You can prevent tartar buildup at home by brushing twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing every day, and using an antiseptic mouthwash. Tartar is hardened dental plaque that forms when plaque is not removed within 24 to 72 hours. Once tartar has formed, it cannot be removed by brushing alone and requires professional cleaning by a dentist or hygienist. Prevention through consistent daily oral hygiene is therefore essential.
Tartar, also known as dental calculus, is mineralised plaque that has hardened onto the tooth surface or below the gum line. Plaque is a soft, sticky biofilm of bacteria that forms on teeth throughout the day. When plaque is not removed through brushing and flossing, minerals from your saliva, primarily calcium and phosphate, bind to it and cause it to calcify. This process can begin within 24 hours and the plaque can become fully hardened into tartar within 10 to 14 days.
Tartar is not just a cosmetic concern. It creates a rough, porous surface that attracts more plaque bacteria, setting up a cycle that accelerates gum disease. Tartar that forms below the gum line is particularly problematic because it triggers an inflammatory response that can lead to [gingivitis and periodontitis]learn more. Left untreated, advanced gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
At [Pure Smiles in Fulham]learn more, Dr Ayzaaz Akram (BDS Liverpool, GDC No. 70996) and the clinical team regularly see patients whose oral health has deteriorated because tartar buildup was allowed to progress unchecked. Early intervention and consistent home care make a significant difference.
Preventing tartar is far easier and more comfortable than treating the gum disease it causes. These seven habits form the foundation of effective tartar prevention between dental visits.
Brushing is your primary defence against plaque accumulation. Use a fluoride toothpaste and spend a full two minutes brushing, covering all surfaces of every tooth. An electric toothbrush with a pressure sensor is ideal because it delivers consistent brush strokes and alerts you if you are pressing too hard, which can damage gums and enamel.
Pay particular attention to the gum line, where tartar is most likely to form, and the inner surfaces of the lower front teeth, which are a common tartar accumulation site due to proximity to the sublingual salivary glands.
Brushing alone cleans approximately 60% of the tooth surface. The remaining 40% is the area between teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach. Flossing or using interdental brushes removes plaque from these spaces before it has the chance to mineralise into tartar.
If you find traditional floss difficult to use, interdental brushes or water flossers are effective alternatives. The best method is whichever one you will use consistently every day.
Mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine or cetylpyridinium chloride can reduce the bacterial load in your mouth and slow plaque formation. Some mouthwashes are specifically formulated as anti-tartar products, containing pyrophosphates or zinc citrate that inhibit the mineralisation of plaque into calculus.
Mouthwash is not a replacement for brushing and flossing. It is a supplementary measure that can be particularly useful for people who are prone to rapid tartar formation.
Tartar-control toothpastes contain active ingredients such as pyrophosphates and zinc citrate that help prevent new tartar from forming on clean tooth surfaces. They are not capable of removing existing tartar, but they can slow the rate at which new deposits develop after a [professional clean]learn more.
Saliva is your mouth’s natural defence system. It neutralises acids produced by bacteria, washes away food particles, and delivers minerals that strengthen enamel. When saliva flow is reduced, whether from dehydration, medication side effects, or mouth breathing, plaque accumulates more rapidly and tartar formation accelerates.
Drink water regularly throughout the day. If you experience persistent dry mouth, mention it at your next dental appointment so we can investigate the cause and suggest appropriate management.
Bacteria in dental plaque feed on sugars and starches, producing acids that damage teeth and contribute to plaque growth. Reducing the frequency of sugary snacks and drinks between meals limits the fuel available to plaque bacteria. This is not about eliminating sugar entirely but about being mindful of how often your teeth are exposed to it throughout the day.
