Black Tartar: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Options

Tartar is a sticky layer of bacteria on the outside of your teeth. Typically, it’s yellow and easy to spot when you open wide and look in the mirror. Black tartar is different.

Black tartar (called subgingival calculus by dental experts) is a dense, thick layer of tartar that forms right below your gum line. You may not be able to see it when you look in the mirror, but you may feel it when you run your tongue along your teeth.

What is Black Tartar?

When you eat or drink, particularly things that are sugary or starchy, bacteria can form on your teeth. When bacteria builds up, it forms plaque.

Traditional plaque on the surface of your teeth (supragingival calculus) is white or yellow, and it has a clay-like consistency. Black calculus (subgingival calculus) is typically dark brown or black, and it’s very dense.

While you might see white plaque, you may never see black tartar, as your gums cover it up. Black tartar gets its color from blood vessels and food breakdown products. Your dentist may spot it during a routine examination. Probing your gums with a dental tool may reveal a hard mass of black tartar.

What Causes Black Tartar?

Tartar starts as plaque. When you eat sugary foods, bacteria inside your mouth interact with the meal and create a sticky film that adheres to your teeth. If you don’t remove plaque through brushing and flossing, it can harden into tartar.

Researchers say black tartar typically develops on the backside of your teeth and between your teeth. Anywhere you don’t brush or floss regularly could allow tartar to grow and spread beneath your gum line.

Skipping dental visits can also cause black tartar. Your dentist can clean plaque away from your teeth before it hardens into tartar. Your dentist can also use fluoride treatments to make your teeth stronger and more resistant. If you skip these appointments, you could end up with more black tartar problems.

Smoking tobacco can make black tartar more likely too. Smoking weakens the immune system, which can allow your gums to swell and trap more bacteria. Black tartar may quickly form, and since your gums are swollen, you may not notice the problem right away.

Black Tartar Symptoms

These are signs of black tartar:

• Discoloration of the teeth

• Sensitivity, swelling, and bleeding of the gums

• Bad breath

• Rough surfaces on the teeth

• Loose teeth

If you notice any of these symptoms, it is important to contact your dentist right away.

Progression of Black Tartar

Left untreated, black tartar under the gum line can progress into gum disease. The risk of gingivitis and periodontitis are both raised by the presence of plaque and tartar.

Gum disease also increases the risk for chronic health conditions. It can even cause your gum tissue to loosen and your teeth to fall out if not treated properly.

Continuing to eat and drink foods that cause additional plaque and tartar buildup, and that can stain the teeth, can make black tartar worse. Smoking and using tobacco products and certain medications can also cause it to worsen.

Pregnancy and hormonal changes can impact the progression of plaque and tartar buildup as well as the progression of gum disease.

How Black Tartar Is Treated

Black tartar needs to be treated and removed by a dental professional. Some people need a regular cleaning to scrape the tartar away. In more advanced cases, you may need a deeper clean through scaling or planing.

During a routine cleaning, a dental hygienist uses a very sharp tool called a scaler to pull plaque away from your teeth. The scraping may be uncomfortable, and you may hear sounds like chipping, but it shouldn’t hurt. When the scraping is done, the hygienist will polish your teeth with an electronic brush and floss between them.

If routine cleaning can’t remove black tartar, you may need scaling and root planing. A hygienist uses sharp tools like scalers and periodontal probes to dig into pockets that have formed between your teeth and gums. The goal is to scrape away tartar while smoothing the surface of your teeth and encouraging the gums to attach properly. Since this procedure can be very uncomfortable, your dentist may use anesthesia to numb the area.

After cleaning and scaling, your teeth may be slightly uncomfortable for a day or two. Typically, you can return to your normal eating habits right away. Just remember to brush your teeth regularly to preserve the work your team performed.

Dangers of untreated black tartar

Treating black tartar isn’t pleasant, but leaving it alone isn’t safe. Untreated tartar can lead to a variety of problems in your mouth and the rest of your body.

Tartar below the gumline can push your gums away from the roots of your teeth. As it grows, the gap between your teeth and your gums widens. In time, your teeth could be very loose. In severe cases, your teeth could fall out altogether.

Researchers have also discovered a connection between dental tartar and death from heart disease. They believe that the bacteria involved in plaque and tartar can cause widespread inflammation that can damage the heart muscle and increase the risk of an early death.

Ongoing Care and Prevention Methods

If you are particularly prone to plaque and tartar buildup, you may need to see your dentist for a cleaning more frequently. Good oral hygiene is key to keeping black tartar at bay.

After black tartar has been removed by a dentist or dental hygienist, it is up to you to keep it from coming back. Prevention is the best way to manage black tartar after the initial professional cleaning to remove it. Prevention methods focus on oral hygiene and healthy habits as well as paying attention to any changes in your teeth, mouth, or gums.

Tips for Preventing & Managing Black Tartar Long Term

Here are some tips for ongoing care and prevention of black tartar:

• Brush your teeth after meals. Aim to brush at least two times, for two minutes, every day.

• Consider an electric toothbrush, as these can often break down plaque more effectively.

• Use a fluoride or tartar-prevention toothpaste.

• Floss every day.

• Use a water flosser, specialized brush, or plastic or wooden pick, as recommended by your dental professional.

• Rinse your mouth with a fluoride mouthwash daily.

• Stay away from tobacco products.

• Limit your intake of refined and processed foods, sticky foods, and sugary drinks.

• Drink plenty of water.

• Have your teeth professionally cleaned at least once every six months.

If you start noticing plaque buildup on your teeth or feel like something is off, contact your dentist right away. Treating early plaque buildup can help to prevent black tartar.

Black tartar can usually be treated and removed completely with the help of a dental professional. You can keep it from coming back by taking care of your mouth and teeth.