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

Your daily habits are the reason you smile without confidence. Daily routines that include drinking coffee and tea in large amounts. Smoking is a culprit as well, so when you combine all three of those– do not be surprised your teeth will look like that.

 Tartar,plaque and enamel discoloration are small issues that do not pose an immediate health risk. If left untreated and free they will cause gum disease, tooth decay, or even tooth loss. 

Oral hygiene is something that you must take seriously, as if you underestimate it, you will lose half your teeth by 45.

Plaque, Tartar & Enamel Discoloration Without A Dentist

Having good oral hygiene provides a healthy and beautiful smile,fresh breath, strong teeth, and gums by preventing tooth decay and painful gum diseases. 

under-all circumstances we do not advise the use of the DIY kits or any weird remedies like lemon,baking powder, and many more oddities as these severely harm the tooth enamel. 

So, 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 make your gums swollen and bleedy, which are early signs of gum 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 is also sometimes called calculus, is plaque that has hardened on your teeth. Tartar can also be found under the gumline and can irritate the gum tissues. Tartar gives plaque more area to form and grow, which can lead to more serious conditions, such as cavities and gum disease. 

It is like an invitation for tooth loss, only it gets worse everyday. It’s not treated or taken care of. 

Treatment: This is the second phase, and it is harder to lose tartar straight away. The remedies for tartar require more dedication; 

• Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste (electric toothbrushes tend to reduce plaque buildup more effectively than manual ones, choose the hard toothbrush instead of the soft ones as an option).
• Use tartar-control toothpaste (contains pyrophosphates and zinc citrate to slow tartar buildup).
• Daily flossing or interdental brushes to remove plaque between teeth before it hardens.
• Antibacterial mouthwash (chlorhexidine or essential-oil based) to reduce bacteria 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 growth of tartar, and in time you could get rid of 70-80% of the tartar. 

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

Enamel Discoloration 

Enamel discoloration is when the tooth’s color changes from white to yellow-ish, and  that could be linked to multiple reasons. Stain agents like coffee,tea, and tobacco or age. There are three main reasons for the discoloration;

• 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 (with mild abrasives and peroxide) → helps with surface stains.
• Mouth rinses containing hydrogen peroxide → gradual stain removal.
• Limiting stain-causing foods/drinks like coffee, tea, red wine, soda.
• Quitting smoking/tobacco use to prevent further staining.
• Good oral hygiene (brushing + flossing daily) → prevents buildup that traps stains.

So, what is the real difference between at home remedies and Inclinic, and which should we choose?

Plaque,Tartar, and Whitening With a Dentist In Turkey

Professional plaque,tartar, or enamel discoloration treatments in Turkey are very popular as it is more affordable, and usually even better than the ones provided by the government hospitals.

We’ll break down how professional dentists are able to navigate around those 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, 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 with each other, which make plaque formation happen even at night. 

Professional plaque removal process is a simple one and it has simple aspects such as; 

Examination

• Dentist/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 usually recommend brushing technique adjustments, flossing, and follow-ups every 6 months.

The average cost for plaque removal in the UK is £25 to £85, while in Turkey it is estimated 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 brushing or flossing at home with ease. Once it mineralizes, it bonds tightly to enamel and gum surfaces, making professional removal essential.

Steps to remove tartar professionally with a dentist; 

Tartar Examination:

• Dentist/hygienist locates tartar deposits above and below the gumline with 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.
• Focus is on gumline and interdental areas, where tartar most often forms.

Root Planing (if gum disease is present)

• Smoothing out root surfaces under the gums helps gums reattach and prevents bacteria from covering that area again.

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 for tartar removal in the UK is  £50 to £150, while in Turkey it costs around  £25 to £85.

These are the steps that a dentist will cover in order to remove any tartar. While they may look a bit tedious if your case is not severe it will be done 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 discoloration.

Discoloration Removal 

Why Enamel Discolors

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

Extrinsic stains → surface stains from coffee, tea, red wine, tobacco, or pigmented foods.

Intrinsic stains → discoloration inside the tooth caused by trauma, excessive fluoride, certain medications, or enamel thinning with age.

Unlike tartar, discoloration may be partly managed at home, but stubborn or internal stains often need professional treatment.

The average cost to fix Enamel Discoloration 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 all of the early signs that usually come with actual needs to visit the dentist.

Let us explore them, as we can clearly find out when, and why should we start getting professional help.

Warning Signs of Plaque

Plaque is the earliest stage of buildup on teeth, and catching it early stops it from turning into 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, and once it forms, it usually 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 Discoloration

Enamel discoloration can be cosmetic but sometimes points to deeper issues. Signs include:

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

Which to Choose Basic Remedies, or Clinical Ones 

Taking care of plaque, tartar, and enamel discoloration early prevents bigger oral issues later on. Exploring them professionally or at home is your choice, but not doing anything at all is not a good one. 

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

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