What is tartar?

What is tartar?

 

Calculus or tartar is a deposit that forms on teeth. It is composed of plaque and food debris that have been left on the teeth for an extended period of time and has become hardened by the deposition of other mineral salts. Once calculus forms in the mouth, it cannot be removed without the assistance of a dentist to scrape it off. Calculus can contribute to weakened gum health, bleeding when brushing, and can even lead to gum disease. It also creates a space under the gumline where bacteria can accumulate.

 

The best way to prevent calculus buildup is to brush your teeth at least twice a day, use dental floss or an interdental brush to clean between your teeth, and visit your dentist every six months for a professional cleaning to remove any tartar or plaque.

 

How to use dental floss:

 

To use, pull out about 1 foot of dental floss. Wind the ends of the floss around the middle fingers of each hand, leaving about 1-2 inches of floss between them. Hold the floss tightly between the thumbs and index fingers. Gently insert the floss between the teeth using a back-and-forth motion. Curve the floss around each tooth and slide it up and down the sides of the tooth, making sure to go below the gumline. Use a clean section of floss as you move from tooth to tooth.

 

Oral cavity cancer

 

The oral cavity is composed of various tissues/organs, including the lips, cheeks, hard palate, tongue, and sublingual tissues. All types of tissues/organs in the oral cavity can develop cancer, and the cancer that develops has similar characteristics, including the type of cancer cells, staging, symptoms, and treatment methods. Therefore, all cancers of the oral cavity are classified as the same type of cancer and referred to as oral cancer. Oral cavity cancer accounts for 3-5% of all cancers that occur in the body and is a common cancer in Thailand, affecting 1 in 10 men and women. It is a cancer that mostly affects adults over the age of 40.

 

What is oral cavity cancer?

 

Oral cavity cancer is a type of head and neck cancer. Approximately 90-95% of oral cavity cancers are squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Other types of oral cavity cancers, such as adenocarcinoma or salivary gland cancer, are rare. Therefore, this article only discusses SCC oral cavity cancer.