Don’t you wish you had the perfect crisp white smile? You’re not alone. Most people in the UK want to change their smiles in some way – with a staggering one-quarter hating their current smile. Reasons vary from misalignment, yellowing, and an accumulation of tartar.
In fact, a buildup of tartar is extremely common. This accumulation is visible every time you smile. No glistening white teeth. Just a buildup of plaque and dead bacteria.
Unfortunately, removing this tartar isn’t as simple as brushing and flossing. Most people turn to their dentists for thorough scaling and root planing. That raises the question of how to remove tartar from teeth without a dentist. Let’s find out.
What is Tartar?
Tartar, or dental calculus, is hardened plaque. Whenever you eat or drink, a layer of plaque begins to form over your teeth. If you don’t brush or floss to remove this plaque, it gradually accumulates and hardens.
Tartar is comprised of dead bacteria and other buildup that has mineralised. Calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, and magnesium phosphate are the most common minerals in tartar. They give it a hardened, tough appearance and prevent it from being removed by conventional oral hygiene, e.g., brushing or flossing.
Usually, tartar is yellow, brown, or black in appearance. It tends to accumulate near the gumline and between teeth, which most people’s brushing efforts ignore. Over time, it will continue to grow, becoming more and more prominent.
What is Plaque?
So, tartar starts out as plaque. But what is plaque? Well, unlike tartar, it’s completely colourless. It’s made up of a sticky film of bacteria that forms over your teeth, extending both above and below your gumline.
Often, especially when you haven’t brushed your teeth, you can feel the plaque by running your tongue over your teeth. You might feel a fuzzy, bumpy layer. That’s plaque.
Bacteria are a normal part of your mouth. Whenever you eat food, the bacteria in your mouth kickstart the digestive process. Carbohydrates are partly broken down into sugars, which stick to your teeth, forming a mildly acidic film.
Plaque is relatively easy to remove with a consistent brushing and flossing regime. However, if your oral hygiene isn’t on point, the plaque will gradually turn into tartar.
How Does Tartar Form?
Like any form of mineralisation, tartar forms layer by layer. As the film of plaque grows, the bacteria begin to die, accumulating on the surface of the teeth. These bacteria become mineralised, as protein and other minerals from your saliva cause the dead bacteria to harden.
As mentioned, tartar is formed of three minerals:
1. Calcium phosphate.
2. Calcium carbonate.
3. Magnesium phosphate.
Of course, tartar formation is more than just not brushing and flossing thoroughly. Several risk factors accelerate the development of plaque and tartar, including:
· Not brushing or flossing enough (at least twice a day for brushing and once for flossing)
· Frequently consuming sugary foods and drinks, like bread, pasta, and soda
· Smoking or using tobacco products
· Wearing braces
· Experiencing dry mouth (xerostomia)
Why Is Tartar Dangerous?
Symptoms of Tartar
The most obvious consequence of tartar is your appearance. The yellow or brown stains on your teeth harm the natural appearance of your smile. It can seriously damage your overall look – especially when you smile.
The symptoms of tartar also include:
· Stained teeth (yellow, brown, or black)
· Bad breath (halitosis)
· Gingivitis (red, swollen, or bleeding gums)
· Hard, crusty coating on teeth
As the tartar hardens above and below the gumline, it can create small pockets where bacteria and food debris can accumulate. This is the primary reason for halitosis and a bad taste in your mouth. However, standard brushing and flossing won’t reach these cavities anymore.
If left untreated, the symptoms can worsen, becoming periodontal disease. You can risk your long-term oral health if the plaque isn’t removed.
Complications of Tartar
Tartar results from poor oral hygiene and lifestyle choices that increase the accumulation of bacteria and plaque. Naturally, this also affects your overall oral health. People with tartar are more likely to experience:
· Gingivitis or gum disease. Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums. Your gums may appear slightly swollen and bleed after brushing or flossing. The inflammation increases the development of cavities and increases the risk of tooth loss.
· Gum recession. The hard tartar pushes the gum away from the tooth. Gradually, the gum begins to recede, exposing the tooth roots to the air. This is extremely serious – as the exposed roots further increase the risk of gingivitis, tooth decay, and eventual loss.
· Cavities. Tooth decay or caries are damaged areas in the hard surface of your teeth. Here, food, bacteria, and acid degrade the tooth, damaging the outer layer (enamel). Over time, the cavities penetrate into the tooth pulp, leading to pain, infection, and even tooth loss.
Both gingivitis and gum recession can be fixed if the tartar is removed. With excellent oral hygiene, you can restore your smile and enjoy a complication-free future. However, if cavities appear and grow, then inevitably, you will struggle with pain and infection. Often, people require expensive procedures like a root canal or filling. The only solution is to remove the tartar before this occurs.
How to Prevent Tartar Accumulation?
Prevention is far better than the cure. Rather than trying to remove tartar from your teeth without a dentist, maintaining excellent oral hygiene will stop its accumulation in the first place. Some sensible tips include:
Brush Regularly
There’s no substitute for brushing your teeth. Most dentists recommend that you brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes. Use fluoride toothpaste to ensure you clean hard-to-reach locations.
Remember, tartar builds up wherever you struggle to clean. So, brush your back teeth and get between the gaps.
We recommend using a brush with soft bristles that won’t damage your gums. These toothbrushes let you apply a reasonable amount of pressure and are small enough to reach your rear molars.
