You have probably heard your dentist talk about plaque and tartar during a dental cleaning or checkup. The two terms are often used together, and while they are closely related, plaque and tartar are not the same thing.
Plaque is a soft, sticky film that continually forms on your teeth. Tartar, on the other hand, develops when plaque is allowed to remain on the teeth long enough to harden. Understanding the difference is important because the way you prevent and remove plaque is very different from the way tartar must be treated.
Both can contribute to cavities, gum problems, bad breath, and other oral health concerns. Fortunately, good daily habits and regular dental visits can help keep plaque and tartar under control.
Here is what you should know about plaque, tartar, and how you can protect your smile.
What Is Dental Plaque?
Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms naturally on your teeth throughout the day. Everyone develops plaque, even people who take excellent care of their teeth.
The bacteria in your mouth interact with sugars and carbohydrates from the foods and beverages you consume. As those bacteria feed on sugars, they can produce acids that attack tooth enamel.
Plaque can develop along the gumline, between teeth, around dental restorations, and in other areas that may be difficult to reach with a toothbrush.
You may sometimes notice plaque as a fuzzy or slightly sticky feeling on your teeth, particularly if it has been several hours since you brushed. However, plaque isn’t always easy to see, which is one reason consistent brushing and flossing are so important.
Is Plaque Normal?
The formation of plaque itself is normal. The problem occurs when plaque is not removed regularly.
Because plaque constantly forms, oral hygiene isn’t something you can do occasionally and expect lasting results. Your teeth need to be cleaned every day to remove new buildup before it has the opportunity to cause problems.
Brushing twice a day and cleaning between your teeth daily are important parts of controlling plaque. Areas along the gumline and between teeth deserve particular attention because plaque can easily accumulate there.
When plaque remains on the teeth for too long, another problem can develop: tartar.
What Is Tartar?
Tartar, also known as dental calculus, is hardened plaque.
If plaque isn’t adequately removed, minerals in your saliva can cause it to harden and attach firmly to the tooth surface. Once this happens, the buildup is considered tartar rather than plaque.
Tartar can form both above and below the gumline. Depending on the individual and where it develops, it may appear yellowish, tan, brown, or darker.
The biggest practical difference between plaque and tartar is that plaque can generally be removed at home with proper brushing and flossing. Once plaque has hardened into tartar, brushing alone will not remove it.
Professional dental instruments are needed to safely remove tartar from the teeth.
Plaque vs. Tartar: What’s the Main Difference?
The simplest way to remember the difference is:
Plaque is soft buildup that you can remove at home. Tartar is hardened plaque that generally requires professional removal.
Plaque develops continually and can begin accumulating soon after brushing. If it isn’t thoroughly removed, it can eventually mineralize and become tartar.
This is why your daily dental routine and professional dental cleanings work together. At-home care helps prevent excessive plaque buildup, while professional cleanings remove tartar and buildup from areas you may have missed.
Even someone who brushes carefully can develop some tartar, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.
How Quickly Can Plaque Turn Into Tartar?
Plaque can begin hardening relatively quickly, although the exact rate varies from person to person.
Saliva composition, oral hygiene habits, diet, tooth alignment, and other factors can influence how quickly tartar develops. Certain areas of the mouth may also accumulate tartar more readily.
This is one reason skipping brushing or flossing regularly can have a larger impact than you might expect. Leaving plaque undisturbed gives it an opportunity to harden and become much more difficult to remove.
The goal isn’t to prevent plaque from ever forming—that isn’t realistic. Instead, the goal is to consistently remove plaque before it has the chance to cause damage or develop into tartar.
Why Are Plaque and Tartar Bad for Your Teeth?
Plaque contains bacteria that can contribute to tooth decay. When those bacteria encounter sugars from food and drinks, they can produce acids.
Repeated acid exposure can gradually weaken the enamel that protects your teeth. Eventually, this can contribute to the development of cavities.
A cavity may begin without causing noticeable pain. As decay progresses deeper into the tooth, however, you may experience sensitivity, discomfort when chewing, or a toothache.
Regular dental exams can help identify decay before it becomes a more significant problem.
How Plaque and Tartar Affect Your Gums
Plaque and tartar aren’t only concerns for your teeth. They can also affect the health of your gums.
When plaque collects around the gumline, the bacteria can irritate gum tissue. This may contribute to gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease.
Common signs of gum irritation can include red or swollen gums, tenderness, or bleeding when brushing or flossing.
If plaque hardens into tartar near or below the gumline, the rough surface can provide additional areas where bacteria and plaque accumulate.
Without proper treatment and improved oral hygiene, gum disease can progress and affect the structures that support your teeth.
