Calculus Bridge: Causes, Risks & How to Remove It

Calculus Bridge: Causes, Risks & How to Remove It. After eating, do you brush your teeth right away? If not, you might notice a thin, sticky film that begins coating your teeth. It’s called plaque, and if it’s not removed through brushing and flossing, it can harden into tartar, also called calculus.

It can coat multiple teeth, forming a calculus bridge. You’ll need to visit your dentist’s office to have that hardened calculus removed so it doesn’t affect the health of your teeth and gums.

What is Calculus Bridge?

 In dental health, the term “calculus bridge” might seem unusual, but it refers to a common and important problem. Calculus, or tartar, is a hard buildup on teeth that comes from plaque. Unlike soft, sticky plaque that you can brush off, calculus is a tough, mineral deposit that sticks firmly to your teeth. In this article, we’ll explain what calculus bridge is, what causes it, and how to remove it to keep your teeth healthy.

Types of Calculus Bridge

Supra-gingival

This type of calculus bridge develops above the gum along the gum line, commonly found on the bottom incisors and top molars. This tan or yellow calculus is pretty easy to spot.

Sub-gingival

It is formed between the teeth and gums and is most prominent under the gum. It’s not easy to find this type of calculus bridge, and it requires a dental instrument to detect it. It has a dark color caused by the black-pigmented bacteria.

Symptoms 

Calculus is a visible deposit on a tooth. Over time, calculus deposits can spread to other teeth and the spaces between them, forming calculus bridges. These formations can also come with additional side effects.  

Calculus Symptoms

Calculus buildup typically forms in areas hard to reach with a toothbrush and clean, such as surfaces in between teeth or at or below the gum line. These clay-like buildups range in color from white or light yellow to dark brown or black. Tartar tends to be lighter in earlier stages, darkening the longer it remains.

Advanced Symptoms

Without treatment, calculus continues to build and advance. This can develop into a calculus bridge—deposits that stretch across multiple teeth, filling the spaces separating them. They typically form close to the gum line and can spread below it. The bridges are often darker-colored tan, brown, or black.

Side Effects

If you have a calculus bridge, you may experience symptoms in addition to a change in the appearance of your teeth. Halitosis (chronic bad breath) is a common symptom. Having calculus can also lead to gingivitis (gum disease). This causes inflamed or bleeding gums.

What Causes a Calculus Bridge? 

Calculus Bridge: Causes, Risks & How to Remove It. Naturally occurring bacteria in your mouth consume sugars and carbohydrates from food and drink. Eventually, the bacteria form plaque, a pale yellow or transparent biofilm. Calculus occurs when plaque hardens and calcifies to form hard deposits. These deposits consist of calcium, bacteria, and organic matter from the mouth. 

Saliva also contains several minerals, like calcium and phosphate, that can contribute to calculus formation. For this reason, teeth located near salivary ducts, such as the backside of the lower front teeth, are at a higher risk for calculus formation.

Brushing, flossing, and good oral hygiene can remove plaque but not calculus. If you don’t remove plaque, it takes 1-14 to harden.  Poor or inadequate oral hygiene, like not brushing your teeth daily, allows plaque to harden and form calculus. As calculus deposits continue to form, they will eventually connect into bridges between and across the teeth.

Causes of Calculus Bridge

Calculus Bridge occurs when plaque, a soft, sticky film of bacteria and food particles, isn’t removed through regular brushing and flossing. Over time, the minerals in saliva combine with the plaque, hardening it into calculus. Here are the main causes of a calculus bridge:

1. Poor Oral Hygiene: Inadequate brushing and flossing allow plaque to accumulate and harden into calculus. If left untreated, the calculus can grow and spread across multiple teeth, forming a bridge.
2. Irregular Dental Visits: Skipping regular dental cleanings means that existing plaque and calculus are not professionally removed, increasing the risk of larger deposits forming.
3. Diet: A diet high in sugary or starchy foods can increase plaque production, as the bacteria in your mouth feed on these sugars and create acids that lead to more plaque formation.
4. Dry Mouth: Saliva helps wash away food particles and neutralizes acids produced by bacteria. A dry mouth, often caused by certain medications or medical conditions, can contribute to more plaque buildup and, eventually, calculus formation.
5. Smoking: Tobacco use is associated with higher rates of plaque and calculus buildup, as well as a greater risk of gum disease.
6. Crowded or Misaligned Teeth: Teeth that are crowded or not properly aligned can be harder to clean effectively, allowing plaque to accumulate in hard-to-reach areas.

Once a calculus bridge has formed, it cannot be removed by brushing or flossing and requires professional cleaning by a dentist. If left untreated, it can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and other oral health problems.

Side effects of a calculus bridge

A solid layer of calculus on your teeth may have a noticeable appearance. A dental calculus bridge can also lead to these conditions:

Halitosis

Plaque and a buildup of tartar can make your breath smell, too. This is a condition known as halitosis.

Gingivitis

Your gums may become red or inflamed. You may first notice it when you experience some bleeding when you brush or floss your teeth. If left untreated, it can progress to a more serious form of gum disease called periodontitis.

Receding gums

Receding gums are also a type of periodontal disease. Your gums may begin to recede from your teeth, exposing more of your teeth and allowing bacteria to creep into the gaps between your gums and your teeth.

Cavities

The tartar that builds up on your teeth can shield bacteria from your toothbrush. Plaque and tartar can also cause tiny holes to form in the enamel on your teeth, allowing bacteria and acid to seep down into the tooth and cause cavities to develop.

Tooth loss

If dental calculus goes untreated, it can cause gum disease that can eventually lead to the loss of one or more teeth.

Calculus bridge removal

Once the calculus bridge has formed on your teeth, it’s not possible to remove it with bruising. You’ll need to visit your nearest dentist or dental hygienist for professional teeth cleaning, which removes all or most of the calcified plaque.

A calculus bridge that has reached down the gumline cannot be addressed with just professional cleaning. A dental hygienist will use a dental scaler to scrape the plaque and tartar around your gumline.

Next, the areas of root surfaces are smoothed out with a process called root planing.

How to prevent a calculus bridge

ADA recommends following these oral hygiene practices to keep your mouth healthy and free from tartar:

• Brush daily twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, and see if it also contains triclosan. A using tartar-control toothpaste can also help prevent tartar buildup that causes calculus bridge formation.
• Use dental floss to clean your teeth.
• Cut down the intake of sugary and starchy foods.
• Visit your dentist regularly for checkups.

Do you have any questions regarding the calculus bridge, or would you like to schedule an appointment for teeth cleaning? Feel free to visit or contact your Lake Elsinore dentist.

Calculus Bridge: 5 FAQs