Tartar is more than just a cosmetic concern—it’s a serious dental health issue that can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and even tooth loss. If you’ve noticed hard yellow or brown buildup on your teeth, you may be dealing with tartar, also known as hardened plaque. Fortunately, there are effective ways to remove tartar and prevent tartar buildup. In this article, we’ll explore what tartar is, how it forms, the risks it poses, and how to get rid of it safely and effectively.
What is Tartar?
Tartar, or dental calculus, is a hardened deposit that forms when dental plaque—a soft, sticky film of plaque-causing bacteria—isn’t removed from the teeth. Over time, this plaque reacts with minerals like calcium phosphate in saliva and calcifies into a rough, crusty layer that clings tightly to the tooth enamel.
Unlike plaque, which can be managed with brushing and flossing, tartar is firmly attached and can only be safely removed by a dental professional, such as a dental hygienist, using special instruments during a professional dental cleaning.
Tartar commonly builds up along the gum line and between teeth—areas often missed by improper brushing techniques or skipping dental floss. If left untreated, this built-up tartar can seriously compromise your oral health, leading to problems with your teeth and gums.
Symptoms and Causes of Tartar
Signs of tartar buildup include:
- Yellow or brown hardened deposits along the gum line
- Swollen gums
- Bad breath
- Sensitive teeth
- Bleeding gums, especially while you brush your teeth or floss
Tartar is the result of neglected good oral hygiene practices. Factors like consuming starchy and sugary foods, smoking, dry mouth, or certain medical conditions can increase your risk. Bacteria in your mouth thrive when plaque isn’t removed and begin to produce plaque and compounds that irritate the gums, increasing plaque and eventually leading to gum disease.
Complications of Untreated Tartar
Tartar doesn’t just stay on the surface—it penetrates below the gum line, causing chronic inflammation and contributing to conditions like gingivitis and periodontitis. If untreated, this can lead to tooth loss, gum recession, and damage to the bone supporting your teeth and gums.
Removing tartar is essential because it stops this destructive process. While tartar may not directly chip your teeth, its pressure can shift them, causing gaps, misalignment, and weakened tooth enamel. Over time, tartar affect can include permanent gum and bone damage.
Diagnosing Tartar
Regular dental check ups can reveal tartar buildup easily. Dentists use visual exams, dental instruments, and occasionally X-rays to identify deposits. Unlike dental plaque, tartar is visible and typically appears yellow, brown, or even black in color.
If you’ve noticed persistent aweful breath, discoloration, or sensitivity, it could indicate excessive plaque and tartar along the gum line or even beneath it.
How to Treat and Remove Tartar
The gold standard for treating tartar is a professional cleaning by a dental hygienist or dentist. This involves scaling and root planing, procedures that remove tartar from your teeth both above and below the gumline.
Attempting to remove tartar yourself with metal tools is dangerous and can lead to tooth sensitivity, gum injury, or damage to your tooth enamel. That’s why the American Dental Association recommends that only a dentist should remove tartar.
Professional cleanings also help remove plaque and food residues that brushing may miss, reducing future plaque buildup and supporting overall oral hygiene.
Products That Help Control Plaque and Tartar
While only a dental professional can remove tartar buildup, the right at-home products can help prevent tartar, reduce the buildup of plaque, and support your overall oral health.
Tartar-Control Toothpaste
Use a fluoride toothpaste with anti-plaque agents like zinc or pyrophosphates. These help prevent plaque from forming and protect tooth enamel. Some formulas also fight bacteria in your mouth that lead to plaque and tartar.
Electric Toothbrush
An electric toothbrush cleans more effectively than manual brushing, especially around the gum line. It helps remove the sticky film that becomes tartar and supports brushing twice a day for better results.
Antibacterial Mouthwash
Mouthwashes with ingredients like chlorhexidine or essential oils can kill bacteria, reduce plaque formation, and improve gum health. They’re especially helpful when used alongside brushing and flossing.
Water Flossers
Water flossers remove food particles and plaque from between teeth and under the gum line, making them ideal for those with braces, gum disease, or difficulty flossing.
Tip: Always consult your dentist or dental hygienist before trying new products, especially if you have dentin hypersensitivity, bleeding gums, or frequent tartar accumulation.
