I have a problem with my bottom 4 front teeth - there is always plaque build-up at the back (tongue side). I few weeks ago while flossing a relatively large chunk of build-up loosened, and using a fingernail I was able to scrape off a bit more. It gave me an idea though, could I use any suitable sort of flat pointed surface to scrape it myself? How different would it be from a dentist doing it (aside from being a little harder to see)? I don’t have any other dental problems and hate dentists.
IANAD
It sounds like tarter, not plaque - plaque will just brush off in the usual way.
You could try switching to a tarter control toothpaste - that might help reduce the build up a little - however, it sounds like you need a dental cleaning. There’s no dentist anywhere that would recommend trying to pry tarter off your teeth yourself - you could injure your gums in a big, bad way.
I suppose you could grab just about anything and start poking at your gums (unfolded paperclip, tweezers, letter opener) but it’s probably not a very good idea.
They sell dental picks at any drug store - Walgreens, CVS, whatever. I have one that is a handy keychain sort of dealy.
Odd, I always thought tartar turned into plaque, but it turns out it’s the other way around.
Take it from someone who just had dental surgery on their gums - get over your fear/hatred of the dentist, or find a better dentist and go get your teeth cleaned.
Go regularly. Floss everyday. Brush 3 times a day (if practical?). Use tarter protection toothpaste and mouthwash. Learn from my hindsight, it’s better in the long run to take care of your teeth properly.
"Ignore your teeth and they'll go away"Find a good dentist and go. If you’re getting that kind of tartar buildup on flat tooth surfaces, your gums probably need attention.
I get the same kind of buildup between those front teeth. I can remove it with dental floss, so you don’t need something really hard to do it. Seems like it’d be less likely to damage your teeth & gums with plastic than metal. Just a thought.
My dentist recommended a SonicCare toothbrush. I find that the tartar pops off much more easily (and doesn’t build up as much) when I use that.
I use a steel dental pick I got at the drug store. There’s no reason not to do it yourself. It’s not rocket science.
I also have a set of dental pics that I bought for detail work in modeling. I have been known to give myself a between cleanings touchup. Given the possibility of damage to teeth/gums I’m not going to go on record as recommending that you do so, I’ll just say that I have myself.
Sometimes I use a pushpin, but I’m VERY careful and don’t go near my gums. I just scrape between the teeth moving from gumline to tooth edge. It’s not for everyone. 
I don’t need to now that I go to the dentist regularly.
The dental hygienist does a much better job!
tartar, not plaque… lol okay learned something.
The Brushpicks on that page are wonderful, by the way. My dental hygienist thinks so, too. I have some bridgework, and I find that cleaning between the bridge and gum is easier with the brushpicks than with the floss and loop tool.
Ooo. I’ll have to try that – I have a permanent wire welded behind my bottom front teeth, which is often a problem spot.
Go to the dentist, dude.
I didn’t go for almost eight years. And when I did, they informed me that my gums were in a bad way. I got the full court press with plenty of novocaine (my hygenist is a blessing), plus quarterly cleanings to make sure my gums are recovering and stay that way. I have invested in a sonicare toothbrush since. :eek: