If you have a good dental routine, chances are you notice when your teeth are dirty. If you skip a brushing session first thing in the morning, you may feel the gunk that has been glued to your teeth since the night before. This gunk is plaque, and left unattended it will turn into tartar. While brushing your teeth twice per day for two minutes each time and flossing once a day will remove most plaque; there will still be some that gets left behind. After a few weeks, this left-behind plaque becomes quite the buildup of hard tartar. So, how do you remove tartar from your teeth when you’ve already got a good dental routine? We are glad you asked.
Short Answer: You Can’t 
While you can do your best to remove plaque every time you brush, it is nearly impossible to remove it all. Once this plaque hardens into tartar, it is even more difficult. While you can’t prevent tartar buildup completely, there are some things you can do to minimize the amount on your teeth and decrease your chances of developing gum disease.
- Avoid Nicotine and Tobacco Products. Not only does nicotine and tobacco lead to bad breath, tooth damage, oral cancers, lung cancer, and a host of other issues, using these products also increases tartar buildup. As the nicotine residue hits your teeth, it instantly sticks to your enamel in the front and back of the teeth. Every time you smoke adds to the buildup. This substance is known to harden quickly, much like coffee, and can cause your tartar levels to be out of control.
- Watch Your Diet. Diets high in sugar can lead to more plaque and tartar. Bacteria love glucose, and the more that is in your mouth means more bacteria live on the tooth surface.
- Switch to Electric. Studies have shown that electric toothbrushes remove more plaque than manual ones. While these are a bit more costly, the return on the investment will be much greater.
So Fresh and So Clean
While you can’t remove tartar alone, you can get rid of it by seeing a dental hygienist. The American Dental Association recommends visiting a dentist twice per year for regular cleaning by a licensed dental hygienist. A dental hygienist has the right tools to scrape and break up the tartar buildup on your teeth. In addition, they will rinse and apply fluoride to help better protect your teeth and gums from disease. We would be happy to see you at Premier Dental Center Universal City. New patients can now schedule their first appointment which includes the exam, cleaning, and set of x-rays, for just $59. Tartar is tough, but our dental team is tougher. We look forward to caring for your teeth!