Black Tartar on Teeth: Causes and How to Get It Removed

You look in the mirror, smile like a normal human, andboomthere it is: a dark, crusty-looking buildup near your gumline.
It can look like your teeth are wearing tiny black turtlenecks. The good news? In many cases, “black tartar” is simply hardened plaque
(tartar, also called dental calculus) that has picked up stains over time. The important news? Once tartar forms, it can’t be brushed away at home,
and it often goes hand-in-hand with gum irritation that deserves professional attention.

This guide breaks down what black tartar is, why it happens, how dentists remove it, and what you can do to prevent it from coming back
without turning your bathroom into a DIY dental lab (please don’t).

What Is Tartar (Dental Calculus), and Why Can It Turn Black?

Tartar starts as plaque: a sticky film made of bacteria, saliva proteins, and food debris that forms on teeth every day. If plaque isn’t removed
thoroughly, minerals in your saliva harden it into tartar. Once it’s hardened, tartar becomes a rough surface that plaque clings to even more easily,
which can irritate gums and raise the risk of gum disease.

Fresh tartar often looks yellowish or off-white. Over time, it can become darkerbrown, gray, or blackbecause it absorbs pigments from things you consume
or from what’s happening around your gums.

Two common “black tartar” scenarios

• Stained tartar above the gumline: Hardened buildup near the gumline that has picked up color from tobacco, coffee, tea, cola,
  red wine, or heavily pigmented foods.
• Darker tartar below the gumline: Tartar that forms under the gums can appear dark brown or black because it may incorporate pigments
  related to inflammation and bleeding in the gum pocket area.

Causes of Black Tartar on Teeth

1) Plaque that wasn’t fully removed (the root of the problem)

The #1 driver is simple: plaque stayed on the teeth long enough to harden. This doesn’t mean you’re “bad at brushing.”
It usually means your cleaning routine missed certain high-risk zoneslike behind lower front teeth, along the gumline, or between crowded teeth.
Once tartar forms, brushing and flossing can remove new plaque around it, but they can’t dissolve the hardened deposit.

2) Staining from tobacco, coffee, tea, cola, and red wine

Tartar is porous and rough, so it’s basically a stain magnet. If you smoke, vape nicotine products, or use chewing tobacco, dark tartar can show up faster.
The same goes for frequent coffee/tea drinkers, cola fans, and people who sip red wine regularly. The tartar itself isn’t “created” by these drinks,
but the color change can make buildup far more noticeable.

3) Iron supplements and certain medications

Liquid iron supplements are well-known for darkening teeth and buildup, especially if the liquid coats the teeth frequently.
Some medications can contribute to staining patterns too. If you’ve noticed dark deposits after starting a supplement or medication,
don’t stop anything on your ownbring it up with your dentist and prescribing clinician so you can adjust technique, timing, or rinsing habits.

4) Chlorhexidine mouthwash (effective, but it can stain)

Chlorhexidine is a prescription antiseptic mouth rinse sometimes used for gum infections or after certain dental procedures. It can cause
noticeable brown staining and may increase tartar buildup for some peopleespecially with longer-term use. If your dentist prescribes it,
it’s usually meant for short-term use with a plan for follow-up cleanings.

5) Gum inflammation and deeper deposits under the gumline

When tartar forms under the gumline, it’s harder to see directly, but you might notice a dark “shadow” at the gum margin or persistent gum bleeding.
Subgingival tartar is more strongly associated with gum disease because it shelters bacteria in areas your toothbrush can’t reach.

6) “Black line stain” from chromogenic bacteria (often in kids, sometimes adults)

Some people develop a thin dark line or dots along the gumline caused by pigments produced by certain bacteria (often called chromogenic stains).
This can look like black tartar, but it may behave differentlysometimes recurring even after professional cleaning.
A dentist can tell the difference and recommend the best approach.

How to Tell Black Tartar Apart from Other Dark Tooth Problems

Dark spots aren’t always tartar. Here are a few look-alikes:

• Tooth decay (cavities): may appear as a dark spot, pit, or holeoften with sensitivity.
• Old dental fillings or “amalgam shadow”: can make parts of a tooth look grayish.
• A cracked tooth or trauma: can darken a tooth from within.
• External stains: may wipe away partially at the dental office without heavy scaling.

The rule of thumb: if it feels rough, crusty, or “stuck on,” it might be tartarespecially near the gumline or between teeth. But only an exam can confirm.

Why Black Tartar Matters (Beyond Looks)

Black tartar isn’t just a cosmetic villain. Tartar creates a rough surface that encourages more plaque retention, which can inflame the gums.
Over time, this can contribute to gingivitis (early gum disease) and, if unchecked, periodontitis (more advanced gum disease that can affect bone support).

Common signs that tartar is affecting your gums

• Bleeding when brushing or flossing
• Swollen or tender gums
• Persistent bad breath or bad taste
• Gum recession (teeth look “longer”)
• Sensitivity near the gumline
• Spaces forming between teeth, or teeth feeling loose (more urgent)

How Dentists Remove Black Tartar (What to Expect)

Step 1: Evaluation (quick detective work)

Your dentist or hygienist will check where the tartar is located (above vs. below the gumline), how inflamed your gums are,
and whether you have gum pockets. They may measure pocket depth and take X-rays if there are signs of gum disease or bone changes.

Step 2: Professional cleaning (scaling)

For tartar above the gumline, the standard approach is a professional cleaning using scaling tools. Many offices use ultrasonic scalers
(they vibrate and spray water) plus hand instruments for detail work. This physically removes the hardened depositbecause that’s the only way it comes off.

Step 3: If it’s under the gumlinedeep cleaning (scaling and root planing)

If tartar is below the gumline and gum pockets are present, your dentist may recommend scaling and root planing (often called a “deep cleaning”).
This cleans below the gumline and smooths root surfaces so gums can heal and reattach more effectively.

Deep cleaning may be done in sections (for example, one side of the mouth at a time). Local numbing is common, and your gums might feel tender afterward,
similar to how your legs feel after you suddenly decide to “get into running.”

Step 4: Polishing, stain management, and follow-up

After tartar removal, polishing smooths tooth surfaces and helps reduce surface staining. Some offices may use targeted stain-removal techniques.
If gum disease is present, you might need a follow-up visit to recheck pocket depths and confirm healing.

Does it hurt?

Routine cleanings are usually more “weird vibrations and scraping noises” than pain. Deep cleaning can be uncomfortable without numbing,
which is why local anesthetic is commonly used. Afterward, mild soreness or sensitivity can happen for a few daysespecially if tartar was heavy
or gums were inflamed.

Can You Remove Black Tartar at Home?

Notartar can’t be safely removed at home with brushing, flossing, or “internet hacks.” Once plaque hardens, it requires professional tools and technique.
Attempting to scrape it off yourself can damage enamel, irritate gums, and introduce infection (and it rarely removes everything anyway).

What you can do at home is remove plaque daily so new tartar doesn’t build upand reduce staining so tartar doesn’t look like it joined a goth band.

How to Prevent Black Tartar from Coming Back

Daily habits that actually move the needle

• Brush twice daily for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste, focusing along the gumline.
• Clean between teeth daily (floss, interdental brushes, or a water flosserchoose what you’ll actually use).
• Angle the brush at the gumline (gentle pressure; aggressive scrubbing can irritate gums and wear enamel near the neck of the tooth).
• Pay attention to “tartar hot spots” like behind the lower front teeth and around molars.
• Consider an electric toothbrush if you struggle with technique or have crowded teeth or braces.

Stain-control strategies (without giving up joy entirely)

• Rinse with water after coffee/tea/cola when possible.
• Don’t sip for hourslong exposure increases staining risk.
• Use a straw for cold dark beverages (yes, even as an adult; confidence is dental hygiene).
• Avoid tobaccoit’s one of the biggest contributors to staining and gum disease risk.

Professional prevention

Regular dental cleanings matter because they remove tartar before it gets thicker and more stubborn. Many people do well with cleanings every six months,
but if you build tartar quickly or have gum disease history, your dentist may recommend more frequent visits (like every 3–4 months).

Ask your dentist about tartar-control toothpaste

Some toothpastes include ingredients designed to slow tartar formation. They won’t remove existing tartar, but they may reduce how fast it returns.
Your dentist can recommend options based on your enamel sensitivity and gum status.

When Black Tartar Is a “Don’t Wait” Situation

Make a dental appointment soon if you notice black buildup, especially if it’s paired with bleeding gums, bad breath, or sensitivity.
Seek urgent dental care if you have:

• Severe tooth pain or swelling
• Pus, a gum boil, or a bad taste that keeps returning
• Fever plus facial swelling (this can be seriousseek urgent medical care)
• Loose teeth or rapidly worsening gum recession

Quick FAQ

Will whitening strips remove black tartar?

