How To Remove Tartar From Teeth With And Without A Dentist.

Your daily habits are the reason your smile makeover is more difficult, and you will lack confidence. Daily routines that include frequent coffee and tea consumption. Smoking is a culprit as well, so when you combine all three of those, do not be surprised that your teeth will look like that.

 Tartar, plaque and enamel discolouration are small issues that do not pose an immediate health risk. If left untreated, they can lead to periodontal disease, tooth decay, or tooth loss. 

Oral hygiene is essential; if you underestimate it, you will lose half your teeth by age 45.

Plaque, Tartar & Enamel Discolouration Without A Dentist

Good oral hygiene promotes a healthy, beautiful smile, fresh breath, and strong teeth and gums by preventing tooth decay and periodontal diseases. 

Under all circumstances, we do not advise the use of DIY kits or any unconventional remedies such as lemon, baking powder, and other oddities, as these severely harm tooth enamel. 

What happens when you don’t put enough care into your oral hygiene? 

Phase one: Plaque

Plaque is a layer of colourless bacteria that builds up on your teeth. If left without care, it will harden into tartar and cause your gums to swell and bleed, which are early signs of periodontal disease.

Treatments

Since this is only the first phase of acquiring Tartar on your teeth and gums, the remedies are quite easy; 

• Brushing regularly (preferably two times a day– Morning and night)
• Flossing your teeth (preferably after each meal) 
• Mouthwash (Could be used independently or after brushing)

Let us assume that you left all that bacteria piled up on your teeth and gums. What would happen?

Phase two: Tartar

Tartar, also called calculus, is plaque that has hardened on your teeth. Tartar can also accumulate beneath the gumline and irritate the gum tissues. Tartar provides plaque with more surface area to adhere to and grow, which can lead to more severe conditions, such as cavities and periodontal disease. 

It is like an invitation to tooth loss, only it worsens every day. It’s not treated or managed. 

Treatment

 This is the second phase, and it is more difficult to remove tartar immediately. The treatment of tartar requires greater dedication. 

Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste

• Electric toothbrushes tend to reduce plaque buildup more effectively than manual toothbrushes; choose a hard-bristled toothbrush rather than a soft-bristled one.

Use tartar-control toothpaste

• Toothpaste that contains pyrophosphates and zinc citrate to slow tartar buildup.

Daily flossing or interdental brushes

• In order to remove plaque between teeth before it hardens.

Antibacterial mouthwash

• Chlorhexidine, or essential oil-based to reduce bacterial load.

Lifestyle changes 

reduce smoking, coffee, black tea, and alcohol, which stain and encourage tartar.

If you follow through with these remedies, you will have a good chance of stopping the growth of tartar, and in time, you could get rid of 70-80% of the tartar. 

We’ve discussed plaque and tartar, and we’ll go through what enamel discolouration is and some of the quick remedies around it.

Enamel Discoloration 

Enamel discolouration is when the tooth’s colour changes from white to yellowish, and it can be linked to multiple causes. Stain agents such as coffee, tea, and tobacco, or age. There are three main reasons for the discolouration;

• Extrinsic stains (on enamel): caused by coffee, tea, red wine, dark foods, or tobacco.
• Intrinsic stains (within dentin): caused by medications, excess fluoride, trauma, or genetic conditions.
• Age-related: as enamel wears down, more of the naturally yellow dentin shows through.
  (Colgate)

Treatments: 

Whitening toothpaste

What it does: (with mild abrasives and peroxide) → helps with surface stains.

Mouth rinses

What it does: containing hydrogen peroxide → gradual stain removal.

Limiting stain-causing foods and beverages

Examples: coffee, tea, red wine, and soda.

Quitting smoking/tobacco use

What it does: prevents further staining.

Good oral hygiene (brushing + flossing daily) 

What it does: prevents buildup that traps stains.

What is the real difference between at-home remedies and in-Clinic Care, and which should we choose?

Plaque, Tartar, and Whitening With a Dentist In Turkey

Professional plaque, tartar, or enamel discolouration treatments in Turkey are very popular because they are more affordable and are often superior to those provided by government hospitals.

We’ll examine how professional dentists navigate oral issues. 

Plaque Removal 

There are numerous toothpastes and lotions that can help you get rid of plaque, but there are areas that are hard to reach in your oral cavity, and those areas are where the residues of the food you have eaten in your day are. 

This process is continuous, and bacteria and saliva interact, leading to plaque formation even at night. 

