Dra. Cléo Salustiano In this article
SummaryWhat is tartar, and why can only a dentist remove it?How to prevent tartar buildup?FAQRead nextTartar on your teeth: what it is and how to remove it
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Quick summary of this article+
Tartar is hardened plaque stuck to the tooth, mainly along the gumline. Unlike plaque, it doesn't come off with a toothbrush or floss — only a professional can remove it, during a cleaning (or with scaling, when it's below the gums). It keeps the gums inflamed, promoting bleeding, bad breath, gingivitis and cavities. Prevention is daily hygiene; removal is a regular cleaning. In Mooca, Dr. Cléo Salustiano (CRO-SP 170844) sees patients every day, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Tartar is plaque that has hardened and attached to the tooth surface, usually along the gumline. Unlike plaque, tartar doesn't come off with a toothbrush or floss — only a dental professional can remove it, during a cleaning. Understanding what it is and how to prevent it helps keep your gums healthy and avoid problems like bleeding, bad breath and cavities.
In clinical practice, it's common for patients to try to "scrape" tartar off at home or think brushing harder will fix it. It won't, and it can even cause harm. Tartar is one of those things that truly needs a professional. Knowing this avoids attempts that make things worse.
In this article, Dr. Cléo Salustiano (CRO-SP 170844) explains what tartar is, why only a dentist can remove it, what it causes and how to prevent it. Since every case is unique, your assessment sets the right cleaning frequency for you.
This article comes from Dr. Cléo Salustiano's dental office in Mooca, São Paulo (care in English, Portuguese and Spanish). See the dental cleaning page to learn how the treatment is done here and book your assessment.
What is tartar, and why can only a dentist remove it?
Tartar (or dental calculus) is plaque that has mineralized and hardened on the tooth. Plaque forms all the time; when it isn't removed well, within a few days it hardens with the help of minerals in saliva, turning into a crust stuck to the tooth.
Once hardened, tartar is firmly attached to the surface, mainly along the gumline and between the teeth. Because it's hard and stuck on, a toothbrush and floss can't remove it — they prevent plaque, but they don't take off tartar that has already formed.
That's why only a professional removes tartar, with specific instruments, during a dental cleaning (prophylaxis). Trying to remove it at home, with objects or abrasive products, doesn't work and can hurt your gums and wear down your teeth.
Tartar can be above the gumline (visible, sometimes yellowish or dark) or below it (subgingival), inside the periodontal pockets. Subgingival tartar is more serious and is removed with scaling, in cases of periodontal disease.
Tartar isn't just a cosmetic problem. Because it's porous and full of bacteria, it keeps the gums continuously inflamed, promoting gingivitis, periodontitis, bleeding, bad breath and cavities. It's a cycle: tartar inflames the gums, which then collect more plaque.
In short, tartar is hardened plaque that only a dentist can remove. Preventing it (with good hygiene) and removing it regularly (with cleanings) is what keeps your gums healthy and breaks this cycle of inflammation.
| Plaque | Tartar | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A soft film that forms on the teeth all the time | Plaque that wasn't removed and hardened into a crust stuck to the tooth |
| How quickly it appears | Continuously, throughout the day | Within a few days, when plaque is left in place |
| Who removes it | You, with a toothbrush and floss | Only a professional, with specific instruments |
| Where it sits | The whole surface, especially along the gumline and between the teeth | Above the gumline (visible) or below it (subgingival) |
| When it's below the gums | Not applicable | Removed by scaling, in cases of periodontal disease |
| What it causes if left | Inflammation and cavities | Ongoing inflammation, bleeding, bad breath, gingivitis and cavities |
How to prevent tartar buildup?
Prevention is the best strategy, because tartar only forms from plaque that's left behind. By removing plaque well every day, you stop it from hardening. Daily hygiene is by far the most effective way to prevent tartar.
Brush gently and thoroughly, especially along the gumline, where tartar forms most. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and pay attention to every tooth surface. Brushing hard doesn't prevent it better — consistency and technique are what count.
Don't skip flossing (or the interdental brush). Plaque builds up and hardens most between the teeth, where the toothbrush can't reach. Daily flossing is essential to prevent tartar between the teeth and the inflammation it causes.
Cut down on factors that promote buildup: smoking increases tartar formation and masks bleeding; too much sugar feeds bacteria. Healthy habits help keep plaque under control and, with it, tartar at bay.