Whitening products can lighten tooth color and some surface stains, but they won’t remove tartar. Tartar is a physical deposit that must be scaled off.

Why is tartar worse on my lower front teeth?

Salivary ducts open near the lower front teeth, and saliva minerals can contribute to faster hardening of plaque in that area.
It’s a common tartar “home base,” even for people who brush regularly.

If the black stuff is only on one tooth, is that still tartar?

It could be tartar, but one-tooth dark discoloration may also be a cavity, a crack, or internal tooth changes. That’s a “get it checked” situation.

Real-World Experiences (What People Commonly Report) 500+ Words

The internet is full of “before-and-after” photos, but real-life experiences are usually less dramatic and more relatable:
a little confusion, a bit of embarrassment, and then relief once a professional explains what’s going on. Here are common patterns dentists hear
and what tends to happen next.

Experience #1: “I swear I brush… so why does it look like this?”

Many people with black tartar aren’t neglecting brushingthey’re just missing the right spots. A typical story goes like this:
someone brushes twice a day, but they’re rushing, brushing mostly the chewing surfaces, and not spending time at the gumline or between teeth.
Over months, tartar quietly sets up camp behind the lower front teeth or between crowded areas. When it darkens from coffee or tea, it suddenly becomes visible,
and it feels like it “appeared overnight.” At the cleaning, they’re surprised by how much smoother their teeth feel afterward.
The biggest “aha” moment tends to be learning a better brush angle and adding a realistic flossing routine (even if it starts at 3–4 days a week and builds up).

Experience #2: The Coffee Sipper (a.k.a. “My mug is bigger than my water bottle”)

People who sip dark drinks throughout the day often notice their buildup looks darker than their friends’even if the amount of tartar is similar.
The teeth may feel slightly rough at the gumline, and the black color can make it seem like the situation is “worse” than it is.
After a professional scaling, they often report two changes: (1) the black edge is gone or reduced, and (2) their breath feels fresher because there’s less plaque
sticking to rough surfaces. Many adopt small habits that don’t feel like punishment, such as rinsing with water after coffee,
switching to a lid-and-straw for iced drinks, or avoiding “all-day sipping” when possible.

Experience #3: The Tobacco Wake-Up Call

Some people first notice black tartar after smoking or chewing tobacco for a period of time. The staining can be stubborn, and the gums may bleed easily.
A common emotional thread is worry: “Is this permanent?” Usually, the dentist can remove the tartar, but the person may need deeper cleaning if gum pockets
have formed. The most consistent feedback after quitting or reducing tobacco is that the tartar returns more slowly and stains less aggressivelyplus gums
often look calmer over time. It’s not an instant makeover, but it’s a noticeable trend people report after a few months.

Experience #4: The Surprise Side Effect (chlorhexidine and staining)

Another classic experience is the “I used the mouthwash my dentist gave me, and now my teeth look worse” moment. Chlorhexidine can be very helpful for
short-term bacterial control, but some people are startled by the staining it can cause. The usual outcome is reassuring:
the staining and buildup can often be cleaned professionally, and the dentist adjusts the planshorter use, better timing, or alternative strategies.
People frequently say the key was having a clear expectation up front: “This can stain. It’s temporary. We’ll clean it.”

Experience #5: “They told me it was under the gumline” (the plot twist)

Some patients think they only have a cosmetic issue, but the exam shows tartar below the gumline and early gum disease.
The deep cleaning sounds intimidating until it’s explained in plain language: numbing, careful cleaning below the gumline, and then follow-up.
After treatment, people often report that brushing becomes less bloody and their mouth feels less “puffy.”
The most helpful mindset tends to be treating it like physical therapy for your gums: not glamorous, but extremely worth it.

The common theme across these experiences is that black tartar is usually fixablebut it’s also a signal.
The best outcomes happen when removal is paired with a realistic routine you can maintain, not a 10-step plan you abandon by Wednesday.

Conclusion

Black tartar on teeth can look alarming, but it typically comes down to hardened plaque that has darkened from stains, supplements, mouth rinses,
or deeper gum inflammation. The key point is this: tartar needs professional removal. Once it’s gone, prevention is all about consistency
thorough brushing at the gumline, daily cleaning between teeth, stain-smart habits, and regular dental visits.

If you’re seeing dark buildup, don’t waste energy on panic or risky DIY scraping. Book a cleaning, get a clear diagnosis, and let your future selfies
enjoy a gumline that isn’t wearing black eyeliner.