I just noticed some hardened tartar on the back of two teeth. i have an appt for a dental cleaning in a month - do i need to go sooner?

Dental Cleaning: When was your last dental check up and cleaning? Are you going every 6 months? One month won't normally make any difference. Ask to be shown proper tooth brushing and flossing techniques and be sure to follow through going forward. Form good oral hygiene regimen now while you're still young and you will reap the rewards over time.

See below: If possible see if the hygienist or dentist can see you earlier. Remember to use dental floss correctly, brush at a 45 degree angle between the tooth and gum interface and use a tongue scraper as part of your daily routine.

Tarter: Tarter will cause physical gum recession. If you see your Dentist regularly, and the amount is small, you can probably wait the month. Why don't you call your Dentist, the practitioner that knows you best, and pose your question. Your Dentist is best suited to answer this question for you.