How to Remove Tartar From Teeth: What Works and What Doesn’t

You run your tongue along the back of your lower front teeth and feel something rough and hard that brushing will not budge. That crusty buildup is almost always tartar. If you have been searching for how to remove tartar, the honest answer may surprise you: once it hardens, brushing, flossing, and home remedies cannot take it off. The good news is that tartar is easy to deal with in the dental chair and very preventable afterward. Below, Dr. Christopher Tricinella and our team explain what tartar is, why scraping it off at home is a bad idea, how dentists remove it, and the daily habits that keep it from coming back.

What Is Tartar?

Tartar, also called dental calculus, is plaque that has hardened on your teeth. Plaque is the soft, sticky film of bacteria that forms on everyone’s teeth every day. According to the American Dental Association, plaque that is not removed with thorough daily brushing and cleaning between teeth can eventually harden into calculus or tartar, which makes your teeth harder to keep clean.

The Cleveland Clinic describes tartar as mostly dead bacteria that have mineralized, mixed with a small amount of mineralized proteins from saliva. It can form above the gum line, where you can sometimes see it, and below the gum line, where you cannot. Minerals in your saliva are part of the process, which is why tartar tends to collect near the major salivary glands: around the lower front teeth and on the cheek side of the upper molars, as Colgate’s oral care experts point out.

Plaque vs. Tartar: How to Tell the Difference

Plaque and tartar are related, but they look, feel, and behave differently. Here is a quick way to tell them apart:

• Texture: Plaque feels fuzzy or slippery. Tartar feels like a hard shell or crust stuck to the tooth.
• Color: Plaque is usually colorless or pale yellow. Tartar is often yellow or brown and can turn darker over time.
• Odor: Plaque does not usually cause bad breath on its own, but tartar can.
• Removal: You can remove plaque with a toothbrush and floss. Tartar has to be removed by a dentist or dental hygienist.

Why does some tartar look dark or even black? Tartar picks up the color of what you eat and drink, so coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco can stain it. The Cleveland Clinic also notes that tartar below the gum line can cause bleeding, and when blood mixes with tartar it can turn black. Dark buildup near the gums is a good reason to have your gums checked, not just your teeth.

Can You Remove Tartar at Home?

When people look up how to remove tartar, they are usually hoping for an at-home fix. The short answer is that there is not one. The Cleveland Clinic is clear that only a dentist or hygienist can remove tartar, and that trying to remove it yourself can damage your teeth and leave you more prone to cavities. That includes the metal picks and scrapers sold online. Dental hygienists spend years learning to use these instruments safely, and the same sharp tip that lifts tartar off a tooth can scratch enamel or cut your gums when you are working blind in a bathroom mirror.

What about natural remedies? Colgate looked at three of the most popular ones:

• Aloe vera: It may support oral health, but there is no evidence it dissolves tartar.
• Orange peels: They may have a mild antibacterial effect, but they will not dissolve tartar that has already formed.
• Coconut oil pulling: It does not dissolve existing tartar, and the ADA is not yet convinced it is effective.

Anti-tartar mouth rinses are not a shortcut either. In one lab study that Colgate cites, a rinse dissolved some of the mineral content of tartar samples only after soaking them for 4.5 to 16 hours, which is not something anyone can do in a real mouth.

Sometimes a piece of tartar breaks off on its own while you eat or brush. That can leave a rough or sharp spot, and it can be tempting to pick at the rest. Please do not. The Cleveland Clinic recommends calling your dentist instead so the remaining tartar can be removed safely.

How Dentists Remove Tartar

Professional tartar removal is a routine part of a dental cleaning, and for most people it is quick and comfortable. It usually starts with an exam. Your dentist checks how much buildup you have and may take dental X-rays or measure the small pockets around your teeth to look for cavities, bone loss, or early gum disease.

From there, your hygienist uses a few different tools to clear the buildup:

• Hand scalers: Fine-tipped metal instruments that gently lift tartar off the tooth surface. This technique is called scaling.
• Ultrasonic instruments: A tip that vibrates at high speed breaks up and removes hardened deposits.
• Polishing and flossing: Once the tartar is gone, the teeth are flossed and polished with a rubber cup and a slightly gritty paste to clean off surface stains.

If you are curious about the full appointment, our guide to professional teeth cleaning in Tulsa walks through each step.

When tartar has collected below the gum line and started to cause gum disease, a regular cleaning may not be enough. In that case, dentists commonly use a deeper treatment called scaling and root planing, which cleans tartar and bacteria from the root surfaces under the gums. You can read more about these options in our posts on gum disease and its warning signs and periodontal disease treatment options.

