Learn all about Hard Plaque and Can Tartar Break Off teeth?
Imagine that you are brushing your teeth or enjoying your meal, and suddenly your tooth chips away. Before panicking, you should know that there is a possibility that it is not your tooth chipping away.
The tooth enamel cannot just break off; it is the strongest tissue in our body. What you are mistaking for a broken tooth might actually be tartar breaking off teeth. Continue reading to learn why it happens and what you should do in case a big piece of tartar comes off your tooth.
What is Tartar?
Our mouth has bacteria, some good and some bad. Some of these harmful bacteria form a sticky film on the surface of our teeth. This sticky film, or plaque, thrives on the sugar and acids from whatever we eat or drink, which can lead to tooth decay.
Most common query we get at Smile 4ever Family Dentistry, located at Jester Blvd, is how to remove plaque from teeth? And we can easily tell you it’s maintaining your hygiene routine and regular visits to the dentist.
We can get rid of the plaque bacteria by sticking to our oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing help remove plaque, but it forms every day. Therefore, if we do not clean our teeth at least twice a day, it can damage our teeth.
Over time, plaque coming off teeth also hardens into tartar or dental calculus. Tartar is hard since it contains minerals present in saliva. Thus, only a dentist can remove tartar from our teeth. But, sometimes, tartar might start breaking off of teeth if you brush aggressively.
Is it Tartar Breaking off Teeth or a Chipped Tooth?
It is rare for the tooth enamel to chip away easily while we participate in day-to-day activities. Hence, the small tooth-like thing we feel in our mouth is usually not a tooth but tartar. Certain eating styles or brushing techniques can be responsible for the tartar breaking off teeth.
Many patients also report that a tartar chipped off tooth during routine activities like eating or brushing. In some cases, patients notice that tartar came off while flossing or that tartar broke off while flossing between teeth. While it may feel alarming, understanding what the broken piece looks like can help you determine whether it’s tartar or actual enamel.
What Does Tartar Look Like When It Breaks Off?
One can confirm its tartar by examining the broken piece. What does tartar look like when it breaks off? Tartar will be brown, dull yellow, and, sometimes, black in color. Moreover, it easily crumbles under pressure. Conversely, tooth enamel is strong enough that it does not break into pieces when we apply slight force.
Tooth enamel is far superior in strength and durability, even in decay form, to resemble tartar. Enamel crystals will not crumble in your finger, while tartar breaking off back of teeth can be easily crushed like rock salt or chalk.
Is Tartar Breaking Off a Good Sign?
Is tartar breaking off a good sign? No — it is never a good sign when tartar or plaque coming off teeth. It’s a sign of unhealthy gums, oral disease, and poor oral hygiene. Once this peak is reached, it’s followed by tooth movement due to excessive gum and supporting bone loss.
Understanding what happens when tartar breaks off teeth is important. When tartar detaches, it can leave behind a rough, exposed surface on the tooth or along the gumline. This exposed area is highly vulnerable to bacterial buildup and further decay. If left untreated, it can accelerate gum recession and bone loss around the affected tooth.
When a large piece of tartar broke off your teeth, try to save it and show it to your dentist immediately. Your dentist will take a look and advise accordingly, checking all aspects of tooth and gum health. They may advise you to get a deep oral cleaning and gum grafting surgery to preserve loss of attachment around the affected tooth.
It is never too late to save your teeth. Call us at Smile 4 Ever Family Dentistry to book an appointment.
What Should You Do When Tartar Breaks Off?
We cannot remove tartar at home; only a qualified and experienced dentist should be trusted to do so. Tartar breaking off teeth will leave a sharp spot behind. It might be tempting to break the leftover tartar by ourselves, but it can damage gums and teeth.
Thus, we should avoid removing the sharp tartar on our own. Instead, we must immediately inform our dentists and visit them for proper treatment. Dentists have professional equipment to remove tartar, and they can inspect the area as well.
Whether your tartar chipped off tooth during a meal or tartar breaking off back of teeth was noticed during brushing, the response should always be the same contact your dentist promptly and avoid trying to remove the remaining buildup yourself.
Preventing Tartar and Plaque Build-Up
The most important thing to understand is that everything is preventable, and it’s not the tooth breaking off. However, it can lead to a situation where an entire group of teeth are lost due to bone loss from tartar deposition.
It’s all about making lifestyle changes and adopting different habits from today onwards.
Brush twice a day, especially after meals, to remove maximum debris from your teeth. You can do a mouthwash routine before meals to feel fresh, but brushing can be done after meals.
Use a good water flosser or thread floss to clean in between those tight areas where food can become trapped and is difficult to reach with a brush. Regular flossing also helps you notice early if tartar came off while flossing, which is your signal to book a dental visit right away.
Rinse with a good recommended mouthwash for at least 30 to 45 seconds to get maximum effect of the chemicals that protect your teeth and gums. If you have no access to a mouthwash, use tap water with a pinch of salt to reduce the acidity caused by plaque and bacteria. Home remedies to keep teeth clean always help.
And most important of all, get a regular check and dental visit from your neighborhood dentist at Jester Blvd, Smile 4 Ever Family Dentistry.
Conclusion
Knowing your oral condition and adjusting your oral hygiene methods is the first step in preventing plaque and tartar buildup. If there is still some buildup that you cannot remove at home, visit the dentist and have it checked out.
Aggressive brushing and eating food in a specific way can result in tartar breaking off teeth. If you feel something chipping away from your teeth or notice tartar broke off while flossing schedule an appointment for deep cleaning with your dentist. Our experts at Smile 4 Ever Family Dentistry are here to help; just dial 281-213-5668 to schedule an appointment.