Tartar, also called dental calculus, is plaque that has hardened on the teeth. Plaque is the soft film of bacteria that forms daily. If it is not brushed away, minerals from saliva turn it into a hard crust within days to weeks.
Once formed, tartar cannot be brushed off at home. Its rough surface holds more bacteria against the gum, which drives gum inflammation and, in time, periodontitis with bone loss and loose teeth. Professional cleaning removes it, and daily cleaning between the teeth slows its return.
Symptoms
- Yellow, brown or chalky hard deposits near the gum line
- Build-up behind the lower front teeth and beside the upper molars
- Gums that bleed on brushing
- Red, puffy or tender gums
- Persistent bad breath
- Gums pulling back, making teeth look longer
- Roughness felt with the tongue
Causes and risk factors
Tartar forms where plaque is left in place, so brushing technique and cleaning between teeth matter most. It appears fastest near the openings of the salivary glands. Some people form it quickly because of their saliva chemistry, regardless of effort. Smoking, a dry mouth, crowded teeth, braces, and a sugary or starchy diet increase it. Deposits under the gum are dark, invisible to you and the more harmful kind.
How it is diagnosed
- Dental examination: The dentist or hygienist sees and feels deposits above and below the gum.
- Periodontal probing: Measures pocket depth around each tooth. Depths of 4 mm or more with bleeding indicate periodontitis.
- Bitewing or panoramic X-rays: Show calculus between teeth and the level of supporting bone.
- Plaque disclosing: A dye highlights the areas your brushing misses.
Treatment options
- Scale and polish: Ultrasonic and hand instruments remove deposits above the gum in 30 to 45 minutes. Usually repeated every 6 to 12 months.
- Air polishing: A powder spray that lifts stain and soft biofilm, often used alongside scaling.
- Root surface debridement (deep cleaning): Cleaning below the gum under local anaesthetic, in one to four visits, for periodontitis.
- Periodontal surgery: Flap surgery or regenerative procedures for deep pockets that persist.
- Home care coaching: Electric toothbrush, interdental brushes sized for you, and fluoride toothpaste. Tartar-control pastes slow new build-up but do not remove what is there.
- Stopping smoking: Improves gum healing and lowers the risk of tooth loss.
When it is urgent
Tartar is never an emergency. See a dentist promptly, locally, for a painful gum swelling with pus, gum pain with ulceration and fever, or a tooth that has suddenly become loose. Facial swelling with difficulty swallowing needs emergency care.
Travelling to Türkiye for treatment
Nobody needs to fly for a scale and polish. It is, however, a sensible first step if you are already coming for veneers, crowns, implants or whitening, since gums must be healthy before that work begins. Gum disease needs reviews every 3 to 6 months, which should be with a hygienist at home.
Send your reports, scans and a short history and a Clinic-Y coordinator replies within 24 hours with suitable teams and written, all-inclusive proposals side by side. Reviewing your case is free.
الأسئلة المتكررة
Can I scrape tartar off myself?
It is not advised. Home scraping tools damage enamel and gums and leave the deposits below the gum untouched.
Does scaling damage enamel or loosen teeth?
No. Teeth may feel looser or more sensitive for a short time because bulky deposits and swelling have gone, revealing damage already done.
How often should I have it done?
Every 6 to 12 months for most people, and every 3 to 4 months if you have had periodontitis.
Will whitening remove tartar?
No. Tartar must be removed first, and whitening works on clean tooth surfaces.