Okay, so nobody really likes going to the dentist right? It’s either too expensive, or scary, or just a whole lot of “ugh I’ll go next month”… and then next month becomes next year . But then one day you’re brushing your teeth and you see that weird yellowish hard stuff near your gums. That’s tartar. And once it’s there, it kinda sticks.
Now the thing is, dentists are the best way to get rid of tartar (like properly), but if you’re not trying to go right now for whatever reason, there’s a few things you can try at home. Not gonna lie, it’s not 100% foolproof, but some of it helps.
What even is tartar tho?
So quick explainer: Tartar is what happens when you don’t clean your teeth well and plaque (which is the soft sticky stuff from food, sugar etc) just chills on your teeth too long. After a while, it gets hard, like literally turns into a rock. That’s tartar. Once it’s hard, it’s like cemented on there lol, and brushing alone don’t really remove it.
1. Baking Soda + Toothpaste Combo (cheap and kinda works)
This is one of those home hacks people talk about and tbh it kinda works if your tartar isn’t too bad.
How to do it:
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Mix a lil baking soda with your regular toothpaste
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Brush your teeth with that mix for like 2-3 mins
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Only do it 1-2 times a week, NOT everyday or it’ll mess up your enamel
It helps remove like surface stains, not really deep tartar but still better than nothing. It also makes ur mouth feel really fresh afterwards
2. Try Oil Pulling (sounds weird but ppl swear by it)
Okay I know this sounds like a joke but oil pulling is actually a thing from like ancient Ayurveda stuff. Basically it’s swishing oil in your mouth for a while to pull out bacteria.
How to do it:
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Take 1 tbsp of coconut oil
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Swish it in your mouth (don’t swallow pls) for 10-20 mins
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Spit it out and rinse real good
It doesn’t scrape tartar off or anything, but it helps reduce bacteria which means less plaque which = less tartar buildup in future.
3. Use a Tartar Control Mouthwash
There’s some mouthwashes out there that say “tartar protection” or “anti-tartar” or something like that. They won’t magically clean your teeth but they can def help keep stuff from getting worse.
Not all mouthwashes are same tho. Some burn your mouth like fire so test a few till you find one that doesn’t kill your taste buds.
4. Floss (yes, actually do it this time )
Let’s be honest… most people buy floss and never use it after the first 2 days. But flossing actually helps remove the junk between your teeth where tartar loves to hide.
If you floss every day, it won’t remove existing tartar really but it’ll totally stop more from forming. Also it makes your gums feel less sore after a while.
5. Use Dental Tools at Home? Be CAREFUL
So like, you can buy those little dental scraper kits online — they’re like what dentists use but cheaper. But warning: if you don’t know how to use them properly you can hurt your gums or scratch up your teeth for no reason
If you do wanna try it, go slow and don’t go jabbing around your gums. Also don’t do it if your hands are shaky or you’ve had 3 cups of coffee already
6. Eat Crunchy Stuff Like Apples and Carrots
This one isn’t gonna remove tartar, but it helps clean your teeth naturally. Crunchy fruits and veggies sort of scrub your teeth while you chew and make more saliva which helps clean your mouth too.
Bonus: they’re healthy. Downside: they’re not chips lol.
7. Hydrogen Peroxide Mouth Rinse (but don’t overdo it)
Mix equal parts water + 3% hydrogen peroxide and swish it in your mouth for like 30 seconds. It helps whiten your teeth a bit and kills bacteria.
BUT don’t swallow it (obv), and don’t use it every single day. It can make your mouth dry or irritate your gums after a while.
So… Can You Remove Tartar Without a Dentist?
Honestly? Not really all the way. Like, if it’s already hard tartar, home tricks won’t break it off completely. You can maybe clean some of the softer areas or stop more from building up, but eventually a dentist is gonna have to do the real cleaning.
That said, if you can’t go right now or you’re just tryna manage things till your next checkup, these tips can help you hold it down for a bit.