Some people tend to build up more tartar than others. I get it on and between my lower front teeth, but despite regular and enthusiastic use of proxy brushes, Waterpik and floss, I was unable to stop it getting a hold. When I looked at the underside of my lower brackets with a little mirror about 6 months after getting my braces, I was horrified at how crudded up they were. I've been to the hygeinist twice since getting my braces and she has got most of the tartar off my actual teeth. There wasn't all that much anyway, but I think she's a bit reluctant to start scraping my brackets too hard, and there was still a bit of tartar on them.
I've switched to Colgate Tartar Control toothpaste and I also use Listerine Total Care or Listerine Tartar Control mouthwash once a day (although I cut them 50/50 with water as they are too strong for me), and it does seem to be helping. Some people do not have a good reaction to the anti-tartar ingredients though. If you find you are getting sores in your mouth then you should stop using it.
You can also buy a dental scaler and GENTLY scrape visible tartar from between your teeth. I wouldn't recommend scraping round your brackets though. I popped one off a month or two back and I think it was because I mistook a bit of cement for a bit of tartar and tried to prise it off.
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
I didn't tell my ortho that though. Please be very careful if you decide to do this yourself.