Have you ever pressed your tongue against the back of your teeth and felt a rough, scratchy texture? That’s tartar.

The back of your teeth should feel smooth and glossy when you rub your tongue against it. If it doesn’t feel smooth, it’s past time to schedule a deep cleaning with your dentist.

What is tartar? Well first, we’re not talking about the sauce that pairs well with seafood and french fries. In the dental world, tartar is a hard, calcified substance that forms when plaque is not properly removed on a regular basis.

So let’s talk about what happens when tartar forms, how you can prevent it, and how hydroxyapatite can help your teeth remain resilient against it.

what is tartar, and why is it bad?

Dental tartar is a bacteria-filled substance that forms when plaque hardens on your enamel. How does plaque harden? When it sits on your teeth for 24-72 hours. 

Yes, it’s that easy for tartar to form. That’s why a shocking 68% of adults have tartar...and why getting a deep clean from your dentist every six months is so important. Once this hardened substance bonds to your enamel, only dental professionals can remove it. They have special tools for this...because once tarter forms, brushing and flossing no longer cut it.

If tartar is left untreated, it can lead to long-term issues like bad breath, cavities, gum disease, and gum recession. To avoid this, we’re covering some of the main ways you can prevent tartar buildup...and even cultivate resilience in the event that you do get it.

best ways to prevent tartar buildup

Practicing diligent oral care is the best way to prevent tartar buildup. You can start with these holistic oral care recommendations.

• Brush your teeth twice a day with Davids (for two minutes). While all of our toothpastes contain premium micro-abrasives that break down and remove plaque, our toothpaste with hydroxyapatite also remineralizes your enamel from the inside out...creating another line of defense against tartar.
• Choose the best toothbrush for you, and replace it every three months. Check out our previous article; it’ll help you decide which toothbrush is right for you. Remember, you use your toothbrush every day, so bacteria can live on it. Be sure to keep it clean and replace it every three months.
• Floss at least once every day, ideally before bed. Flossing is extremely important because it cleans the 40% of your teeth’s surfaces that are missed during brushing. Bacteria love to live in the tiny crevices between your teeth, so removing them is essential in preventing plaque and tartar buildup.
• Scrape your tongue to remove excess bacteria. Bacteria also love to live on the cushy surface of your tongue. It’s porous and grooved, making it the perfect place for bad bacteria to flourish. Our tongue scraper (coming soon) is a one-handed, stainless steel device that smoothly removes bacteria from your tongue, making your mouth feel fresher than ever.
• Use a natural mouthwash at least once daily to enhance bacteria removal. Our natural mouthwash (coming soon) also contains hydroxyapatite. It’s alcohol-free and fortified with xylitol which helps to enhance saliva flow, fight bad bacteria, and stabilize the pH of your mouth.
• Visit your dentist for a deep cleaning and checkup every six months. Even if you don’t think you need it, a deep cleaning is always beneficial. You may have tartar buildup without even knowing it! 
• Eat a mouth-friendly diet. Did you know that fibrous fruits and vegetables can actually act as “exfoliants” for your teeth, breaking up plaque as you eat them? To read more about the importance of nutrition in dental health, check out our previous article written by Dr. Anu Isaac, DMD.
• Avoid harmful products like tobacco, alcohol, and excess sugar. All of these things actually feed bad bacteria by drying out your mouth and coating your teeth with starches and contribute to dental issues such as gum disease, cavities, and beyond. 

Now, let’s dive into the specifics of nano hydroxyapatite (n-HA) and how it can help your teeth build even more resilience against issues like tartar buildup.

building resilience against tartar with nano hydroxyapatite (n-HA)

Hydroxyapatite already exists in your tooth’s enamel; it actually makes up 97% of it! So when you brush regularly with hydroxyapatite toothpaste, the particles bind to your tooth’s surface, filling in any holes and imperfections that have been caused by bacteria and wear + tear. The nano hydroxyapatite particles penetrate your teeth, providing a mineral boost from the inside out.

In fact, our lab results proved that Davids Sensitive + Whitening Nano-Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste outperformed six leading competitors (Apagard Premio, Boka, Colgate Sensitive, Risewell, Sensodyne Pronamel, and Toms Sensitive). Our formula effectively remineralizes the tooth’s enamel better than the rest...check out the results for yourself!

When your enamel is strong and mineralized, it has an easier time “defending itself” when tartar forms. Adding hydroxyapatite toothpaste to your daily oral care routine is one of the easiest ways to build resilience against oral issues like tartar buildup, tooth sensitivity, and beyond.

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