For optimal oral care, many people would like to be able to remove tartar themselves at home without visiting their dentist. Although visits to the dentist are the recommended option, there are some tools and techniques that you could try as a form of self-care. In addition, certain natural products have a positive effect on teeth when it comes to plaque and would be a cheap alternative to conventional care products. This means you can improve your own dental hygiene to ensure a germ- and disease-free mouth without much effort. If you would like to consider such options, below you will find useful information, tips and home remedies that can help you.
What you should know before removing tartar yourself
You can try to treat plaque and tartar yourself with consistent brushing, flossing and some household products. If you don't get rid of it, the formation of tartar can increase the risk of aVariety of oral health problems, including gum disease. This involves the buildup of plaque and minerals from your saliva that harden on your teeth.
Tartar builds up on the front and back of the teeth and between the teeth. Its consistency is porous, so food and drinks can easily stain it, making teeth unsightly. As a result, these deposits penetrate below the gum line, coating the outside of the teeth and wreaking havoc on dental health.
How does tartar affect oral health and how can it be detected?
The possible signs of tartar can be recognized by the fact that the teeth feel rough and cannot be treated by brushing alone. If it appears above your gum line, you should look at yourYellow or brown spots on teethcan notice. These can spread and cover larger areas of the teeth if you do not remove your tartar yourself. If you do nothing, it can even turn black and lead to periodontitis, bone loss, gum recession and ultimately tooth loss.
Other signs include chronic bad breath, gum disease, tooth decay, gingivitis, tooth sensitivity, and bleeding and irritated gums. In addition, if left untreated, tartar can also lead to other health problems. For example, gum disease caused by tartar buildup can also increase the risk of stroke, heart disease and diabetes. This can have many consequences for oral health and cause infections that are difficult and slow to heal.
For this reason, you should not allow plaque or tartar to form by maintaining appropriate dental hygiene. You can also determine for yourself whether you have such deposits. To do this, simply add a few drops of food coloring to the water, gargle with it and spit it out. The colorful liquid remains on your teeth and highlights any stains that may be on your teeth. If this is the case for you, you can try the following self-care methods.
Ways to prevent tartar formation
Now that you've read about what tartar is and why it's not good for your teeth, there are some steps you can take to remove it and prevent it from forming. This means you can prevent unwanted deposits without going to the dentist. While removing tartar can require significant effort, fighting the bacteria in the mouth that leads to tartar is easy and helpful in promoting oral health.
- Brushing your teeth regularlyas a preventative measure – Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is probably the most well-known method of dental care. While brushing with a standard soft-bristled brush adequately cleans your teeth, using electric toothbrushes has been shown to be more effective in reducing the appearance of buildup on teeth. Brushing your teeth prevents the plaque from hardening and turning into tartar. In addition, this habit should not be sporadic, as brushing your teeth occasionally is not effective enough.
- ThroughUsing the right toothpasteRemove tartar yourself – This is another useful measure to combat tartar. Certain toothpastes have an active element made up of pyrophosphates and fluoride. The latter helps to eliminate the bacteria and germs in the mouth that are also responsible for tartar formation. This will protect your teeth from tooth decay.
- Floss regularly– It often happens that food remains stick to the teeth. There are certain distant parts of the teeth that cannot be easily reached with a toothbrush. However, brushing these areas ensures better conditions in the mouth, and flossing helps clean these otherwise inaccessible parts. In addition, it makes it easier to remove accumulations on the surface of the teeth. Since stuck food and plaque also cause bad breath, flossing is an essential tool for maintaining oral hygiene.
What home remedies could you use to remove tartar yourself?
- Baking sodaUse it in the mouth as a common home remedy - regardless of whether you want to get rid of bad odors or unclog drains, baking soda has long been a popular household remedy. Its mild effect could actually also be effective against deposits on tooth enamel. For this method, make a paste consisting of water, baking soda, and a pinch of salt. Then simply brush your teeth with the mixture. However, you should note that such a measure does not replace regular brushing of your teeth with a suitable toothpaste.
- Distilled white vinegarUse for tartar – The natural method of gargling with vinegar is another safe and effective option if you want to remove tartar yourself. However, since this product does not taste or smell particularly pleasant, it is not the first choice for oral care. However, if you want to try it with this, you can combine a few tablespoons of it with a tablespoon of salt and half a glass of water. Then gargle for at least 30 seconds and repeat the procedure every few days for optimal results.
Use natural products to prevent tartar formation
- Ground cloves– These natural remedies are already known worldwide for relieving toothache. Because of their common use in cooking, they are still easy to find and purchase. It's best to buy ready-made cloves for your dental care, or use a food processor to grind them. Clove oil has natural bacteria-fighting properties that help ward off buildup on teeth. Simply apply this by making a paste with water, applying it directly to your teeth and leaving it on for a few moments before rinsing the paste thoroughly.
- WithThe sesame seedRemove tartar yourself – Tiny sesame seeds also prove to be an aid in removing plaque. Use the natural product for dental care by putting a small handful of seeds in your mouth and chewing them intensively without swallowing them. While still holding the seeds in your mouth, brush them with a dry toothbrush. Finally, rinse the seeds out of your mouth and you have tried another natural and gentle method against tartar.
- Chewing ofFigsfor plaque and against tartar formation - Eating figs stimulates the salivary glands, which reduces the accumulation of tartar. Try to eat several figs at a time, but chew them slowly. Allow the figs to come into contact with your gums and teeth as much as possible.
- Use ofOrange bowls– These shells can help break down microorganisms that adhere to tooth enamel. To do this, you can make a paste as a scrub, apply it to problem areas and rinse off after a few moments. However, the scrub can also be rubbed directly over your gums and teeth. The vitamin C in oranges helps remove unwanted deposits.