The professional plaque removal process is a simple one, and it has simple aspects such as; 

Examination

• The dentist or hygienist identifies plaque and tartar buildup using a small mirror and probe.

Scaling

• Hand scalers or ultrasonic instruments are used to scrape plaque/tartar from tooth surfaces and below the gumline.
• Ultrasonic scalers use vibrations + water spray to break down deposits.

Polishing

• After scaling, teeth are polished with a gritty paste to smooth enamel surfaces, making it harder for plaque to reattach.

Fluoride Treatment (optional)

• Fluoride gel or varnish strengthens enamel against decay and slows new plaque buildup.

Maintenance Advice

• Dentists typically recommend adjustments to brushing technique, flossing, and follow-up visits every 6 months.

The average cost of plaque removal in the UK ranges from £25 to £85, whereas in Turkey it is estimated at around £35- £50. 

Plaque removal is quite cheap due to its ease of extraction, as it is a thin layer that hasn’t fully developed, while tartar removal is more complex due to the surface area covered. 

Tartar Removal 

Tartar (also called calculus) is hardened plaque that cannot be removed by at-home brushing or flossing. Once it mineralises, it bonds tightly to enamel and gum surfaces, making professional removal essential.

Steps to remove tartar professionally with a dentist; 

Tartar Examination:

• A dentist or hygienist locates tartar deposits above and below the gumline using a mirror and probe.

Scaling Tartar

• Manual scaling → dentist uses hand instruments (curettes, scalers) to physically chip away tartar.
• Ultrasonic scaling → high-frequency vibrations combined with water spray break apart and flush tartar deposits.
• The focus is on the gingival and interdental areas, where tartar most often forms.

Root Planing (if gum disease is present)

• Smoothing root surfaces beneath the gums facilitates reattachment and prevents bacterial colonisation of that area.

Polishing

• A gritty paste polishes teeth after scaling, making surfaces smooth and resistant to new tartar buildup.

Fluoride Treatment (optional)

• Strengthens enamel after tartar removal and helps protect against acid attacks.

The average cost of tartar removal in the UK is £50-£150, whereas in Turkey it is £25-£85.

These are the steps a dentist will take to remove tartar. While they may appear tedious, if your case is not severe, it will be completed in less than 30 minutes.

Now that we’ve explored tartar treatments, it is time to find out more about what we can do professionally about our enamel discolouration.

Discoloration Removal 

Why Enamel Discolours

Enamel, the hard outer surface of your teeth, can change colour due to two main reasons:

Extrinsic stains 

• Surface stains from coffee, tea, red wine, tobacco, or pigmented foods.

Intrinsic stains 

• Discolouration within the tooth is caused by trauma, excessive fluoride exposure, certain medications, or age-related enamel thinning.

Unlike tartar, discolouration may be partially managed at home, but persistent or internal stains often require professional treatment.

The average cost to fix Enamel Discolouration in the UK is £200–£600, while in Turkey it costs around £100 and £400

Warning signs that you must visit a dentist

We’ve compiled a list of the early signs that typically indicate the need to visit the dentist.

Let us explore them, as we can clearly determine when and why we should seek professional help.

Warning Signs of Plaque

Plaque is the earliest stage of dental plaque buildup, and detecting it early prevents it from progressing to tartar. Common warning signs include:

• A fuzzy or sticky feeling on teeth, especially after eating or waking up.
• Mild bad breath that lingers despite brushing.
• Gums that look slightly red or irritated.

Warning Signs of Tartar (Dental Calculus)

Tartar is a hardened plaque; once it forms, it typically requires professional removal. Signs you might have tartar include:

• A rough or hard surface on teeth that brushing doesn’t remove.
• Yellow, brown, or black hardened deposits near the gumline.
• Swollen, tender, or bleeding gums (early gum disease/gingivitis).
• Increased bad breath that does not improve with oral hygiene.
  

Warning Signs of Enamel Discolouration

Enamel discolouration can be cosmetic but may also indicate underlying issues. Signs include:

• Teeth appear yellow, brown, grey, or even bluish.
• Stains that don’t go away after brushing.
• Uneven colour across different teeth.
• In some cases, increased sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods (if discolouration is linked to enamel erosion).

Which to Choose: Basic Remedies or Clinical Ones 

Addressing plaque, tartar, and enamel discolouration early prevents more severe oral issues later on. Exploring them professionally or at home is your choice, but doing nothing at all is not advisable. 

We would recommend the clinical ones, as the price difference is not so big compared to other dental products 

If you’re considering dental cleaning or whitening in Turkey, we’ve got you covered.