Why Your Toothbrush Can’t Reverse Tartar (& What You Should Do)

At Kessler Dental, we often hear the question: “Is there a special rinse or brush that can remove that hard buildup on my lower teeth?”

While we love the proactive spirit of our patients, there is a biological reason why tartar requires professional intervention. Once plaque undergoes a chemical transformation, it gets cemented to your tooth. Attempting to remove tartar at home can cause more harm than good. 

The Chemistry of Calcification

Plaque is a soft, biofilm of bacteria that you can easily disrupt with a toothbrush. However, your saliva is rich in minerals like calcium and phosphate, which are meant to strengthen your enamel. If plaque sits on the tooth for more than 48 hours, it begins to use the minerals from your saliva for itself. The process, called calcification, turns the soft bacteria into a hard, rock-like substance. Think of it like a dripping faucet in a sink. Eventually, the minerals in the water create a scale that can’t be wiped away with a sponge.

The Risk of Enamel Harming Enamel

Because tartar is chemically bonded to the tooth, removing it requires a specific amount of force applied at a very precise angle. That’s something our hygienists are trained to do, but the average person is not. 

We strongly discourage using any at-home “dental tools” to scrape at tartar. Without the important training of a dental professional, it is incredibly easy to accidentally gouge or scratch the enamel. Scratched enamel is a rough surface that easily harbors new plaque and tartar. 

Breaking the Cycle of Buildup

While you can’t remove tartar at home, you can prevent the mineralization cycle with diligent dental hygiene.  Thoroughly brush your entire smile, and focus on the areas near salivary glands (like the back of your lower front teeth) to clear plaque away before it gets the chance to become tartar. 

Visit Us for Professional Dental Hygiene in Lansdale

On top of at-home dental care, professional hygiene appointments are critical to both prevent and treat tartar. At Kessler Dental, we safely lift tartar away from your teeth, leaving you with healthy enamel and gums. Twice-yearly preventive dentistry visits provide a clean slate for your home care routine.

Get your professional reset today. Schedule your next teeth cleaning in Lansdale.