What is a calculus eraser?
A tartar eraser is comparable to an eraser rubber, it removes the tartar, but can only reduce light infestation. In general, the tartar eraser is helpful to remove slight discolorations on the teeth. In the case of massive plaque, there are no satisfactory results with this aid.
The tartar eraser is made of rubber, to which crystals of silicon carbide have been added to create an abrasive effect. It is important that it is applied without pressure and carefully so that the soft tissues are not damaged. If the gums bleed after application, they can easily become infected and develop inflammation.
How can I remove tartar myself?
In general, tartar cannot be removed on its own. In a mineralized, hard state, it is almost impossible for the patient to reduce this plaque by himself. The only thing the patient can do on his own is to remove the soft plaque as quickly as possible, if it is there, so that tartar does not form in the first place.
Tartar can only be removed effectively and gently without damaging the teeth in the dental practice with an ultrasonic device or with hand instruments such as scalers (tartar scrapers) and curettes. If the plaque is still soft and has not yet mineralized to tartar, it can be easily removed with a toothbrush and between the teeth with dental floss or interdental brushes.Electric toothbrushes with ultrasonic function, which clean plaque more effectively by means of high vibrations, offer a higher cleaning capability. There is no other way for the patient to act independently, as there is too great a risk of damaging the teeth and not removing tartar thoroughly enough.
To remove tartar, it is also possible to use home remedies if necessary. It is often advisable to “scrub away” the mineralized plaque with baking powder or baking soda using a toothbrush, but this variant is usually not very promising and the coarse-grained salts can damage the hard tooth substance. There is also the risk of damaging the gums with the grains, which can also become inflamed due to the mechanical irritation.
Therefore, this variant is not recommended. Another household remedy which is supposed to remove tartar is lemon and household vinegar. Both remedies are based on the acid contained in them, which is used to remove tartar by gargling alone or by placing an envelope soaked in the liquid on the affected area to dissolve the tartar.
However, the problem is that the acid also attacks the hard tooth substances such as enamel and dentin and can cause lasting damage. Therefore, this method is also not advisable. Preventive against tartar formation is the so-called oil extraction, which is becoming more and more popular.
Long-chain oils such as olive oil or coconut oil are kept in the mouth for a longer period of time and are supposed to reduce plaque formation sustainably. This variant of home remedies is not harmful, which is why it can be used, but it does not remove existing tartar. Sesame seeds can also be used without hesitation for the removal of tartar.
The person concerned should chew on twenty to thirty grains of sesame seeds, which will allow him/her to remove light deposits of tartar. The application can be carried out daily, but does not provide the desired success in case of severe tartar build-up. In the media there are some articles reporting about a positive effect of lemons in tartar removal.
The citric acid contained in lemons is said to dissolve tartar in the oral cavity due to the acid effect. However, the teeth are also strongly attacked and the enamel damaged, which is why this method is questionable. Strawberries, whose acid is also supposed to dissolve tartar, have a similar mechanism of action.
This household remedy is dangerous if the citric acid remains on the teeth for too long, then erosion occurs, which means that the acid simply dissolves the hard tooth substance. Baking powder consists of a coarse-grained salt, sodium dihydrogen carbonate, which has a strong abrasive effect when scrubbed with a toothbrush. These abrasions can reduce tartar, but they also erode the enamel and thus destroy the protective coating of the tooth.
A thorough and complete removal of tartar is not guaranteed by the application and tartar remains can be left unnoticed. This risk is aggravated by the fact that the areas that are more prone to tartar formation (the interdental spaces) are very difficult to reach. The critical areas are the front of the lower jaw and the first large molar in the upper jaw, since these are the sites where the excretory ducts of the large salivary glands are located and therefore the plaque can mineralize well. Without appropriate lighting and instruments, such as a dental hand mirror, the affected areas cannot be inspected well enough to remove the plaque completely.