Prevention: Lifestyle Habits and Daily Care to Stop Tartar
In addition to brushing and flossing every day, making a few intentional lifestyle changes can significantly reduce tartar build up and improve your overall oral health. Below are key strategies to help you prevent tartar and maintain healthy teeth and gums.
Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day
Use fluoride toothpaste or tartar-control toothpaste to help fight plaque and tartar. A soft-bristled toothbrush or electric toothbrush is recommended for more effective cleaning, especially along the gum line, where plaque development often begins.
Floss Daily
Flossing helps clean between teeth and remove food residues where a toothbrush can’t reach. This daily habit is essential for preventing sticky film from hardening into hardened plaque.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking water throughout the day washes away food debris and lowers acidity in your mouth. It also stimulates saliva production, which naturally fights bacteria in your mouth and supports better oral hygiene.
Eat Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables
Raw foods like apples, celery, and carrots act as natural cleaners, helping reduce plaque accumulation while also massaging the gums. They’re a nutritious alternative to sugary foods that contribute to plaque formation and gum disease.
Limit Sugary and Starchy Foods
Sugary and starchy foods fuel plaque that cause bacteria and accelerate the development of tartar from your teeth. Reducing intake of snacks, candy, sodas, and refined carbs is vital for keeping plaque and tartar under control.
Rinse with Antibacterial Mouthwash
A daily rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash can help kill bacteria, reduce inflammation, and support ti treat tartar at the early stages.
Quit Smoking
Smoking is a major contributor to gum disease and excessive tartar accumulation. It weakens your body’s ability to fight infection and slows healing, making it harder to manage dental plaque and inflammation. Quitting greatly benefits both dental care and overall health.
Regular Dental Check Up
Keeping your teeth healthy also means attending regular dental checkups—ideally every six months. At Santa Ynez Valley Dental, we monitor your oral health, provide professional tartar removal, and detect early signs of plaque accumulation or gum disease.
Some people—such as smokers, diabetics, or those with a family history of gum issues—may need more frequent visits to manage tartar from your teeth effectively.
Why Choose Santa Ynez Valley Dental?
At Santa Ynez Valley Dental, we understand that effective tartar removal and dental care go beyond routine cleanings. Our team of highly skilled professionals uses state-of-the-art tools to perform thorough professional dental cleanings, removing tartar from your teeth safely and comfortably.
We educate every patient about proper brushing and flossing and other practices for good dental hygiene; we recommend personalized strategies for preventing plaque and tartar.
Whether you’re dealing with gum disease, sensitive teeth, or simply looking to keep your teeth healthy, our priority is helping you achieve and maintain a healthy, radiant smile.
Additional FAQs About Tartar and Oral Health
1. Is tartar buildup more common as you age?
Yes. As we age, natural changes in saliva production, slower immune response, and reduced manual dexterity (affect the way you floss or brush your teeth) can all contribute to increased tartar buildup. This makes regular dental checkups even more important over time.
2. Can tartar affect dental restorations like crowns or fillings?
Yes. Plaque and tartar can accumulate around crowns, fillings, or bridges, increasing the risk of gum disease and decay beneath the restorations. Proper dental care and professional dental cleanings are essential for protecting these areas.
3. Are some people genetically more prone to tartar?
Yes. Genetics can influence your oral chemistry, immune response, and saliva composition—factors that impact how plaque forms and hardens into tartar. Even with good oral hygiene, some people may need more frequent dental visits to manage tartar buildup.
4. Does drinking coffee or tea contribute to tartar?
Yes. Coffee and tea contain tannins, which can stain plaque and hardened plaque, making tartar more visible. Additionally, these drinks may promote dry mouth, reducing saliva that helps fight bacteria in your mouth.
5. Can mouth breathing lead to more tartar?
Yes. Breathing through your mouth can dry out saliva, which plays a critical role in neutralizing acids and washing away food particles. Dry mouth creates an environment where sticky film and plaque can thrive and harden into tartar.
6. Is there a link between tartar and bad breath?
Absolutely. Tartar buildup traps bacteria, which release foul-smelling sulfur compounds. This is why persistent bad breath is often a sign that it’s time for a professional dental cleaning.
7. Can I scrape tartar off my teeth with dental tools at home?
No, and doing so is strongly discouraged. Using sharp tools without training can damage your teeth and gums, cause infections, or worsen gum disease. Always leave tartar removal to a dentist.