In order to understand how tartar control toothpastes fight tartar buildup, it is important to understand the process which leads to tartar formation in the first place.
When someone eats food or ingests liquids, some organic material is often left between teeth or on their surfaces. Rinsing with mouthwash or brushing immediately after eating or drinking may reduce the amount of this material, but chances are there will always be some food residue on teeth, particularly sugar. Over time this residue will attract bacteria, which is always present in the human mouth. Once the bacteria begin to feed on the food residue, waste is produced in the form of acids. These acids and other waste materials are the basis for dental plaque.
Plaque at this stage is very tenacious, but a good brushing with a regular or flouridated toothpaste should remove most of it. Plaque that remains on the teeth will continue to excrete acids. These acids will begin to leech away the calcium and other minerals present in the enamel of teeth. This process is called demineralization, and is the root cause of cavities and fissures. Left unchecked, demineralization will eventually cause the enamel to rot away and expose the sensitive underlayers of the tooth. If the nerve which services the tooth becomes infected through exposure, a painful and expensive process called a root canal may have to be performed.
The other effect of demineralization leads to the formation of tartar. Plaque germs begin to chemically bond with the minerals removed by the waste acids. Saliva also become an unwitting partner in the process, providing a medium for growth. The mineralized plaque hardens on the teeth, above and below the gumline. This hardened substance is tartar, and can only be removed effectively by a dentist with a proper scraping tool. Tartar often discolors the teeth it affects, and no amount of brushing can remove the unattractive buildup. The tooth below the tartar may be perfectly healthy, but the tartar can make it appear to be diseased. Because tartar contains minerals and bonds so strongly to the enamel, there is no consumer-level product or process which can permanently remove it.
This is where tartar control toothpastes come in. Scientists working for the dental care industry discovered that tartar is the end result of a fairly complicated chemical process. Essentially, the acids created by plaque germs combine with the calcium in the tooth and the oxygen in the air to form a new chemical compound called calcium phosphate. Calcium phosphate will bond to the minerals remaining in the affected tooth and form a nearly-inpenetrable layer. As more and more plaque is formed and demineralization continues, more calcium phosphate molecules are added to the layer. Regular toothpastes containing fluoride can remove food particles and leave a protective layer of fluoride, but they cannot stop the chemical formation of calcium phosphate.
Tartar control toothpastes add an ingredient to the mix which literally fights fire with fire. Calcium phosphate, the base material of tartar, cannot be dissolved very easily through chemical mouthwashes or ordinary cleansers found in most toothpastes. Scientists discovered that another form of phosphate called soluble pyrophosphate could be introduced into the equation. This pyrophosphate can bond chemically with the calcium phosphate already being produced by the plaque germs. As the two phosphates bond, they form a compound which is soluble- meaning it can be dissolved in water. Soluble pyrophosphate cannot turn previous tartar deposits into dissolvable compounds, but it can prevent new deposits from permanently bonding to the tooth.
Tartar control toothpastes may also contain peroxides for whitening and flourides for cavity prevention. These are three separate chemical processes which work in combination. One caution has arisen over the use of soluble pyrophosphates in toothpastes, however. Some users may experience increases in tooth sensitivity after using tartar control toothpastes. The process which removes calcium phosphate may also remove some of the normal calcium found in teeth. The result is similar to the experiences others may have with bleaching agents such as hydrogen peroxide. Teeth may become more sensitive to heat and cold after treatment with soluble pyrophosphates. Most experiences with increased sensitivity are minor, but use of a tartar control toothpaste containing sodium pyrophosphate may have to be limited. Other natural alternatives do exist, so check the label before starting a tartar control regimen.
