Tartar – what you can do at home and when you need help

Tartar forms when bacterial plaque on the teeth becomes mineralised and hard. The amount of tartar that forms varies from person to person.

Let a dental professional remove hard tartar

Once the deposit has hardened, it cannot be brushed away. Do not try to scrape it off yourself. A dentist or dental hygienist can assess where the tartar is and remove it with suitable instruments.

What you can do at home

• Brush your teeth morning and evening with fluoride toothpaste.
• Clean between your teeth every day with dental floss or interdental brushes.
• Be thorough on the inside of the lower front teeth too, where tartar often forms.

Daily cleaning helps you keep soft deposits under control. Ask a dental professional to help you choose a cleaning routine and aids that suit you.

Treatment according to need

Contact your dental clinic if you think you have tartar. Treatment is adapted to how much needs to be removed and the condition of your gums.

Read more

• 1177: Tartar
• Folktandvården Skåne: Tartar