Tartar Buildup (photo)

[Isabelle3]

Does anyone else have issues with tartar building up on their DC's teeth? DS (16) seems to get a ribbon of yellow along the front and back of his lower teeth despite consistent brushing. He's not flossing though; maybe that would help? Every time we go to the dentist (NHS) she comments on the buildup saying he needs to brush better but never removes it. He's only had a few fillings so his brushing can't be that bad...

looks like he needs an electric toothbrush that shows him when he is actually doing it correctly, oral b do them.

Has he ever been to a hygienist?

Dd had something similar when she was about 7. Hers was caused by her top teeth falling out before her bottoms, so she couldn't bite hard food to dislodge it, plus covid meaning missed appointments. Nhs refused to remove it so.i got a private appointment and paid about £50.for a hygienist appointment. It hasn't come back.since though.

We've had this problem with our 7 yo. The dentist removed the build up and said it is probably down to dd using the incorrect head size of toothbrush (we have an oral-b electric). She now has a smaller brush and we floss for her.

I expect it is down to lack of brushing properly or long enough. I'd book a hygenist appointment to have it removed.

An electric toothbrush will help. I have very crooked teeth and it's impossible to even get interdental brushes between some of the front ones and hard to floss so I get a bit of this behind the bottom front ones and get a lecture of the dentist. Electric toothbrush has helped.

My hygienist just told me for behind the teeth the toothbrush wants to be pretty much touching the nose for it to be in the right position, and touching the chin to get the back of the top teeth. She also recommended TePe easypicks for getting between teeth.
The oral b io toothbrush has been recommended too.

No. I didn't realise this was a thing for children/teenagers. Will probably be useful as he'll be told how to clean his teeth properly. There's been no mention of cleaning between teeth so far but it sounds like he should be...

Did she cope ok with it? DS (although a lot older) hated the fillings he's had. Hopefully they can be gentle...

What kind of floss are you using and how often?

Is he concentrating on brushing those areas? Interdental brushes, floss and he needs to see a hygienist and they can help

I don't think he will be able to get that off himself now.

Our dentist has said that's a really common area to get a build up due to saliva pooling there at night. A hygienist will be able to get it off and advise on how to stop it building up again.

“He’s only had a few fillings” - he’s 16, he should have 0 fillings!!

He won’t be able to remove that himself. He’ll need a dentist or hygienist to remove it. They’ll likely use a little high pressure water thingy to blast it off, like cleaning a driveway. That’s called scaling. After that they should do a polish using a little thing that’s like a sander with minty polishing paste on it. His teeth should feel super smooth and clean after that.

Get him an electric toothbrush because it will clean his teeth far more effectively than a manual toothbrush. He also needs to start flossing.

I’ve had build up like this for a lot of my life. The best ways to decrease it occurring for me have been switching to an electric toothbrush, and seeing a dentist at least once but preferably twice a year for a check up and scale and polish. One time I had about 20 years worth to get removed. That was gross and chunky but holy heck my teeth felt amazing after it. Yes I use a private dentist and no I’m not in the UK.

He needs the hygienist and then an electric toothbrush.

It looks like he's not brushing low enough.

I just use normal string floss but my older dd prefers the floss sticks.

I followed the suggestion of @Hmmmmwineandchocs last night of holding the toothbrush upsize down touching my nose to clean my bottom teeth and they felt so clean afterwards(!)

Also here to say this. Your attitude to dental hygiene isn’t brilliant if you think only a few fillings at 16 is OK. I needed one filling at 23 and was devastated. I’m 34 and still only have that one.

He is not cleaning his teeth well enough if he is getting that build up. I would send him to the hygienist for a proper scale and polish and then get some disclosing tablets to show up what he’s really missing after brushing.

I have this issue with my 7 year old twins.

They use an electric toothbrush morning and night. Dentist refusing to remove it and said they won’t get teeth cleaned until they are 18!

I need to find a private hygienist but no idea where to look for one.

Any dentist should do, now they can do direct to hygienist appointments