If you have questions about dental procedures including teeth scaling and tooth polishing, or want to know how to remove tartar from teeth without visiting a dentist, you\u2019re in the right place. In this article you\u2019ll find information on:<\/p>
- How much does a teeth cleaning cost?<\/li>
- Tartar removal procedure, duration and what to expect<\/li>
- How to make a hygienist appointment<\/li>
- Whether it\u2019s possible to remove tartar at home<\/li>
- How to avoid tartar buildup on your teeth in the future<\/li> <\/ul>
We hope this information on scaling teeth and removing tartar helps you make more informed choices about your dental care for better oral hygiene<\/a> in the future.<\/p>
Do you need a teeth cleaning? Find a dentist available now for a cleaning and check-up near you.<\/strong><\/div>Click here<\/a> to get connected or call 866-383-0748<\/a> (toll-free, 24\/7)<\/p>
Call A Dentist<\/a><\/p> <\/div> <\/div>
What is tartar?<\/h2>
Dental tartar on teeth, or tooth calculus, forms when dental plaque is left to harden. Plaque builds up on your teeth throughout the day, and if not cleaned away, it soon solidifies to tartar. Tartar on teeth contains a mixture of calcium compounds, bacteria, and other organic matter naturally present in the mouth.<\/p>
![\"tartar](\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2019\/09\/tartar-on-teeth-300x197.jpg\")
Tartar on teeth often forms around the gumlines, where it\u2019s harder to brush<\/figcaption><\/figure> <\/div> Unlike plaque, which is almost invisible, tartar is quite easy to spot. It ranges in color from white and yellow to brown and black, usually darkening the longer it remains. Tartar usually first accumulates around the gums and between teeth; the places that are hardest to clean properly.<\/p>
Over time, tartar not removed from teeth can cause numerous problems including:<\/p>
- Cavities<\/li>
- Bad breath<\/li>
- Gum disease<\/li>
- Gum recession<\/li>
- Teeth becoming loose or falling out<\/li> <\/ul>
Not to mention, it\u2019s pretty unpleasant to look at.<\/p>
Because our teeth are uneven shapes and it\u2019s hard to clean between them really well, some degree of tartar buildup on teeth is to be expected. However, with regular dental checkups your dentist can keep an eye on the condition of your teeth and recommend scaling teeth for tartar removal, if required.<\/p>
This article<\/a> about plaque explains more about what causes it and how to stop it building up and turning into tartar.<\/p>
Tartar removal<\/h2>
If you struggle with plaque build-up, you\u2019re probably wondering how to get rid of tartar. Calculus on teeth bonds very strongly to tooth enamel, so you can\u2019t just scrape it off using your finger. Whereas brushing and flossing properly should remove most of the sticky plaque from your teeth, tartar removal<\/strong> requires special tools.<\/p>
If your dentist or hygienist notices tartar on your teeth, they will conduct a professional teeth cleaning procedure called a scale and polish\u2014more on that in a moment.<\/p>
However, if you\u2019re one of those people who wants to avoid visiting the dentists at all costs, you might be wondering how to remove calculus from teeth without going to the dentist<\/strong>. Are there ways to do it yourself? Can you remove tartar at home?<\/p>
How to remove tartar from teeth without a dentist<\/h3>
![\"tartar](\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2019\/09\/tartar-removal-tools-300x202.jpg\")
Dental tools for removing tartar on teeth should not be used at home<\/figcaption><\/figure> <\/div> The short answer is, don\u2019t try to conduct your own teeth scaling at home.<\/p>
As you\u2019ll see below, dentists and hygienists use a range of specialist tools to get rid of tartar on teeth. Although you can buy tartar removal tools online, just like dental professionals use for teeth scaling, there is a big risk of damaging the teeth and gums if these tools are used without the proper training.<\/p>
It\u2019s also very hard to see inside your own mouth in the same way that a dentist can, to check that all the tartar buildup is removed.<\/p>
However, now there are tools \u2014 ultrasonic tooth cleaners\u00a0\u2014 that are available for at home use. They make tartar removal at home safer, because they don\u2019t require a scraping action. Additionally, some come with a camera, so you can see how and where you are cleaning. You can read our ultrasonic tooth cleaner<\/a> review to find out more.<\/p>
If you are trying to avoid dentist cleaning costs by removing tartar at home, it\u2019s a much better idea to find dental financing options<\/a>.<\/p>
Natural tartar removal at home<\/h3>
But are there any natural ways to carry out tartar removal at home?<\/strong> Can you remove tartar from teeth with baking soda, activated charcoal<\/a> or other natural products?<\/p>
