Can tartar come off by itself?

Yes, a piece of tartar can break off while you are brushing or eating. That is a sign the tartar had built up thickly, though, and tartar still remains on the tooth surfaces and below the gum line. Tartar causes gum inflammation and resorption of the supporting bone, so it has to be removed with scaling; under the National Health Insurance one scaling per year is covered from age 19. If tartar comes off often, gum disease may be progressing, so we recommend a gum examination at the same time.