Definition
A tartar eraser is a hand-held instrument used in dentistry. It consists of a stainless steel shaft with a rubber tip containing crystals and is used to loosen light tartar deposits. The crystals of silicon carbide harden the rubber and create an abrasive effect that creates the roughness and strength to gently erase tartar.
What do you use them for?
The tartar eraser is designed to remove light tartar deposits and discoloration of teeth. The discolorations are caused by tea, coffee, nicotine or red wine and can lead to very unsightly yellowish and brownish teeth over a longer period of time. Berries and red fruits can also discolor the teeth. If these discolorations are not removed when fresh, stubborn veils remain on the teeth, which cannot be removed with a toothbrush. In this case, the tartar eraser can loosen the discolorations and even slight plaque deposits.
How is the calculus eraser used correctly?
The correct use of the tartar eraser always requires a certain amount of caution. The eraser should not be applied with excessive pressure or force, but should be guided over the tartar almost without pressure to remove it. Furthermore, the eraser should be used on the cleaned teeth and not directly after eating, because in this case the teeth are roughened by fruit acids or food and then more tooth substance can be removed.
The tartar eraser should not be used in combination with polishing pastes or a whitening toothpaste, as there is a risk of thinning the enamel and causing permanent damage to the teeth. The abrasive effect of the rubber is completely sufficient to remove light tartar deposits. The tartar eraser should support normal oral hygiene and is not intended as a substitute for regular tooth brushing.
What are the risks?
If the tartar eraser is used too vigorously or too frequently, the teeth can be damaged, because often not only is tartar minimized, but the enamel is also removed. The teeth can become sensitive to irritation and overreact to thermal stimuli such as cold and heat. In addition, if used incorrectly, the gums and soft tissues can be damaged, causing bleeding or the gums to retract due to the excessive pressure, leaving the tooth necks exposed.
Wounds in the oral cavity tend to become infected and inflamed due to the bacterial environment in saliva, which can lead to wound pain. Retracted gums, so-called recessions, are painful and produce an excessive sensation of cold, as the dentin, the soft dentin, is exposed and is no longer protected by the gums that were originally above it. There is also the risk of loosening already loose teeth even further by applying too much pressure and loosening the ligamentous apparatus.
In the worst case, these can fall out. The tartar eraser is not suitable for everyone. Patients with sensitive teeth and thin gums should not use the tartar eraser in order not to further weaken the gums and tooth structure.
Even periodontally pre-damaged teeth that show an increased degree of loosening are not suitable for use, as there is too great a risk of further increasing their loosening. Patients with limited ability to follow hygiene instructions, who are no longer able to use their fingers due to age or disability, should avoid the tartar eraser because of the increased risk of injury. Patients with genetic diseases of the tooth hard substances, such as Amelogenesis imperfecta and Dentinogenesis imperfecta, should not use the tartar remover, because the tooth hard substances are already damaged from the ground up by the malformations. Another contraindication is in the milk teeth of children, as the enamel layer of the milk teeth is much thinner and the teeth would therefore be easily damaged.
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