Why Do Some People Get More Tartar Than Others?

You brush twice a day. You clean between your teeth. You feel like you’re doing everything you’re supposed to do.

Then you come in for your dental appointment and somehow there’s still tartar sitting around your teeth.

Meanwhile, someone you know admits their oral hygiene routine isn’t exactly perfect and seems to have much less.

So, what’s going on?

The amount of tartar that builds up can vary considerably from person to person. Your brushing habits certainly matter, but they’re not the only part of the story.

First, What Actually Is Tartar?

Plaque and tartar aren’t quite the same thing.

Plaque is a soft, sticky film that continually forms on your teeth. It contains bacteria and can usually be removed with thorough brushing and cleaning between the teeth.

If plaque isn’t removed, minerals in your saliva can cause it to harden. Once it has hardened, it becomes what we call calculus, commonly known as tartar.

Unlike soft plaque, tartar can’t simply be brushed away at home. It needs to be removed using professional dental instruments.

Your Saliva Plays a Part

We’ve talked before about how important saliva is for protecting your mouth, but it also contains minerals.

The amount and composition of saliva varies between people. These differences can influence how quickly plaque mineralises and turns into tartar.

This helps explain why two people with similar oral hygiene habits may not necessarily develop the same amount of build-up.

Some Areas Are More Prone to Build-Up

Have you ever noticed that tartar seems to appear more often behind your lower front teeth?

There’s a reason for that.

Salivary glands release saliva into the mouth through openings in particular areas. The inside surfaces of the lower front teeth are close to some of these openings, which can make them a common place for tartar to accumulate.

Build-up is also more likely in areas that are difficult to reach effectively with your toothbrush or when cleaning between your teeth.

Crowded Teeth Can Make Cleaning Trickier

When teeth overlap or sit very close together, there can be small spaces that are harder to clean.

Even if you’re brushing regularly, the toothbrush bristles may not easily reach every surface.

Plaque left behind in those areas has more opportunity to harden, which is why cleaning between your teeth is an important part of your oral hygiene routine.

If you have areas that are particularly difficult to clean, ask us about them. We can help you find a technique or cleaning aid that suits your mouth.

Your Brushing Technique Matters Too

Brushing twice a day is important, but how you brush matters as well.

It’s easy to repeatedly miss the same areas, particularly along the gumline, behind the lower front teeth and around the back teeth.

Brushing harder isn’t the solution. In fact, aggressive brushing can irritate your gums and contribute to tooth wear.

Instead, focus on being thorough and giving yourself enough time to reach all the surfaces of your teeth.

What Happens If Tartar Is Left There?

Tartar creates a rough surface where additional plaque can accumulate.

When plaque and tartar build up around the gumline, they can contribute to inflammation of the gums. You might notice redness, swelling or bleeding when brushing or cleaning between your teeth.

If gum inflammation progresses, it can lead to more significant problems with the tissues supporting the teeth.

This is one reason regular dental visits are about more than simply checking for cavities.

Can You Remove Tartar at Home?

Once plaque has hardened into tartar, brushing and flossing won’t remove it.

You may see products claiming to dissolve or scrape tartar away at home, but trying to remove hardened deposits yourself with sharp tools can damage your teeth or gums.

The better approach is to focus on removing plaque before it has the opportunity to harden.

Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth regularly and pay extra attention to areas where you know build-up tends to occur.

Does Having Tartar Mean You’re Not Brushing Properly?

Not necessarily.

If you’re regularly developing a lot of tartar, there may be areas of your mouth where your cleaning technique could be improved. But some people simply develop build-up more readily than others.

Rather than comparing your teeth with someone else’s, focus on what works for your own mouth.

We can show you where plaque or tartar tends to accumulate and help you improve your home routine in those particular areas.

Noticed Some Build-Up?

If you can feel a rough or hard deposit around your teeth that doesn’t disappear when you brush, it could be tartar.

Come and see us.

We can check your teeth and gums, professionally remove build-up where needed and help you work out which areas may need a little more attention at home.

Get in touch with our team to book an appointment.