Dentist Questions Dentist

Is it bad to remove tartar yourself?

I have a lot of tartar on my teeth. I want to remove it. Is it bad to remove tartar yourself?

6 Answers

It is best to have someone with training do this, like a dentist or hygienist. I do have some patients who work on it themselves, with various tools. It will take some of it off. Best to get teeth cleaned regularly.
It is not bad but it is very difficult without the proper instruments to do the job. We use scalers and curettes that come in different sizes and shapes in order to thoroughly perform a cleaning. Often the tartar is below the gum tissue and you would be hard pressed to clean that completely. It would be a better idea to see your dentist and have the hygienist do her thing!
You don't have the means or the dexterity to remove tartar yourself. You will just hurt yourself or leave plenty of it behind to cause further gum inflammation. It costs about $80 to get your teeth cleaned in a dental office. Spare yourself the bleeding and trouble that you will cause.
Not exactly. You risk damaging your gums, but also you could end up causing a gum abscess
It would be difficult to remove it all yourself and could be dangerous to the tissue if you aren’t careful. Going to the dentist also checks to make sure everything else is okay, cancer is not present, cavities are not present, and to help you catch things early to prevent you from having to spend more money later.

Dr. Laurentis Barnett
Removing tartar yourself can have some difficult hurdles to overcome. Finding an instrument that will be both effective and accurate without causing injury to your teeth and gums. Then being able to effectively learn the the dexterity and skill to accomplish this. Therefore, the best option is to try to limit or prevent its development in the first place to a degree
that becomes inconsequential between visits to a dental professional within a recall timeframe best for your oral health. This would employ proper daily flossing and brushing habits with a tartar control toothpaste.