Why Tartar Buildup Is Worth Taking Seriously

Tartar is more than a cosmetic issue. The Cleveland Clinic notes that it can create small pockets between the teeth and gums where bacteria and food debris get trapped. The ADA explains that when tartar collects above the gum line, the gum tissue can become swollen and bleed easily, which is gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease. The Cleveland Clinic adds that tartar left on the teeth can lead to:

• Gum disease and receding gums
• Enamel erosion and cavities
• Swollen, bleeding gums
• Stubborn bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
• Yellow, brown, or dark stains on the teeth

The encouraging part, as Colgate explains, is that early gum disease can be reversed with professional treatment and good daily care. That is why we would much rather see a little tartar at a routine visit than a lot of it a few years down the road.

Who Is More Likely to Build Up Tartar?

Everyone makes plaque, but some people turn it into tartar faster than others. Based on guidance from the Cleveland Clinic and Cigna’s dental resources, you may be more prone to tartar if you:

• Brush or floss less often than recommended
• Have a lot of sugary or starchy foods and drinks
• Smoke or use other tobacco products
• Wear braces
• Have crowded teeth that are hard to clean between
• Have dry mouth from medications or a health condition
• Are older, since tartar risk tends to rise with age

If several of these apply to you, it does not mean you are doing anything wrong. It may simply mean you need a few extra tools at home or more frequent cleanings, and our team can help you figure out what fits.

How to Keep Tartar From Coming Back

Since tartar cannot be brushed away, the real goal is to remove plaque before it has the chance to harden. These habits make the biggest difference:

• Brush twice a day the right way. The ADA recommends a soft-bristled brush held at a 45-degree angle to the gums, with gentle, short strokes on the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of every tooth. Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed.
• Clean between your teeth once a day. Floss or small interdental brushes reach the plaque your toothbrush misses, including just under the gum line.
• Consider a tartar control toothpaste. According to Colgate, these toothpastes use ingredients such as zinc and pyrophosphate to slow the hardening of plaque, which gives your brushing more time to work. They will not remove tartar that is already there. If your teeth are sensitive or your gums are receding, ask us before switching, since some gritty formulas are not the best fit.
• Choose products with the ADA Seal. The Cleveland Clinic suggests looking for the ADA Seal of Acceptance on fluoride toothpaste and other oral care products, and adding an alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash if your dentist recommends one.
• Limit sugary snacks and drinks, and avoid tobacco. Both feed the plaque that turns into tartar.
• Keep up with professional cleanings. Many people do well with a cleaning every six months, while people who build tartar quickly or have a history of gum disease may need visits more often. Our article on routine dental checkups explains what happens at each visit.

When to Schedule a Cleaning

Tartar buildup is not a dental emergency, but it is best removed sooner rather than later. It is a good time to book a visit if you notice:

• A hard, crusty line along your gums or behind your lower front teeth
• Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
• Bad breath that does not improve with brushing
• Pieces of tartar breaking off, or rough spots you keep feeling with your tongue
• Yellow, brown, or dark buildup near the gum line
• It has been more than six months since your last cleaning

If it has been a few years, please do not let that keep you away. Our family dentistry team sees patients of every age, and we meet everyone where they are, without judgment. If dental visits make you anxious, our post on managing dental anxiety and our sedation options may help. Wondering about cost? Our guide to dental insurance and payment options in Tulsa covers how preventive visits are usually handled.

Tartar Removal FAQs

Can I scrape tartar off my own teeth?

It is not a good idea. Dental scalers are sharp, and using them on yourself can damage your teeth and injure your gums. Only a dentist or dental hygienist can remove tartar safely.

Does tartar control toothpaste remove tartar?

No. Tartar control toothpaste helps slow down the hardening of new plaque, so less tartar forms between cleanings. Tartar that has already hardened needs to be removed professionally.

Why is tartar breaking off my teeth?

Tartar can sometimes chip off while you eat or brush, leaving a rough or sharp area behind. Avoid picking at what is left. Call your dentist so the rest can be removed safely and your gums can be checked.

Why is the tartar on my teeth black?

Tartar takes on stains from coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco. Tartar below the gum line can also turn dark when it mixes with blood from irritated gums, which is a sign your gums should be examined.

How often should I have tartar removed?

Most people do well with a professional cleaning every six months. If you build up tartar quickly, wear braces, have dry mouth, or have a history of gum disease, your dentist may recommend cleanings more often.

Ready for Smoother, Healthier Teeth?

That rough feeling on your teeth does not have to stick around. A professional cleaning removes tartar safely, and a few small changes at home help keep it from returning. Call our office on East 61st Street, a block west of Sheridan, at (918) 628-0834, or schedule your cleaning online. We are open Monday through Wednesday from 8:00 to 5:00, Thursday from 12:00 to 7:00, and Friday from 8:00 to 12:00. New patients can save time by filling out our new patient forms before the visit, and you can explore our complete list of dental services anytime.