Bleeding gums should not simply be ignored, especially if the problem continues over time. A dental examination can help determine what is causing the irritation.
Can You Remove Plaque at Home?
Yes. In fact, removing plaque is one of the primary purposes of your daily oral hygiene routine.
Brush your teeth twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Take your time and make sure you clean all surfaces of your teeth rather than quickly brushing only the areas that are easiest to reach.
Pay attention to the gumline, where plaque frequently accumulates.
You should also clean between your teeth every day. A toothbrush cannot effectively reach every surface between neighboring teeth, so floss or another appropriate interdental cleaner helps remove plaque and food debris from those spaces.
Consistency matters more than brushing aggressively. Scrubbing harder isn’t necessarily better and can potentially irritate your gums.
Can You Remove Tartar at Home?
Once tartar has formed, you should not try to scrape it off yourself.
You may find products or DIY techniques online claiming to remove hardened tartar, but attempting to scrape your own teeth with sharp objects or dental-style tools can damage your enamel or gums.
Professional dental cleanings are the appropriate way to remove tartar.
During a cleaning, a dental professional uses specialized instruments to remove plaque and hardened deposits from the teeth, including buildup around the gumline and in areas that are difficult to clean at home.
After the buildup is removed, the teeth can also be polished to leave the surfaces feeling smoother and cleaner.
Does Tartar Cause Bad Breath?
Plaque and tartar can both contribute to persistent bad breath.
Bacteria accumulate within plaque, around tartar, along the gumline, and between teeth. These bacteria can produce unpleasant odors, particularly when oral hygiene is inconsistent.
Bad breath can have many causes, including certain foods, dry mouth, tobacco use, gum disease, and some medical conditions. However, plaque and tartar buildup are common dental factors.
If bad breath doesn’t improve despite regular brushing, flossing, and tongue cleaning, a dental visit can help identify whether an oral health issue may be contributing to it.
Who Is More Likely to Develop Tartar?
Anyone can develop tartar, but some people may accumulate it more quickly than others.
Your individual saliva chemistry can play a role. Crowded or overlapping teeth may also create areas that are difficult to clean thoroughly. People with braces, bridges, or certain other dental appliances may have additional areas where plaque can collect.
Dry mouth can also affect oral health because saliva plays an important role in maintaining a healthy mouth.
Ultimately, even people with excellent brushing habits may still develop tartar in certain areas. Developing some tartar doesn’t necessarily mean you are doing a poor job caring for your teeth.
It does, however, make routine professional dental care important.
How Can You Prevent Plaque From Becoming Tartar?
Preventing tartar begins with controlling plaque.
Brush your teeth thoroughly twice every day and clean between your teeth daily. If you tend to rush through brushing, consider using a timer to make sure you’re giving yourself enough time.
Pay particular attention to areas that are easy to miss, including the backs of the lower front teeth, back molars, spaces between teeth, and the gumline.
Limiting frequent sugary snacks and drinks can also help reduce the amount of fuel available to cavity-causing bacteria.
Drinking water throughout the day can help rinse away food particles and is generally a better choice for your teeth than frequently sipping sugary or acidic beverages.
Most importantly, keep up with the dental cleaning and examination schedule recommended for you.
Why Professional Dental Cleanings Matter
Even great brushing and flossing can’t remove tartar once it has hardened onto your teeth.
Professional dental cleanings give your dental team an opportunity to remove buildup that home care cannot. They also provide an opportunity to examine your teeth and gums for signs of problems that you may not be able to see or feel yourself.
Dental problems don’t always cause immediate symptoms. Cavities, gum disease, damaged restorations, and other issues can sometimes develop quietly.
Finding problems earlier may allow for simpler treatment and can help prevent minor concerns from becoming more complicated.
Your dentist can also recommend a cleaning schedule based on your individual oral health needs rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.
Keep Plaque and Tartar Under Control
Plaque and tartar are closely connected, but understanding the difference makes it easier to understand why both home care and professional dental care matter.
Plaque is the soft bacterial film that continually forms on your teeth and can usually be removed through brushing and flossing. When plaque remains on the teeth and hardens, it becomes tartar, which generally requires professional dental cleaning to remove.
Staying consistent with brushing, cleaning between your teeth, making tooth-friendly food and drink choices, and scheduling regular dental visits can help reduce buildup and protect your teeth and gums.
If it has been a while since your last dental cleaning, or you’re noticing tartar buildup, bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, or other changes in your mouth, consider scheduling an appointment with Gonzalez Family Dentistry. Routine preventive care can help keep small dental concerns from turning into bigger problems and keep your smile feeling clean and healthy for years to come.