Most people have noticed it: a hard, rough deposit along the gum line, usually behind the lower front teeth, that no amount of brushing shifts. What is tartar on teeth, why does a toothbrush make no impression on it, and does it actually matter? All three questions have satisfyingly straightforward answers.
On this page
- What tartar actually is
- Why brushing cannot remove it
- Why it matters
- Where it forms, and why there
- Why some people get more than others
- How to slow it down
- Please do not scrape it off yourself
- The bottom line
What tartar actually is
Tartar, or calculus to give it its clinical name, is plaque that has hardened.
Plaque is the soft, sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth constantly, within hours of brushing. If it is not removed, minerals from your saliva, principally calcium and phosphate, gradually crystallise within it. Over roughly one to three days, that soft film sets into a hard, chalky deposit bonded firmly to the tooth surface.
The analogy that fits best is limescale in a kettle: the same process of minerals precipitating out of solution and building up in layers.
Why brushing cannot remove it
Because it is no longer a film sitting on the tooth. It is a mineralised deposit chemically bonded to the enamel surface, with a hardness genuinely comparable to the tooth itself.
Bristles are designed to disturb soft plaque, and they do that very well. They cannot break the bond of something set hard. Neither can mouthwash, oil pulling, bicarbonate of soda, or any of the various remedies that circulate online, all of which either do nothing or damage enamel while doing nothing.
Removing tartar requires professional instruments, either an ultrasonic scaler which vibrates it free, or hand instruments which lift it off. That is exactly what the scale part of a scale and polish is.
Why it matters
Tartar itself does not cause disease. What it does is create the perfect conditions for it.
Its surface is rough and porous, so it holds far more plaque than smooth enamel ever would, and it holds it right against the gum. That constant bacterial presence at the gum margin causes inflammation, which is the beginning of gum disease.
Where tartar forms below the gum line, which it readily does, the problem compounds: it sits inside the space between gum and tooth, where no brushing can reach it, driving deeper inflammation and eventually bone loss. Our post on why gums bleed when you brush covers the early warning signs, and whether gum disease is reversible explains why catching it early matters so much.
Tartar also stains readily, holding tea, coffee and tobacco pigments, and it contributes to persistent bad breath by harbouring odour-producing bacteria.
Where it forms, and why there
Two places above all: the inside surfaces of the lower front teeth, and the outer surfaces of the upper back teeth.
That is not coincidence. Both sit directly next to the openings of major salivary glands, so they are bathed in the mineral-rich saliva that makes plaque harden. It also explains why people who brush reasonably well still find deposits there.
Why some people get more than others
Genuinely variable, and not simply a matter of effort. Factors include:
- Saliva composition, which varies between individuals. Some people’s saliva is simply more mineral-rich.
- Saliva flow rate.
- Smoking, which increases tartar formation considerably.
- Crowded or overlapping teeth, which are harder to clean thoroughly.
- Dry mouth, often medication-related.
- Diet, particularly frequent snacking, which keeps plaque well fed.
So if you build tartar quickly despite good brushing, it is not necessarily a reflection on your technique. It does mean you probably need hygiene appointments more frequently, and our post on how often to visit the dentist explains how intervals are set.
How to slow it down
You cannot prevent tartar entirely, but you can substantially reduce how much forms, because tartar can only develop where plaque has been left undisturbed for a day or more.
- Brush twice daily for two minutes, angling the bristles towards the gum line. Our post on how to brush your teeth properly covers technique.
- Clean between your teeth every day. This is where a great deal of tartar begins, and it is the step most commonly skipped.
- Pay attention to the usual hotspots, behind the lower front teeth and the outer upper back teeth.
- Consider a tartar-control toothpaste, which contains ingredients that slow mineralisation. It helps with new formation but does nothing to existing deposits.
- Keep your hygiene appointments at whatever interval suits your mouth.
Please do not scrape it off yourself
Dental scalers are widely available online, and I would ask you not to buy one.
Used without training and without being able to see what you are doing, they scratch enamel, which then attracts plaque more readily than before. They damage gums, which can cause recession that does not recover. And they very easily push deposits further below the gum line, making the underlying problem worse while the visible part looks better.
It is one of the few areas where the DIY version is actively counterproductive.
The bottom line
Tartar is plaque that has hardened with minerals from saliva, bonding firmly to the tooth. No toothbrush or home remedy removes it; it needs professional instruments. It matters because its rough surface holds plaque against the gum, driving gum disease, and because it stains and contributes to bad breath.
If you can see or feel hard deposits on your teeth, book a hygiene appointment on 01255 422506. Our page on fresh breath treatment may also be relevant if breath is a concern.
This article is general information rather than personal dental advice. Every mouth is different, so please speak to your dentist about your own teeth.