How to Remove Tartar and Plaque from Teeth?

Filtered by Oral Health Goal

What are plaque and tartar?

Plaque and tartar can both lead to a series of oral health issues, such as cavities, gum diseases, teeth decay and even loss of teeth. A lot of people have been using these two words interchangeably, but they are in fact two different conditions.

Plaque

You’ve probably heard about plaque a lot, but what exactly is it? It’s a colourless, almost invisible layer of soft biofilm. It’s mostly made up of the bacteria in your mouth. Plaque buildup happens every day, and you can get rid of it by brushing thoroughly.

Tartar

Tartar, also known as dental calculus, is essentially the plaque that has hardened and calcified over time. Dentists would tell you that plaque can take as short as 24 hours to become tartar. Once it’s formed, you can’t remove it by brushing. To remove tartar from teeth, you’ll need to consult your dentist for treatments.

How do you know if you have plaque and tartar?

Plaque on teeth is mostly invisible. One way to tell whether you have plaque is to run your tongue over your teeth. The plaque layer will feel fuzzy on your tongue. For some severe cases, you may notice other signs like bad breath and swollen gums (that may bleed after you brush).

If you want to actually see the dental plaque, there are products such as chewable tablets, that can reveal the plaque layer by staining it with dye.

On the other hand, having tartar on your teeth is very noticeable. If you see a hardened, yellowish coat on your teeth, you can seek advice from your dentists on removing it.

3 steps to prevent and remove plaque and tartar

1. Brush and floss daily

Brushing is an important way to remove plaque and reduce the bacteria in your mouth. To have a proper daily oral healthcare regime, you should brush at least twice a day, each time for about 2 minutes, and floss once a day. Killing as much harmful bacteria in your mouth as possible is the key to a healthy set of teeth! This is also how to prevent tartar on your teeth.

To further protect your gums, you can try Darlie Gum Care toothpaste, which is clinically proven to be effective in reducing swellings in gums caused by plaque buildup. Our Superior Clean toothbrush series features ultra-thin bristles, designed to go between your teeth to remove any plaque. With the plaque taken care of, you won’t need to worry about tartar!

2. Use mouthwash

Mouthwash is highly effective in killing bacteria that lingers in your mouth. With it, you can remove plaque and prevent it from forming again too soon. While brushing your teeth is crucial, mouthwash can help to clean the hard-to-reach areas in your mouth.

Try the Darlie Salt Gum Mouthwash! It is scientifically tested to reduce 99.9% of oral bacteria growth. That’s a sure-fire way to nip this plaque problem in the bud, with the bonus of having long-lasting fresh breath.

3. Teeth scaling

If you find your mouth has plaque and tartar buildup, you can seek professional help. Your dentist can help you remove both plaque and tartar with the teeth scaling procedure. They will be able to remove any plaque and tartar right below your gum line. Teeth scaling is known as deep cleaning and effectively prevents oral health issues!

Conclusion

Remember, good dental hygiene goes a long way for your oral health and well-being. Take good care of your teeth. With these pearly whites, you can then enjoy the good things that come with a smile.