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How to Remove Tartar from Back of Teeth

May 01, 2018
We all know that tartar is our teeth’s biggest enemy. Not only does it turn teeth an ugly yellow color, it also causes halitosis (bad breath), cavities and gum disease. This is why it’s important to brush your teeth after every meal as well as using...

We all know that tartar is our teeth’s biggest enemy. Not only does it turn teeth an ugly yellow color, it also causes halitosis (bad breath), cavities and gum disease. This is why it’s important to brush your teeth after every meal as well as using a disinfectant mouth-wash at least once a day. A rigorous dental hygiene regime is the only way to avoid tartar build-up on the teeth.

Unfortunately, in today’s fast-paced world, it’s not always practical or possible to follow such a regime. For example, if you grab your lunch from a food truck and eat it on a bench in the park, you can’t really brush your teeth at the nearest drinking fountain. So despite our best intentions and efforts, some tartar will inevitably form on our teeth.

This is particularly true of the back of the teeth, which are hard to get at and therefore tend not to receive as vigorous a brushing as the front. And as they’re also hard to see, you might not even notice until the problem is quite advanced, and needs urgent action.

So the big question is: How to remove tartar from the back of the teeth?

The most surefire way to make sure your teeth are as plaque and tartar free as possible is to visit your dentist and have them professionally cleaned and, if you want to maintain your dazzling white smile, you should do this at least twice a year. However, there are some things you can do for yourself to remove tartar and reduce buildup between dentist appointments.

Baking Soda

Baking Soda

Any internet search on this topic will throw up baking soda, and although it is not the wonder cure for all dental related problems that some sites claim, it can be quite effective. First, brush your teeth with regular toothpaste and rinse. Then spread baking soda all over your gums and teeth. Leave it on for at least two minutes and then rinse your mouth out well with warm water. Be warned though, baking soda can make the mouth over-sensitive and even sore. If this happens, discontinue the treatment.

Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is a traditional Indian folk remedy for dental hygiene. On an empty stomach, swish a tablespoon of oil around your mouth for 15 to 20 minutes a day. Coconut oil is recommended as it has anti-bacterial properties, but most oils will do. Be careful not to swallow any of the oil during the process and spit it out into the trash at the end, before rinsing your mouth out with warm water and giving your teeth their regular brushing. This does produce good results in whitening teeth and removing tartar, but it is rather time-consuming. Another drawback is the sensation of swilling oil around the mouth for 20 minutes is every bit as unpleasant as it sounds.

Tartar removal tool

You can buy your own professional tartar removal tool and give the back of your teeth a home scraping, but be very careful not to overdo it and do serious damage to the enamel of your teeth.

For more useful topics regarding your dental health, visit Doral Sedation & Family Dentistry.