If you’re checking the viral advice “Be your own dentist! Here are some tips for removing tartar buildup at home,” there is an important distinction:
🦷 Plaque can be removed at home; tartar generally cannot
Plaque is the soft bacterial film that builds up on teeth. Regular brushing and cleaning between your teeth can remove it.
Tartar (calculus) is plaque that has hardened. Once it forms, a toothbrush and floss generally can’t remove it. The American Dental Association specifically says hardened tartar can only be removed through professional dental cleaning.
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What you can do at home
Brush twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
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Clean between your teeth once a day with floss, interdental brushes, or an appropriate water flosser.
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Keep the gumline clean, where plaque commonly accumulates.
An appropriate therapeutic mouthwash can be an additional measure for some people, but it doesn’t replace brushing and interdental cleaning.
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❌ Don’t scrape tartar yourself
Avoid using nail tools, needles, knives, metal dental scalers, or sharp homemade instruments to chip deposits off your teeth. You can cut your gums, damage tooth surfaces, or miss disease below the gumline. The ADA warns that unsupervised self-delivered dental treatment can cause injury and irreversible complications.
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If substantial tartar has accumulated, a dentist or dental hygienist can remove it safely. Professional scaling removes tartar both above and, when necessary, below the gumline.
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If your gums bleed
Bleeding, swollen, tender gums or persistent bad breath can be signs of gingivitis or gum disease, rather than simply a cosmetic tartar problem. Professional evaluation is particularly important if you have loose teeth, gum recession, or pain.
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Bottom line: You can prevent tartar from building up by controlling plaque at home, but don’t try to “be your own dentist” by scraping established tartar away. Professional cleaning is the safer approach.
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