How to Remove Tartar Without Going to the Dentist
What is tartar?
When bacteria in the mouth mixes with food particles, it creates a film over the teeth known as plaque. Over time, plaque hardens and becomes discoloured, creating tartar. Aside from being unsightly, tartar also leads to tooth decay by eroding the enamel on the surface of the teeth.
How can I reduce tartar buildup?
Reducing plaque is the best way to keep tartar buildup under control. The most effective way to stop plaque from forming is to maintain a regular dental hygiene routine: brush, floss, and rinse. Carefully brushing your teeth twice a day helps to reduce plaque, stopping tartar from forming at its early stages. Some studies show that sonic toothbrushes reduce tartar more effectively than manual toothbrushes by giving teeth a deeper clean in all the harder-to-reach areas in the mouth where tartar can form. For on-the-go oral maintenance, try out our Sonisk Pulse Portable sonic toothbrush, which can be carried in your bag for quick cleaning after meals, reducing the bacteria and food particles sitting in your mouth throughout the day.
Getting rid of tartar
Unfortunately, even if you maintain good oral hygiene, there may still be a buildup of tartar on your teeth. If you already have ongoing signs of tartar on your teeth, such as hard brown deposits between your teeth or along your gum line, there are some simple solutions you can use to reduce tartar without having to go for professional tartar removal, known as scaling. Try out some of these simple treatments to reduce tartar at home and avoid a pricey scaling appointment.
Baking Soda
Baking soda not only helps to clean tartar off teeth but has the additional benefit of whitening qualities, too. Pour some baking soda onto a wet toothbrush and gently brush onto your teeth, then leave it on for 15 minutes before rinsing. Try this method once daily to fight tartar buildup and achieve sparkling, white teeth.
White Vinegar
A natural wonder cleaning product, white vinegar has been shown to remove tartar buildup when regularly gargled. Mix two tablespoons into a glass of salty water and use this to gargle once a day to see a visible reduction in tartar buildup.
Orange Peels
Peel an orange and use the inside part (the white bit) to rub along your teeth and gums. Vitamin C cuts through tartar and plaque buildup and has the added benefit of being antimicrobial, battling not only against tartar and plaque, but also the bacteria which help to create them.
If your teeth show no signs of improvement after using these methods, you may have a heavy buildup which needs professional scaling. In this case, the best thing you can do for your teeth is to have them seen to by a dentist or oral hygienist, and once they’ve been treated and are tartar-free, follow the advice above to avoid future buildup.