Tartar is one of the most common causes of dental problems in adults, yet many people are unsure exactly what it is or why their toothbrush cannot shift it. A professional scale and polish is the only reliable way to remove tartar once it has formed — and understanding the process can help you appreciate why this treatment is such an important part of preventive dental care. Whether you have been told by your dentist that you have tartar build-up, or you simply want to understand the biology behind what happens at your hygiene appointment, this guide explains everything you need to know.
The journey from a clean tooth to a tartar-coated one begins almost immediately after brushing. Within minutes, a thin film of proteins from saliva coats the tooth surface, and bacteria begin attaching to it. This forms plaque — the soft, sticky, pale yellow substance you can feel on your teeth if you run your tongue over them after a few hours without brushing. Left undisturbed, plaque thickens and the bacterial community within it becomes more complex and harmful. After several days, calcium and phosphate minerals from saliva begin to deposit within the plaque, gradually hardening it into a cement-like substance. This hardened material is tartar, also known as dental calculus.
Why Can’t You Brush Tartar Away?
Once tartar has mineralised, it bonds tightly to the tooth surface and cannot be removed by a toothbrush, no matter how vigorously you brush. The structure of tartar is crystalline and porous, making it rougher than enamel and providing an ideal surface for even more plaque to accumulate on top of it. This creates a self-reinforcing cycle: tartar attracts more plaque, which leads to more tartar, which progressively irritates the gums and can lead to gum disease if left untreated.
According to the NHS Inform Scotland dental check-up guide, plaque will harden and calcify to produce calculus if given enough time — and calculus is a hard, cement-like substance that cannot be removed with a toothbrush alone. Professional intervention is required.
Where Does Tartar Form?
Tartar can form anywhere on the tooth surface, but certain areas are particularly prone to build-up. These include:
- Along the gum line — the junction between tooth and gum is a common site for plaque accumulation and subsequent tartar formation
- Behind the lower front teeth — the salivary glands in the floor of the mouth deposit large amounts of mineral-rich saliva here, accelerating calcification
- Between the teeth — areas that are difficult to reach with a toothbrush are prime locations for undisturbed plaque
- Below the gum line — subgingival tartar (tartar that forms in the pocket between the tooth and gum) is particularly harmful and harder to detect
How Does a Scale and Polish Remove Tartar?
A scale and polish is a two-stage procedure carried out by a dentist or dental hygienist. The first stage — scaling — uses specialist instruments to mechanically dislodge and remove tartar deposits from the tooth surfaces. The second stage — polishing — smooths and cleans the tooth surfaces, removing superficial stains and leaving a finish that is less hospitable to plaque.
Scaling can be performed using two main types of instrument:
- Hand scalers — fine, curved metal instruments that are used to chip and scrape tartar away from the tooth surface. They are precise and useful for detailed work, particularly around complex anatomy or below the gum line.
- Ultrasonic scalers — these use high-frequency vibrations to break up and shatter tartar deposits, while a water spray simultaneously flushes debris away and cools the instrument tip. Most patients find ultrasonic scaling comfortable and efficient.
After scaling, polishing is performed using a rotating rubber cup or brush with a mildly abrasive polishing paste. This removes residual staining, smooths the enamel surface, and helps inhibit the rapid re-attachment of plaque to the now-clean tooth surface.
What About Tartar Below the Gum Line?
Subgingival tartar — the tartar that forms beneath the gum line — requires particular attention. This type of tartar is directly associated with gum disease, as it sits in the gingival pocket where bacteria can cause chronic inflammation of the gum tissue and, eventually, damage to the bone supporting the teeth. Removing subgingival tartar requires careful scaling below the gum line, a process sometimes referred to as debridement or root planing when more advanced. Your dentist will assess the depth of any gum pockets and advise on the level of treatment required.
What Does the Polishing Stage Do?
Polishing is more than cosmetic. While it does give teeth a noticeably cleaner, brighter appearance by removing surface stains from tea, coffee, red wine, and tobacco, its primary clinical purpose is to smooth the tooth surface. Rough tooth surfaces — whether caused by tartar residue, minor enamel irregularities, or staining — provide more surface area for plaque bacteria to cling to. A smooth, polished surface is easier to clean at home and gives bacteria fewer footholds to settle and multiply.
| Stage | Tool Used | What It Removes | Clinical Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scaling | Hand scaler or ultrasonic scaler | Tartar (calculus) above and below gum line | Removes bacterial reservoir; reduces gum inflammation |
| Polishing | Rubber cup + polishing paste | Residual plaque, surface stains | Smoother surface; slower plaque re-accumulation |
How Long Does the Effect Last?
After a scale and polish, plaque will begin to re-form almost immediately, as this is a natural biological process. However, tartar formation takes days to weeks, so with good home care habits, you can significantly slow the rate at which tartar builds up again. Most patients benefit from a scale and polish every six to twelve months, though those who are prone to rapid tartar formation, smoke, or have a history of gum disease may benefit from more frequent professional cleaning.
Can You Prevent Tartar from Forming?
While it is impossible to prevent plaque from forming entirely, you can substantially slow tartar development with consistent home care. Brushing twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between your teeth daily with interdental brushes or floss, and reducing sugary foods and drinks all help to minimise plaque accumulation and give it less time to mineralise. Using a tartar-control toothpaste — which contains compounds that interfere with calcium deposition — can also help some patients, though these products cannot remove existing tartar.
Some individuals naturally produce more mineralised saliva than others, meaning they are genetically predisposed to faster tartar formation regardless of their home care routine. If you find tartar builds up quickly despite diligent brushing and interdental cleaning, this is not necessarily a sign that you are doing anything wrong — it may simply mean that you need professional cleaning more frequently than the average patient. Your dentist or hygienist can advise on the ideal interval based on how quickly tartar accumulates between your appointments.
Diet also plays a role in tartar formation. A diet high in refined sugars and carbohydrates provides abundant fuel for the bacteria in plaque, accelerating bacterial growth and the metabolic processes that contribute to calcification. Reducing snacking frequency, choosing water over sugary drinks, and maintaining a balanced diet rich in vegetables, dairy, and lean proteins all support a healthier oral environment with less opportunity for tartar to develop rapidly.
Smoking is another significant contributing factor to tartar build-up. Tobacco alters the composition of saliva and promotes a bacterial environment that is more conducive to plaque adhesion and calcification. Smokers typically develop heavier tartar deposits more quickly, and their tartar tends to be darker in colour due to staining from tobacco compounds. Stopping smoking has well-documented benefits for overall health, but the positive impact on gum health and tartar accumulation rates is an additional incentive that is sometimes overlooked.
If you are due for a professional clean or would like to find out more about the condition of your teeth and gums, we would be delighted to see you at StormDental. Our experienced team provides thorough, gentle scale and polish treatments tailored to each patient’s needs. Call us on 01294 218 733 to book an appointment at our Dreghorn practice.
