So your teeth feel sticky and gunky even after following the oral hygiene routine consistently?
Many people face this dental issue, and the best solution is to book a dental appointment and get it cleaned. But many want to try cleaning hardened plaque at home.
To be clear, these home remedies are not as good as professional cleaning, but they can complement professional care. In this guide, we will explore
How to remove tartar from teeth
How to remove plaque from teeth
How to remove plaque from teeth at home
How to Prevent Plaque and Tartar Buildup and much more.
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What Are Plaque and Tartar?
Plaque: The sticky, fuzzy thing that you feel on your teeth is plaque. It constantly forms on your teeth when food mixes with saliva and bacteria present in the mouth. If the plaque is not cleaned time to time with a brush and flossing, it converts into hardened tartar
Tarter: Tarter is basically the plaque that is not cleaned and hardened. Once plaque is converted into tartar, it creates a rough surface on teeth that creates more space for plaque.
The difference? Plaque can come off with proper oral hygiene at home. Tartar needs a dentist to scrape it away.
How Does Plaque Turn into Tartar?
Let’s first see how plaque becomes tartar, then learn how to remove plaque from teeth at home and how to clean tartar off teeth.
Plaque turning into tartar happens through a process called mineralization. Here is how it happens:
- Plaque formation: First, bacteria in the mouth mix with food and saliva to form plaque.
- Mineral accumulation: Minerals available in your saliva start to deposit within plaque.
- Tarter hardening: If the plaque stays on your teeth for more than 2 days, it starts crystallizing and slowly hardening the plaque.
- Mineralization: Within a week, plaque can turn into tartar completely, which bonds with the tooth enamel and can not be cleaned with a toothbrush or floss.
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How to Remove Tartar and Plaque from Teeth at Home
Dental cleaning is the most effective solution for questions like how to remove tartar from teeth. OR how to remove plaque from teeth. Few home methods can help manage the formation of plaque and tartar, which complements the dental cleaning.
If you are searching for: how to remove plaque from teeth at home, how to remove tartar from teeth at home, how to remove tartar from teeth without dentist. Here are a few proven methods
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1) Brush and Floss Correctly
The foundation of tartar prevention and plaque removal is proper brushing and flossing technique:
The basics of tartar and plaque removal lie in following a proper dental hygiene routine:
- Brushing & flossing: To start with the basic brushing twice daily for 2 minutes and flossing once daily is crucial. Brushing cleans only 60% of the plaque and tartar, and since the brush can’t reach the complex part of your teeth, flossing helps in cleaning them.
- Right tools: As per studies, brushing is more effective when done with an electric toothbrush than manual brushing. Dentists recommend tiny brushes known as interdental brushes for gaps between teeth. These interdental brushes work better than floss to clean wide spaces and remove plaque.
2) Use Anti-Plaque Toothpaste
Pick toothpaste with these key ingredients:
- Tartar fighters with pyrophosphates stop plaque from hardening
- Fluoride makes teeth stronger against bacteria
- Triclosan fights bacteria and reduces plaque buildup
3) White Vinegar Rinse
White vinegar is one of the solutions to how to remove tartar from teeth without dentist. But it is not recommended as it can cause acidic damage to teeth leading to erosion and wear.
Here is how to use it –
- Mix two tablespoons of vinegar, one tablespoon of salt in a cup of warm water.
- Use this solution as mouthwash, swish for around 30-40 seconds before spitting out, and rinse with normal water after swishing.
- Before bedtime, rinse once daily
- Be aware that vinegar is acidic and should not be used more than once weekly.
4) Oil Pulling – A Natural Technique
An ancient practice that has gained popularity these days to reduce plaque formation is oil pulling.
It is a natural solution for how to remove plaque from teeth.
- Procedure: Take a tablespoon of coconut oil and swish it around the mouth for 15 minutes
- How it works: Basically, it pulls out all the bacteria from all the complex parts of the teeth and gum line.
- After oil pulling: Spit the oil out and rinse your mouth with warm water, and then brush normally.
- Frequency: Practice oil pulling daily for best results
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When to See a Dentist
The above suggested solutions can help you reduce the formation of plaque, but they cannot beat the professional dental cleaning. So consider seeing your dentist if :
- You notice a yellow buildup on your teeth
- Your gums are swollen and bleeding
- Consistent bad breath even after following good hygiene
- Hypersensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet food and drinks
It is suggested that you get your teeth cleaned every six months by a dental professional. Their specialized tools are specifically designed for how to remove hard plaque from teeth and how to clean tartar off teeth more effectively than home remedies.
How to Prevent Plaque and Tartar Buildup
Before starting to apply the solutions mentioned above for your questions, like :
How to clean tartar off teeth?
How to remove hardened plaque from teeth?
How to remove hard plaque from teeth?
Understand that prevention is always easier than waiting for the tartar and plaque to build up.
Here are a few tips for preventing plaque and tartar buildup
- Follow oral hygiene routine: Consistently follow an oral hygiene routine without fail. Brush twice daily for around 2 minutes and don’t forget to floss once daily.
- Diet: Reduce the consumption of sugary drinks and starchy foods that plaque feeds on.
- Drink enough water: Keeping yourself hydrated promotes more production of saliva. Also flushes out all the food and bacteria in between your teeth
- Use an antibacterial mouthwash: Rinse your mouth daily with an antibacterial mouthwash to reduce the formation of plaque.
- Stop smoking: Tobacco is not only bad for health, but also worse for your dental health. Consumption of tobacco can increase plaque formation
- Professional cleaning: Visit your dentist for dental cleaning every six months to keep yourself away from plaque and tartar
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FAQs
Q1. How to remove tartar from teeth without dentist?
Ans. Completely removing the tartar from your teeth without professional help is impossible. While you can try methods like oil pulling, vinegar rinse that can reduce the formation of plaque.
Q2. How to remove hard plaque from teeth at home naturally?
Ans. Brush and floss daily, try oil pulling with coconut oil, and use triclosan-containing toothpastes that can stop the plaque from building up on your teeth
Q3. Is it safe to scrape tartar off at home?
Ans. Not at all. Scraping of tartar at home can harm your teeth and gums, resulting in bigger dental issues
Q4. Can diet affect plaque buildup?
Ans. Yes, overconsumption of sugary or starchy foods and drinks can increase plaque formation. The bacteria that are naturally present in your mouth grow on the acids produced from these foods.
Q5. Is there a toothpaste that removes tartar?
Ans. Yes, toothpaste including ingredients like pyrophosphates helps in preventing new tartar production.
Q6. Is tartar removal painful?
Ans. Not at all, professional tartar removal treatments are not painful.
Combining professional cleaning with home remedies is the best solution for your queries, like how to remove hardened plaque from teeth or how to remove tartar from teeth at home. So book a consultation with AO Dentistry at +91 96575 80595.
