That white, hard stuff behind your teeth is likely tartar (dental calculus), hardened plaque from bacteria, minerals, and food debris that can only be removed professionally by a dentist or hygienist, potentially indicating poor oral hygiene or risk factors like dry mouth or certain foods/drinks, and needs removal to prevent gum disease and cavities.
Tartar is hardened plaque. If you don't remove plaque regularly, it will turn into tartar. At this point, you can't brush or floss it away. Only a dentist or hygienist can remove it.
No, you cannot effectively or safely remove hardened tartar (calculus) at home; it requires professional cleaning by a dentist or hygienist, as attempting to scrape it off yourself with tools or harsh remedies risks damaging enamel and gums. While good brushing, flossing, and water flossing remove soft plaque (which becomes tartar), once plaque hardens into tartar, only dental instruments can remove it.
But unless you remove it with proper oral hygiene, plaque can harden into tartar. Unlike plaque, you can't remove tartar with brushing and flossing. A dentist or dental hygienist must remove it during a professional dental cleaning. Another name for tartar is dental calculus.
As surprising as it is, tartar can actually break off your teeth quite easily. Even though it is strong, it is not prone to chipping away. Sometimes, eating too many hard foods, brushing your teeth aggressively, or even flossing with an improper technique can trigger the breakage.
Over time, tartar can inflame and infect your gums, leading to periodontal disease and other oral health issues. As a hard, solid substance, tartar also makes it very difficult for you to clean your teeth.
Due to this, tartar can vary in color, but most commonly it is yellow, brown, gray, or black. In most cases, the buildup above your gum tissues is yellow or light brown, whereas tartar below your gums tends to be darker in color.
Naturally antibacterial, white vinegar will help to demineralise or soften tartar if used once or twice daily as a mouthwash. Swish a mixture of 2 cups of warm water, 2 teaspoons of white vinegar and a pinch of salt around your mouth for a few minutes.
Once plaque hardens into tartar, it can only be removed through professional cleaning by a dental hygienist or dentist. This is because tartar is too hard and firmly attached to the teeth for brushing and flossing alone to be effective.
No, a water flosser cannot remove hardened tartar, but it's excellent at removing the plaque that turns into tartar, preventing buildup and keeping gums healthy, making it a great supplement to brushing, not a replacement for professional cleanings where actual tartar is removed by a dentist. Tartar (dental calculus) is hardened plaque that sticks to teeth and requires professional tools (scalers) for removal.
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), regular use of tartar control mouthwash can help prevent the buildup of tartar on teeth. However, once tartar has formed, mouthwash cannot remove it. Tartar removal requires professional dental cleaning by a dentist or dental hygienist.
Tartar is often easy to spot, but it can also form in areas that aren't visible without dental tools. Here are some common signs: Visible yellow or brown buildup, especially between teeth or near the gums. Persistent bad breath, even after brushing.
Baking Soda for Natural Plaque Removal
It also neutralizes acids in your mouth, creating an environment less conducive to bacterial growth. You can sprinkle a small amount of baking soda on your toothbrush along with your regular toothpaste, or mix it with water to create a paste.
Tartar and plaque are two common dental issues that almost everyone faces. They're usually easy to treat with regular dental checkups and daily cleaning, but too much buildup of either can lead to cavities, gingivitis and other oral health issues.
Around 72% of Gen Z report that they compare their smiles to others on social media with 45% saying social media harms their confidence in their smile. The same source of these insecurities is often looked to for solutions.
Poor oral hygiene: Most commonly, plaque and tartar buildup is the result of bad dental habits. Great oral hygiene is needed to clean away these particles on a daily basis. Snacking habits: The more often you snack throughout the day, the more fuel your natural oral bacteria have to create plaque and tartar.
You see, plaque is the sticky film that builds up on our teeth throughout the day. It happens to everyone and it's usually removed through morning and nighttime brushings. However, when plaque is not removed, it will harden into tartar. Both plaque and tartar can lead to other serious problems throughout the mouth.
Left unchecked, plaque hardens into calculus (also called tartar), and unfortunately, you can't remove this calcified plaque on your own. As it sits on your teeth, it can contribute to tooth decay and irritate your gums, encouraging the development of gum disease.
Once plaque begins to build up, your tooth surface may feel fuzzy — or even rough to your tongue — if it has hardened to tartar. You may notice a soft film around the gumline that appears white to pale yellow. As it hardens into tartar, the film will feel rougher and appear more yellow.
No, you cannot effectively or safely remove hardened tartar (calculus) at home; it requires professional cleaning by a dentist or hygienist, as attempting to scrape it off yourself with tools or harsh remedies risks damaging enamel and gums. While good brushing, flossing, and water flossing remove soft plaque (which becomes tartar), once plaque hardens into tartar, only dental instruments can remove it.
Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste for at least two minutes each time you brush. This recommendation is from the American Dental Association. When you brush, you help take food and plaque off your teeth. Plaque is a sticky white film that forms on teeth.
Unfortunately, once tartar forms on your teeth, it will take more than toothpaste to get rid of it. If you notice tartar build-up on your teeth, make an appointment with your dental professional.
The 2-2-2 rule in dentistry is a simple guideline for good oral hygiene: brush twice a day, for two minutes each time, and visit your dentist twice a year, helping to prevent cavities, gum disease, and other dental problems by establishing consistent habits for plaque removal and professional monitoring.
Signs That Tartar is Causing Your Bad Breath
If the dentist or dental hygienist spots tartar on the surface of the teeth, they will remove it with an instrument called a scaler. A scaler is a device that has a hook on the end of it, and it is used to remove tartar above and below the gum line.