Smoking significantly increases the rate of tartar formation and makes gum disease more aggressive and harder to treat. Smokers are up to four times more likely to develop periodontal disease than non-smokers. If you smoke, quitting is one of the most impactful things you can do for your oral health.
| Method | Effectiveness Against Plaque | Prevents Tartar Formation | Removes Existing Tartar | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Brushing (electric)** | High | Yes (indirectly) | No | Twice daily |
| **Flossing / interdental brushes** | High (between teeth) | Yes (indirectly) | No | Once daily |
| **Anti-tartar mouthwash** | Moderate | Yes (slows mineralisation) | No | Once or twice daily |
| **Tartar-control toothpaste** | Moderate | Yes (inhibits calcification) | No | Twice daily |
| **Professional scale and polish** | Complete | Resets to clean baseline | Yes | Every 3-6 months |
| **Air polishing** | High (surface stains) | Indirectly (cleaner surface) | No (supragingival stains only) | As recommended |
| **DIY scraping tools** | Not recommended | No | Risk of damage | Never |
The table above makes one thing clear: nothing you can do at home will remove tartar that has already formed. Home care is entirely about prevention. Once tartar is present, professional removal is the only safe and effective option.
Regular dental check-ups every six months are the standard recommendation for most adults. During these visits, your dentist or hygienist will use specialised instruments to remove any tartar that has formed, even with excellent home care.
You should book an appointment sooner than your next scheduled visit if you notice any of the following signs:
These symptoms may indicate that tartar has accumulated to a level where it is causing gum inflammation. At Pure Smiles, we can assess the situation promptly and carry out professional cleaning to get your oral health back on track. Ignoring these warning signs allows the problem to worsen, and what starts as reversible gingivitis can progress to irreversible bone loss around the teeth.
Our [dental hygienists]learn more use ultrasonic scalers and hand instruments to remove tartar deposits thoroughly and comfortably. For patients with heavier staining, we also offer air polishing, which uses a fine jet of water and powder to remove surface discolouration after scaling.
Dr Akram is also a qualified clinical hypnotherapist, which means patients who feel anxious about dental cleaning can access [hypnotherapy-assisted treatment]learn more to help them feel calm and relaxed throughout the appointment. This is particularly helpful for patients who have avoided dental visits due to anxiety and have significant tartar accumulation as a result.
Both of our Fulham locations, at 257 New Kings Road (SW6 4RB) near Parsons Green and 750a Fulham Road (SW6 5SH) near Fulham Broadway, offer hygiene appointments. Call 020 7736 6276 or [book online]learn more to arrange your visit.
You should not attempt to remove tartar at home using a dental scraper or any other tool. Tartar removal requires training and proper instruments. Scraping your own teeth risks damaging the enamel, cutting the gums, and pushing bacteria beneath the gum line, which can cause infection. Professional scaling by a dentist or hygienist is the only safe method.
Plaque can begin to mineralise into tartar within 24 to 72 hours if it is not removed by brushing and flossing. Full hardening typically occurs within 10 to 14 days. This is why daily oral hygiene is so important: missing even a couple of days of thorough brushing allows the mineralisation process to begin.
Tartar-control toothpaste is effective at slowing the formation of new tartar on clean tooth surfaces. It contains pyrophosphates or zinc citrate that inhibit the crystallisation of calcium and phosphate onto plaque. However, it cannot remove tartar that has already hardened. Think of it as a preventive measure that works best after a professional cleaning has given you a fresh start.
Most adults benefit from a professional scale and polish every six months. If you are prone to rapid tartar buildup, have gum disease, smoke, or have certain medical conditions such as diabetes, your dentist may recommend more frequent visits every three to four months. At Pure Smiles, we tailor the frequency to each patient based on their individual risk factors.
Tartar is not the same as plaque, though one leads to the other. Plaque is a soft, colourless biofilm of bacteria that forms on teeth daily and can be removed by brushing and flossing. Tartar is what plaque becomes when it is left undisturbed and absorbs minerals from saliva, hardening into a calcified deposit that bonds firmly to the tooth surface. Plaque is preventable and removable at home; tartar requires professional removal.
