If you’re referring to the claim “Be your own dentist! Here are some tips for removing tartar buildup at home,” there’s an important correction: you should not try to scrape or chip tartar off your teeth yourself.
What you can do safely at home
Brush twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
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Clean between your teeth every day with floss, interdental brushes, or another appropriate interdental cleaner. This removes plaque before it hardens into tartar.
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A suitable therapeutic mouthwash can be an additional aid for some people, but it doesn’t replace brushing and interdental cleaning.
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Reduce frequent sugary drinks and snacks, which can contribute to tooth decay.
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🦷 What you can’t safely remove yourself
Tartar (calculus) is hardened plaque. Once it has formed, ordinary brushing and flossing won’t remove it effectively. Professional dental cleaning uses instruments to remove deposits above and below the gumline.
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Avoid using metal dental scrapers, needles, knives, or homemade acidic mixtures to chip it away. You can injure your gums, scratch tooth surfaces, or push bacteria farther under the gumline. The ADA also cautions that unsupervised self-delivered dental treatment can cause damage and irreversible complications.
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If you have heavy tartar, bleeding or swollen gums, persistent bad breath, loose teeth, or gum recession, a dental examination is especially important because these can accompany gum disease. Professional scaling—and, when necessary, deeper scaling and root planing—is used to treat established periodontal disease.
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Bottom line: You can prevent and control plaque at home, but once it has hardened into tartar, let a dental professional remove it.
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