Use a Sonic Electric Toothbrush
A sonic electric toothbrush is the gold standard for oral hygiene. Take the Oclean X Pro Elite Sonic Toothbrush, for example. Using a Maglev motor, this toothbrush achieves 84,000 movements per minute, allowing you to remove all the built-up bacteria and debris without applying too much pressure.
Plus, the sonic toothbrush comes with a helpful smart screening, informing you where you’ve cleaned, how long you’ve spent, and your overall brushing score. It’s perfect for ensuring an even, effective clean.
Floss and Rinse
Flossing is often neglected by most people. They’ll brush for a few minutes, but flossing is just too much of a chore. That’s a mistake.
No matter how well you brush, you can never reach between your teeth. Flossing is the only solution to remove the plaque between your teeth and prevent tartar formation. As before, you’ll want to floss your rear molars as well.
After you’ve flossed, rinse your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash to kill any remaining bacteria. It’s a comprehensive approach to oral hygiene.
Watch Your Diet
Your diet massively impacts the rate of tartar formation. Eating a diet full of sugary, carbohydrate-rich foods fuels the growth of bacteria. As the bacteria grow, plaque forms, leading inevitably to tartar. Moreover, these foods are often acidic, further irritating your gums and contributing to cavities.
Avoid these sugary, starchy foods. Instead, opt for a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains. Oh, and wash your mouth with water during and after meals to prevent food debris from getting stuck.
Stop Smoking
Don’t smoke. Smoking leads to tartar formation via its impact on saliva production and your overall oral environment. The more you smoke, the less saliva you produce. Saliva helps wash away the food particles, neutralise acid, and prevent bacterial buildup.
Furthermore, the chemicals in tobacco smoke promote the accumulation of plaque and its hardening into tartar. Nicotine also stains your teeth, worsening your overall smile. Alongside the increased risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease, it’s just not worth the hassle.
How to Remove Tartar from Teeth Without a Dentist
Some people claim that tartar can only be removed by a dentist. This isn’t true. While tartar is extremely hard, if not impossible, to remove via brushing and flossing, several home remedies are effective. Often, these remedies try to soften or loosen the tartar so that it naturally falls away.
Note. If you notice a sharp piece of tartar has fallen from your tooth, always speak to a dentist. You might have chipped your tooth. It can indicate an underlying problem with your teeth only a dentist can fix.
Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is an old-fashioned way to remove tartar without a dentist. And it works. According to a 2008 study, using toothpaste with baking soda removed “more plaque than those containing lower levels.” In fact, the results were conclusive, demonstrating that the stronger the baking soda, the more effective the plaque removal.
Simply dip your toothbrush into baking soda and gently brush your teeth to remove the tartar. Be careful not to damage the enamel by brushing too hard.
Try Tartar-Removing Toothpaste
Look in your local pharmacist, and you’ll find several toothpastes that claim to remove tartar. These toothpastes might claim to “remove” tartar; however, they’re more effective as a preventative measure. That being said, active ingredients like pyrophosphates and zinc citrate help prevent plaque hardening.
Despite their effectiveness, these kinds of toothpaste cannot replace professional dental cleaning. They help reduce the frequency of such cleaning sessions.
Apply White Vinegar
White vinegar is another home remedy for tartar formation. Simply dilute the vinegar in water and swill it around your mouth. It’s claimed that it prevents plaque buildup by killing bacteria. While it has antiseptic properties, it’s unlikely to remove any existent, hardened tartar.
Plastic Descalers
Plastic descalers are available over the counter. The logic is simple: chip and scrap away at the plaque yourself without needing a dentist appointment. Often, these tools are similar to what a dentist uses.
The problem? Well, most people are trained to remove tartar themselves. While it can be effective, if anything goes wrong, you can risk damaging your enamel, increasing gum recession, or causing an infection. It’s no substitute for a dentist’s ultrasonic toolkit.
Oil Pulling
Oil pulling attracts a lot of attention on social media. Some people claim that pulling oil mixed with cloves can remove the tartar. This probably isn’t true. Despite in-depth research, no evidence for the efficacy of oil pulling was found.
However, a small number of studies indicate it can reduce the number of harmful bacteria. So, there may be some benefits in the long term.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tartar Removal Painful?
Usually, no. The home remedies for tartar removal shouldn’t hurt. Even using a plastic descaler isn’t painful if you’re using it correctly.
The dentist will use an ultrasound device to remove the tartar from your teeth. During the procedure, you might find it a little uncomfortable – especially if there’s a lot of tartar descending below the gumline. However, you shouldn’t feel any significant pain.
Should I Visit the Dentist?
Yes. Home remedies are suitable for mild cases of tartar accumulation. However, if you’ve got significant problems, this can only be removed by a dentist. They have specialised equipment and lots of training to safely remove the tartar without causing any long-term damage.
Can Tooth Tartar Break Off?
Yes. Tartar strongly adheres to your teeth. However, it’s not actually part of your tooth. If you eat something hard or brushing too hard, the calcified tartar can chip off. Underneath, you’ll notice a patch of rough or sharp tooth, particularly around the gums. It’s sensible to book a dental appointment if this happens to you.
Can a Sonic Electric Toothbrush Remove Tartar?
While a sonic electric toothbrush is excellent for removing plaque and maintaining oral hygiene, it cannot remove tartar that has already hardened. These toothbrushes can help prevent tartar by effectively cleaning plaque before it hardens, but existing tartar typically requires professional dental tools for removal.