Tartar vs Plaque: What’s the Difference?
Are you wondering what that filmy coating is on the surface of your teeth? Have you noticed rough patches of white, yellow, or brown stains along your gum line? Maybe you’ve just heard the words “plaque” and “tartar” and want to better understand the difference. These substances affect us all, and knowing how to deal with them is essential for optimal oral hygiene. Join us for a complete guide to tartar vs plaque.
What is plaque?
You may not be able to see it, but plaque is a soft, sticky film that is constantly forming on the surface of your teeth. If it isn’t addressed regularly, it can cause major problems. Here’s a deeper look:
What causes plaque buildup?
That unpleasant biofilm consists primarily of bacteria, saliva, and food particles. Certain habits and substances can fuel these bacteria and ramp up production, including:
Sugary drinks and starchy foods
Inconsistent brushing and flossing
Dry mouth
Smoking and vaping
Drinking alcohol
What are the signs of plaque on teeth?
Plaque isn’t immediately noticeable to the naked eye, but there are a few indications that it’s forming. Your teeth may look dull or slightly yellow, your gums may bleed when you floss, or you may experience bad breath and a rotten taste in your mouth shortly after brushing.
How to get rid of plaque on teeth
The good thing about plaque is that it’s usually manageable with great oral hygiene. If you brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss every night, and rinse with mouthwash, the bacteria won’t be able to replicate as easily. However, when left untreated, plaque develops into something much harder to remove: tartar.
Related: Cavity vs Stain: How To Tell the Difference
What is tartar?
Sometimes called calculus, tartar is a hard, calcium deposit that appears when plaque evolves unchecked. It cements itself to the tooth surface and requires professional cleaning to remove.
What causes tartar buildup?
Tartar is caused by all the same things as plaque. Skipping your oral hygiene routine, indulging in sugary snacks, and having infrequent dentist visits can all encourage this substance to develop.
The difference between the two is time. You can’t develop tartar without first having plaque, and the longer you delay dental care, the worse it will get. Some people with braces and permanent bridge devices develop tartar in tight corners that they can’t effectively scrub with a toothbrush.
Signs of tartar buildup
When you have tartar buildup on your teeth, you may also experience persistent bad breath, red, swollen gums, and bleeding when you brush. Unlike regular plaque accumulation, tartar also causes crusty white, yellow, or brow deposits on the teeth, increased tooth sensitivity, and tenderness along the gum line.
How to get rid of tartar on teeth
Once tartar has adhered to your teeth, the only way to eliminate it is with a professional cleaning. In some cases, a deep cleaning with scaling and root planing is required to eliminate calcifications from beneath the gum line.
After it’s removed, you’ll need to stick to an aftercare plan to prevent new tartar from forming. Eventually, untreated tartar will develop into cavities and increase the risk of gingivitis and periodontitis, so it’s essential to address it as soon as possible.
Related: How Often Should You Floss? Advice From a Dentist
Key differences between tartar vs plaque
It can be hard to distinguish between tartar vs plaque, so we’ve created a cheat sheet to help you differentiate between them:
Consistency
Plaque is the soft, slippery, or fuzzy biofilm that continually develops on teeth. As plaque matures, it hardens into tartar, the rough, crusty, or gritty substance that bonds with your enamel and eats away at your teeth.
Color
Most plaque is completely colorless or a translucent pale yellow. Even if you wipe your teeth with a clean tissue, the color will likely be undetectable. On the other hand, calcified tartar may appear white, yellow, dark brown, or even black as a cavity forms and decay progresses. This coloration may vary based on the location of the tartar, with patches below the gum line appearing darker.
Time it takes to form
This is where the differences between plaque vs tartar become more important. Plaque begins to develop within hours of eating. If you don’t brush and floss within 24 to 72 hours, it will solidify into tartar.
Location
While plaque covers the entire surface of the tooth, larger amounts may settle in the tight crevices your toothbrush can’t reach. As a result, tartar is more likely to appear between the teeth, behind the bottom teeth, and along the gum line.
Removal
It’s substantially easier to remove plaque vs tartar. Regular brushing and flossing are enough to eliminate plaque buildup, but tartar will require a dental appointment.
Impact on oral health
Plaque might give you bad breath and an icky feeling in your mouth, but if you’re removing it twice a day, then it doesn’t pose much of a threat. The real dangers appear when plaque is allowed to evolve into tartar. This hard, corrosive substance increases the risk of cavities, tooth decay, and serious complications down the line.
Related: Dental Inlay vs Onlay: Uses and Benefits
Schedule your cleaning with the team at Coral Reef!
Ready to eliminate plaque and tartar to give your smile a fresh start? Schedule an appointment with Coral Reef Dental today!