Curettage
Gingival curettage involves scraping away the inflamed and diseased gum tissue lining the periodontal pocket. The dentist can recommend this procedure to remove bacteria and enhance the recovery of your gum tissue.
Root Planing
Root planing is done together with scaling because it is a deeper cleaning procedure. Your dentist will remove the calculus and smooth the root surfaces of your teeth. The dentist can do this to prevent future plaque and calculus development and to enhance gum reattachment. Root planing often stops the progression of gum disease and reduces gum inflammation.
Dental Scaling
Dental scaling involves the removal of tartar, whereby a dental expert uses specialized tools like ultrasonic instruments and hand scalers to carefully remove the hardened tartar from below and above the gumline. An ultrasonic scaler uses high-frequency vibrations to break up the calculus, while a water spray is used to rinse the area.
Follow-Up And Maintenance
Your dental expert can ask you to make regular follow-up visits and professional cleanings after removing the calculus bridge. A dentist can do this to prevent recurrence. After a calculus bridge removal, the dentist can also prescribe special dental care products.
Improved dental hygiene practices like thorough brushing, flossing, and antimicrobial mouthwash are essential to prevent future calculus bridge development.
Your dentist could book you for surgical interventions like bone grafting or flap surgery if you have suffered from advanced gum disease. However, you can only undergo these procedures if non-surgical treatments are insufficient.
Prevention Of Calculus Bridge
You can use the following ways to prevent the formation of a calculus bridge:
- Professional Advice — Your dental expert will advise you on tailored prevention methods and treatment options.
- Appropriate Home Care — Use interdental brushes or water flossers to clean between your teeth and along the gumline, following your dentist’s guidance.
- Smoking Cessation — Stop smoking because the use of tobacco can cause plaque buildup and calculus bridge formation.
- Healthy Diet — Eat a healthy diet with less starch and sugary foods, which can cause plaque buildup.
- Regular Dental Visits — Visit your dentist frequently for dental check-ups and cleanings to remove calculus deposits and monitor your dental health.
- Proper Oral Hygiene — Brush your teeth twice daily with fluoride-rich toothpaste and floss to remove plaque and prevent it from mineralizing into calculus.
The Difference Between Calculus And Dental Plaque
Plaque is a sticky coat that forms on your teeth, making your teeth feel fuzzy. It contains bacteria that produce acid that can damage your teeth's enamel. Developing plaque on your teeth is a natural result of eating. However, you can remove plaque on your own. The coating of plaque and bacteria can be cleared by brushing and flossing.
On the other hand, plaque can become a big problem if it turns into something else. If untreated, plaque will harden into calculus, or tartar. You cannot eliminate calcified plaque because it sticks to your teeth and causes tooth decay. It also irritates your gums, leading to gum disease.
Calculus forms at different rates in people. It can take a day for plaque to calcify in some cases. According to the dentists, 60% to 90% of the plaque that forms on your teeth will turn into calculus after 12 days. However, it can take several weeks for calculus to form and spread to other teeth.
Importance Of Regular Dental Check-Ups For Preventing Calculus Bridges
Regular dental checkups are vital because they help prevent the development of calculus bridges. Plaque will be detected early and removed before it hardens into calculus. Your dental expert will provide personalized advice on maintaining oral hygiene during the visit. A dentist will also identify any area susceptible to tartar formation. The following are the main reasons why regular dental checkups are vital:
- Preventing Gum Disease — Dental check-ups help prevent periodontitis and gingivitis by preventing calculus bridge formation early. Periodontitis and gingivitis can cause more serious dental problems.
- Personalized Oral Care Guidance — Regular dental checkups will enable your dental expert to offer advice tailored to your needs, like brushing and flossing techniques to target specific areas.
- Monitoring Gum Health — Your dental expert will evaluate the health of your gums and handle problems like inflammation that can lead to calculus bridge development.
- Professional Cleaning — Regular teeth cleaning will eliminate any tartar deposits, which cannot be removed using regular brushing and flossing.
- Early Detection Of Plaque And Tartar — Your dental expert can easily establish plaque and tartar formation in its early stages, preventing it from turning into a calculus bridge.
Home Remedies For Controlling Calculus Bridge
Some of the at-home remedies for controlling calculus bridge include:
Use Of Guava Fruit
Guava is an anti-plaque fruit that plays a significant role in keeping gums healthy. It can relieve swollen and painful gums that are irritated by tartar. You can cut unripe guava into small pieces, add a little salt, and chew on it once or twice daily. Additionally, you can wash guava leaves, chew them, leave them for two minutes daily, and spit them out.
Use Of Coconut Oil
Oral practice of oil pulling involves swishing coconut oil in your mouth for five to twenty minutes daily. Coconut oil is an antibacterial and antioxidant that can combat the bacteria in your mouth that cause plaque and tartar formation. Pour one teaspoon of warm liquid coconut oil into your mouth and swish, forcing it into the gaps of your teeth. Spit it out on a towel and throw it in the waste bin because spitting into the sink can block the drainage pipe. Brush your teeth after oil pulling.
Eating Spicy Foods
Consuming hot and spicy foods containing chili peppers can increase saliva production in your mouth. Saliva washes away food particles and bacteria between your teeth, preventing plaque from mineralizing and turning into tartar.
Eating Sesame Seeds
Sesame seeds have high levels of calcium, a mineral vital for healthy teeth, and thus can strengthen your enamel. You can eliminate plaque when you chew sesame seeds. Dentists recommend that you chew sesame seeds every morning. Use a dry toothbrush to move the mush over the gums and teeth. You should do this for at least two minutes, then rinse with warm water.
Find a Dependable Dentist Near Me
If you brush and floss your teeth regularly, you can prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar. This means that you can prevent the formation of a calculus bridge that requires professional removal by a dentist. At Lasting Impressions Dental Spa, we have experienced dentists who can monitor your teeth to prevent calculus bridge formation. If you already have hardened tartar on your teeth, our dentists can recommend appropriate tartar removal strategies. Call us today at 818-751-5100 for reliable dental services in Encino, CA.
