When you have a calculus bridge, you may be able to see that you have a band of staining near your gum line. That discoloration might extend up your teeth, down under your gums or both.

Since removing a calculus bridge is an involved and potentially unpleasant process, you probably want to do what you can to avoid one. Dental experts have a few specific steps they recommend here.

Calculus, also known as tartar, is a buildup of hardened plaque on teeth. It can form a bridge along teeth as the buildup accumulates. Yell Business, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Dental calculus, commonly known as tartar, affects most adults and tends to worsen with age. When not properly removed, it can progress into a calculus bridge, which increases your risk of ...

Calculus, or tartar, is a hardened substance that forms on teeth. A calculus bridge occurs when this calculus stretches across multiple teeth or fills in the gaps between them. It develops because ...