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How to prevent plaque and tartar buildup?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am 19 years old, and my teeth are dirty with tartar and plaque.

Kindly suggest.

Answered by Dr. Sally Attalah

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Bachelor of Dental Surgery 2007 Internship 2008 American Dental Association affiliate member from 2015

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

Plaque is a normal deposition from saliva on our teeth. It is usually soft and can be easily removed with proper teeth brushing and good oral hygiene daily. After 24 hours, plaque gets calcified (hard texture) as it gets calcium from food and drinks, reaching tartar, which will never be removed by tooth brushing or any home remedies. The only way to remove tartar is at a dental clinic to perform proper removal of tartar (it is good to mention that tartar keeps on forming and is always covered by new plaque deposition from saliva and gets calcified again, and so on).

The persistent presence of tartar and plaque will severely damage your gum's health and may cause damage to the bone surrounding your teeth, leading to tooth mobility, the possibility of tooth cavities underneath it, and, of course, bad mouth smell and breath. Cleaning sessions in dental clinics should be done in intervals from three to six months, and proper oral hygiene should be done at home every day. So, please make an immediate appointment with your dentist and start as soon as possible. You are still young, and everything hopefully will be under control.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At May 20, 2025
Reviewed At October 27, 2025

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Bachelor of Dental Surgery 2007 Internship 2008 American Dental Association affiliate member from 2015

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Bachelor of Dental Surgery 2007 Internship 2008 American Dental Association affiliate member from 2015

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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