Bruce J. LeBlanc, DDS

Patients visiting the dentist for cleaning and recare often have calcium tartar buildup on their teeth that can range for minimal to extensive. In the past it was thought that this was primarily an issue of a patient not cleaning properly but as dentists we often notice that some people seem to be more prone to this buildup no matter how well they clean. New research indicates that increased calcium buildup is a medical issue instead of a dental issue. In an effort to balance blood chemistry that may be off balance due to diet, it is believed the body shifts calcium from bone into the blood stream as a buffer to make it less acidic with excess deposited onto the surfaces of the teeth as seen in the picture below.