Unfortunately for those hoping to remove tartar from teeth without a dentist, the answer is again \u2018no\u2019. There are lots of natural ways to remove plaque\u2014you could try making your own natural toothpaste, for example\u2014but once tartar has accumulated, the only safe way to properly remove it is with professional teeth cleaning and teeth scaling at the dentist. You simply can\u2019t remove tartar at home.<\/p>
Now, let\u2019s look at exactly what\u2019s involved with tooth scaling and polishing.<\/p>
What is dental scaling?<\/h2>
So how do dentists remove tartar? Well, there are two parts to this common tartar removal and teeth cleaning procedure, which may be carried out by a dentist or hygienist.<\/p>
![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2019\/09\/scale-and-polish-300x300.jpg\")
Dental cleaning removes tartar from teeth<\/figcaption><\/figure> <\/div> - Teeth scaling:<\/strong> The first task is to clean by scraping plaque off of teeth. Various tartar removal tools are used for teeth scaling, which we describe in more detail below.<\/li>
- Teeth polishing:<\/strong> Once teeth are clean, they are polished to make the surface really smooth. Not only does this improve the cosmetic appearance of the teeth; it also removes rough patches which are more susceptible to plaque buildup.<\/li> <\/ol>
Depending on the state of your oral health, your dentist or hygienist will either conduct a regular tooth cleaning, potentially with a scale and polish as and when is needed, or they may recommend a deep cleaning (more on that later.)<\/p>
Now let\u2019s look in detail at what a dentist or hygienist does when scaling teeth during dental cleaning.<\/strong><\/p>
Ask a dentist: What is root planing and scaling?<\/div>After the tooth surface has been completely cleaned above and below the gum line, the root of the tooth undergoes a process called planing. This is a process of smoothing the root of the tooth so that any remaining tartar is removed. This clears away any rough areas that bacteria below the gum line thrive in. And, it makes it much easier for the gum tissue to re-attach itself to the tooth, reducing the size of the pockets that the plaque and bacteria hide in.<\/p>
Scaling occurs above or below the gum line and involves the scraping and removal of plaque and calculus (tartar) from the tooth. Scaling done at regular teeth cleanings usually involves the crown of the tooth. However, in more extreme circumstances, it is necessary to go further below the gum line to thoroughly remove disease-causing bacteria and its by-products on the root surface. The goal of root planing and scaling is to prevent or treat gum disease and to keep your mouth as healthy as it can be.<\/p>
Dr. Angela Evanson, Angela Evanson DDS<\/strong><\/p> <\/div> <\/div>
Dental cleaning procedure<\/h3>
![\"teeth](\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2019\/09\/tooth-polishing-300x199.jpg\")
The final stage of teeth cleaning is to smooth teeth by polishing them<\/figcaption><\/figure> <\/div> When scaling teeth, dentists normally use an electric scaling instrument, sometimes called an ultrasonic scaler. This vibrates at high speeds to loosen tartar on the teeth. It also sprays water to wash the debris away, so you might be asked to spit from time to time.<\/p>
Once the electronic scaler has removed larger pieces of tartar on teeth, the dentist will use hand scaling tools in a variety of shapes and sizes. They scrape away any remaining tartar, with the different shaped tools making it possible to reach between the teeth and into gum pockets.<\/p>
Any newly exposed areas of tooth enamel can be quite rough, but the final polish takes care of this. The dental polishing tool looks a bit like a rotating electric toothbrush head, and the dentist might use a special toothpaste to finish the dental cleaning.<\/p>
Heavy tartar removal<\/h3>
If you haven\u2019t taken the best care of your teeth and have avoided the dentist for years, you may have quite heavy tartar buildup. In extreme cases, tartar on teeth can spread to the point where it completely covers the teeth (here is one example<\/a>, if you\u2019re interested). Even if heavy tartar removal is required, it\u2019s possible to save the teeth underneath once the tartar removal is complete.<\/p>
The process is much the same as described above, but will take longer the more calculus on teeth has built up.<\/p>
The video below shows how dental tools are used to remove tartar from teeth, even when it\u2019s been there a while.<\/p>
- Teeth polishing:<\/strong> Once teeth are clean, they are polished to make the surface really smooth. Not only does this improve the cosmetic appearance of the teeth; it also removes rough patches which are more susceptible to plaque buildup.<\/li> <\/ol>
- Teeth scaling:<\/strong> The first task is to clean by scraping plaque off of teeth. Various tartar removal tools are used for teeth scaling, which we describe in more detail below.<\/li>