Tartar (redirected from tartar scraper)

tartar or argol (är`gəl), impure potassium hydrogen tartrate deposited as a crust in fermenting vessels during wine making. When purified, it yields cream of tartar. Tartar is the chief natural source of tartaric acid.

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Tatar

 or Tartar

Any member of the Turkic-speaking peoples who today live mainly in west-central Russia east to the Ural Mountains, in Kazakhstan, and in western Siberia. They first appeared as nomadic tribes in northeastern Mongolia in the 5th century. Some joined the armies of Genghis Khan. Especially identified with the Golden Horde, they were converted to Islam in the 14th century. The Golden Horde soon became independent Tatar khanates (see khan). Their economy was based on mixed farming and herding, which remain central to their economy. They developed craftsmanship in wood, ceramics, leather, cloth, and metal and have been well known as traders. Today there are about six million Tatars in all regions; they constitute about half the population of the Russian republic of Tatarstan. See also Tatar language.

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tartar

1. Dentistry a hard crusty deposit on the teeth, consisting of food, cellular debris, and mineral salts

2. a brownish-red substance consisting mainly of potassium hydrogen tartrate, present in grape juice and deposited during the fermentation of wine

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tartar [′tärd·ər]

(medicine)

dental calculi

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Tartar 

solid deposits on the teeth of organic bases and salts (predominantly calcium phosphate) that have an irritating effect on the gums. Tartar appears on the necks of the teeth, but may also cover a considerable part of the crowns and roots; tartar can be deposited on dental prostheses when they are not cared for properly. Tartar forms when teeth are not cleaned sufficiently, fostering settlement on them of dental plaque (mucus, desquamated epithelium, microbes, food, and so on), which is then permeated with calcium salts that precipitate from the saliva. Tartar should be removed by a dentist to avoid gingivitis. It can be prevented by the normal act of chewing, the conscientious care of the teeth, and periodic examination by a stomatologist.