Get regular professional cleanings. Even with great hygiene, some plaque always remains in hard-to-reach areas, and it can harden. A cleaning removes the tartar that has formed and "resets" the buildup. People who build up a lot of tartar may need more frequent cleanings.
Keep up with checkups. Besides removing tartar, the dentist assesses your gums and fine-tunes your hygiene technique. People who tend to build up tartar quickly benefit from a shorter interval between cleanings, set individually.
What is tartar?
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It's plaque that has mineralized and hardened on the tooth, forming a crust stuck mainly along the gumline. Unlike soft plaque, tartar is hard and attached — that's why it doesn't come off with a toothbrush or floss, only with a professional.
How do you remove tartar?
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Only a professional can remove it, with specific instruments, during a dental cleaning (prophylaxis) or with scaling (when it's below the gums). A toothbrush and floss prevent plaque, but they don't remove tartar that has already formed. It can't be removed safely at home.
Can I remove tartar at home?
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Not safely. Trying to scrape it with objects or using abrasive products doesn't work and can hurt your gums and wear down your teeth. Tartar is hard and stuck on — removing it takes professional instruments and technique, during a cleaning.
Does brushing harder remove tartar?
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No. Brushing hard doesn't remove tartar that's already formed and can hurt your gums and wear down your teeth. A toothbrush prevents plaque (before it hardens), but existing tartar only comes off with a professional. Hygiene prevents; cleaning removes.
How long does it take plaque to turn into tartar?
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Plaque can start to harden within a few days, with the help of minerals in saliva, turning into tartar. That's why consistent daily hygiene is so important: it removes plaque before it has time to mineralize and stick to the tooth.
Does tartar cause problems?
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Yes. Because it's porous and full of bacteria, it keeps the gums inflamed, promoting gingivitis, periodontitis, bleeding, bad breath and cavities. It's not just cosmetic — it actively drives gum disease. That's why removing it regularly matters.
Does tartar cause bad breath?
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It can contribute a lot. Tartar harbors bacteria and keeps the gums inflamed, which promotes odor. Since only a professional can remove it, regular cleanings are part of addressing bad breath linked to the gums and plaque buildup.
How can I prevent tartar?
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By removing plaque well every day: gentle brushing (especially along the gumline) and daily flossing. Cutting back on smoking and sugar helps. And getting regular professional cleanings, which remove what has formed. Prevention is the best strategy.
Is tartar below the gums different?
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Yes. Subgingival tartar sits inside the periodontal pockets and is more serious, linked to periodontal disease. It's removed with scaling (deeper than a routine cleaning), usually under local anesthesia. Your assessment determines whether it's needed.
How often should tartar be removed?
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Generally at cleanings every six months, but the interval is individual. People who build up a lot of tartar, smoke or have gum disease may need more frequent cleanings. Your assessment sets the right frequency for your case.
Can tartar come back after a cleaning?
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It can, if plaque isn't well controlled — that's why daily hygiene is essential. A cleaning "resets" accumulated tartar, and good home hygiene slows new buildup. Regular cleanings keep the cycle under control.
Is dark tartar more serious?
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Tartar can turn yellowish or dark, especially with coffee, wine and smoking. A darker color usually means older tartar. What matters isn't the color but removing it, because old or new, it keeps the gums inflamed.
Does the cleaning that removes tartar hurt?
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Usually not. There may be mild sensitivity, especially if there's a lot of tartar or the gums are inflamed, but it's generally well tolerated. Deeper scaling (below the gums) can be done under local anesthesia. The more regular your cleanings, the less discomfort.
Do braces make tartar build up more?
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They can, because brackets and wires make hygiene harder and create more nooks where plaque collects and hardens. That's why people with braces usually benefit from extra hygiene (with floss and an interdental brush) and, often, more frequent cleanings.
Is tartar between the teeth common?
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Very common, because plaque builds up most between the teeth, where the toothbrush can't reach. Without daily flossing, that plaque hardens into tartar between the teeth. That's why flossing is essential to prevent it, and a cleaning removes what has already formed.
Where can I get tartar removed in Mooca?
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Dr. Cléo Salustiano (CRO-SP 170844) sees patients at Rua Hipódromo, 1141, in Mooca, São Paulo, Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., in Portuguese, English and Spanish. At the appointment, tartar is removed safely and the right cleaning frequency is set for you.
