Plaque vs. Tartar: What’s the Difference?
Plaque and tartar are two common dental terms, but they are not the same thing. Both can affect the health and appearance of your teeth, and understanding the difference between plaque and tartar can help you take better care of your teeth and gums.
Dental plaque is a soft, sticky film that forms naturally on your teeth throughout the day. Tartar, also known as dental calculus, develops when plaque is not removed and becomes hardened. While daily brushing and flossing can help control plaque, tartar usually requires professional dental cleaning to remove it.
What Is Dental Plaque?
Dental plaque is a sticky layer of bacteria, saliva and food particles that develops on the surfaces of your teeth. Plaque begins forming soon after you clean your teeth because bacteria are naturally present in your mouth.
When you eat foods and drinks containing sugars and carbohydrates, bacteria within plaque can use these substances and produce acids. These acids can attack tooth enamel and contribute to tooth decay.
Plaque is often colourless or pale yellow, which can make it difficult to see. However, your teeth may feel fuzzy or sticky when plaque has accumulated.
Where Does Plaque Build Up?
Plaque can form on almost any tooth surface, including the front and back of your teeth, between teeth and along the gumline. Some areas are more difficult to clean than others, making them common locations for plaque buildup.
Regular brushing and cleaning between your teeth can help remove plaque before it causes problems.
What Is Tartar?
Tartar is hardened dental plaque. When plaque remains on the teeth and is not removed effectively, minerals in saliva can cause it to harden and become firmly attached to the tooth surface.
Unlike soft plaque, tartar cannot generally be removed effectively with a toothbrush or dental floss. A dentist or dental hygienist can remove tartar using professional dental cleaning techniques.
Tartar may appear yellow, brown or darker in colour, particularly when it has accumulated over time. It can form above or below the gumline.
Why Is Tartar Difficult to Remove?
Fresh plaque is relatively soft and can usually be disrupted with brushing and interdental cleaning. Once plaque becomes mineralised, however, it forms a much harder deposit.
Trying to scrape tartar off your teeth at home can damage the teeth or gums. Professional dental cleaning is the safest way to remove established tartar.
Plaque vs. Tartar: The Key Differences
The main difference between plaque and tartar is their consistency and how they can be removed.
Plaque is a soft, sticky bacterial film that develops continuously. With good oral hygiene, you can remove plaque at home by brushing twice a day and cleaning between your teeth.
Tartar is plaque that has hardened. Once tartar forms, normal brushing and flossing are not enough to remove it completely.
Is Plaque or Tartar More Harmful?
Both plaque and tartar can contribute to oral health problems if they are not properly managed. Plaque contains bacteria that can produce acids and irritate the gums. If plaque remains on the teeth, it can contribute to cavities and gum inflammation.
Tartar creates a rough surface that can make it easier for additional plaque to accumulate. Tartar around the gumline can also contribute to gum irritation and make effective home cleaning more difficult.
How Does Plaque Turn Into Tartar?
Plaque forms naturally throughout the day. If it is not removed through regular brushing and cleaning between the teeth, minerals in saliva can gradually cause the plaque to harden.
The process can happen relatively quickly, although the amount and speed of tartar formation vary between individuals. Factors such as oral hygiene, saliva composition, diet and individual dental health can influence how much tartar develops.
Once plaque has hardened into tartar, simply brushing more vigorously will not remove it. Professional dental care is usually required.
What Problems Can Plaque and Tartar Cause?
Both plaque and tartar can contribute to several dental and gum problems.
Tooth Decay and Cavities
Plaque bacteria can produce acids when they break down sugars and carbohydrates. Repeated exposure to these acids can weaken tooth enamel and increase the risk of cavities.
Keeping plaque under control through regular brushing, fluoride toothpaste and a balanced diet can help protect your teeth.
Gingivitis
Plaque buildup around the gumline can irritate the gums and contribute to gingivitis. Common signs include red, swollen or bleeding gums.
Improving oral hygiene and receiving appropriate professional dental care can help manage gingivitis and prevent it from becoming more advanced.
Gum Disease
Persistent plaque and tartar buildup can increase the risk of gum disease. More advanced gum disease can affect the tissues and structures that support the teeth.
Regular dental check-ups allow your dentist to monitor your gums and identify potential problems early.
Bad Breath
Bacteria associated with plaque buildup can contribute to unpleasant breath. If bad breath persists despite brushing, flossing and cleaning your tongue, it may be worth discussing the problem with your dentist.
How Can You Prevent Plaque and Tartar?
Although you cannot stop plaque from forming completely, you can reduce its accumulation by maintaining a consistent oral hygiene routine.
Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day
Brush your teeth twice daily for around two minutes using fluoride toothpaste. Make sure you clean the front, back and chewing surfaces of your teeth and gently brush along the gumline.
An electric toothbrush may be helpful for some people, but using an effective brushing technique consistently is the most important factor.
Clean Between Your Teeth
Flossing or using interdental brushes can remove plaque from areas your toothbrush cannot easily reach. Cleaning between your teeth every day can help prevent plaque from remaining undisturbed.
Ask your dentist which interdental cleaning method is most appropriate for your teeth and gums.
Limit Sugary Foods and Drinks
Reducing frequent consumption of sugary foods and drinks can help lower the amount of fuel available to bacteria in plaque. Drinking water regularly can also help maintain a healthier oral environment.
Attend Regular Dental Check-Ups
Regular dental examinations can help identify plaque, tartar, cavities and gum problems. Professional cleaning can remove tartar that cannot be removed through ordinary brushing and flossing.
Your dentist can recommend how often you should have dental examinations and professional cleans based on your individual oral health needs.
Can You Remove Plaque and Tartar at Home?
Plaque can generally be removed at home with thorough brushing and daily cleaning between the teeth. The key is to remove it regularly before it has an opportunity to harden.
Tartar is different. Once plaque has mineralised and formed tartar, it is firmly attached to the tooth surface. Professional dental cleaning is normally needed to remove it safely.
Avoid using sharp objects or attempting to scrape tartar from your teeth yourself, as this can injure your gums or damage the tooth surface.
When Should You See a Dentist?
Consider booking a dental appointment if you notice visible tartar, persistent bad breath, bleeding or swollen gums, tooth sensitivity or changes in the appearance of your teeth.
A dentist can examine your teeth and gums, determine whether plaque or tartar is present and recommend appropriate treatment and preventive care.
Conclusion
The difference between plaque and tartar is important to understand. Plaque is a soft, sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth and can usually be removed with regular brushing and interdental cleaning. Tartar is hardened plaque that has become mineralised and generally requires professional removal.
Preventing plaque from accumulating is the best way to reduce tartar formation. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth daily, limit frequent sugary foods and drinks, and attend regular dental check-ups.
If you are unsure whether you have plaque or tartar, a dental professional can assess your teeth and gums and provide personalised advice to help maintain good oral health.
