Tartar problem..?!

Tartar problem..?

hi ,
i went to the pediodontist recently and was diagonised with a gum diesease "tartar".i always have taken care of my teeth..and i don't understand why it happened.can anyone tell me whether "tartar" is a "common problem "or it happens rarely to few people.

How tartar forms:

It starts out as a sticky, white, soft film of germs you see on your teeth after eating. That stuff is called plaque.

If you don't clean off the plaque promptly through brushing and flossing, after about 12 hours the soft plaque starts to turn hard and crusty from the calcium that is in your saliva.

Once the plaque hardens into tartar, it is impossible to brush off. You will have to have a dentist or hygienist scrape it off for you during your next regular cleaning. And if you got tartar below your gumline, you will need scaling and root planing or periodontal surgery depending on the severity.

So the trick to preventing tartar buildup is to brush and floss off the sticky plaque while it's still soft. That's why dentists want you to brush at least 2x a day, definitely before bed, and after each meal if possible.

And yes, tartar accumulation is common, but easily avoidable with good home care and by going to regular cleanings every 6 months for the professionals to pick off anything you missed.

Hope this helps.