Whenever you’re shopping for a new toothbrush, watching an advertisement for toothpaste, or chatting with our Caulfield North dentist, chances are you’re going to pick up on overlapping terms like “plaque” and “tartar” being used. Even though both of these types of buildup accumulate on your teeth, they are not the same thing. Each one affects your mouth differently and requires different methods for removal.
What Is Plaque?
Dental plaque is a normal, everyday accumulation of residue on your teeth. Sometimes it is white, while other times, it takes on the pigment of the foods and drinks we eat. Because it tends to blend in with the colour of our teeth, it can easily be overlooked unless you’re looking closely in the mirror or running your fingernail across your tooth.
Plaque is a combination of bacteria, bacterial secretions, and food debris. As oral bacteria in our mouths feed on the foods we eat (including natural sugars and carbohydrates), they break them down and secrete an acidic, sticky biofilm, which is what plaque is predominantly made up of.
The acids in dental plaque can gradually etch away at our tooth enamel, causing demineralisation and eventually cavities. Plaque needs to be removed on a frequent basis. Otherwise, it will cause irreversible structural damage to our teeth.
In addition to cavities, plaque buildup will also contribute to gingivitis, gum disease, bad breath, dental implant failure, and tartar on teeth. Numerous scientific studies have shown that oral plaque bacteria can even spread through infected gum tissues, becoming lodged within the cardiovascular system and contributing to other underlying health concerns.
If you’re ever curious about how much plaque is on your teeth, we can use a disclosing agent to dye the buildup inside your mouth. The agent turns dental plaque pink or purple, depending on how long it has been on your teeth. This tool is useful for oral hygiene and educational purposes, as it helps people visualise where the buildup is in their mouth.
What Causes Plaque?
We have thousands of naturally-occurring bacteria in our mouths, and like anywhere else, those bacteria can potentially “colonise” or accumulate in certain areas. Since most of us eat several times each day, we “feed” those microorganisms each time we have a meal or snack. But even if we aren’t eating, plaque is still developing in our mouths, which is why it’s important to brush and floss regularly even if we haven’t eaten.
Certain foods—particularly carbohydrates—tend to increase the amount of plaque production on our teeth. And if we lack appropriate saliva flow because of medications, smoking, or other underlying factors, the plaque may be heavier than someone with normal saliva production.
Plaque tends to be heaviest when we consume more fermentable carbohydrates and/or do not brush thoroughly, especially if we’re frequently snacking throughout the day. The thickest layers are typically along the gumlines. For example, if you eat a piece of white bread, you’ll likely notice more plaque in the next half hour than if you ate an apple or carrot.
Although plaque is soft, sticky, and can be removed with a toothbrush, it will reach a point where it can no longer be cleaned off of your teeth by yourself. Like when it creeps down into deep periodontal pockets below your gums or calcifies into tartar.
What is Tartar?
Tartar is also called dental “calculus” (yes, like math). It is essentially calcified plaque buildup. When plaque isn’t removed on a daily basis, it will start to harden and calcify onto the surface of the tooth. It contains various bacteria, which can lead to chronic oral irritation. It’s usually yellow, brown, or black in colour.
Tartar tends to be heaviest in certain areas of the mouth, like around the salivary glands under the front of your tongue or outside the upper back teeth. It tends to develop along the gum margins and between the back teeth before expanding into other spaces.
Unfortunately, once tartar accumulates on teeth, it cannot be brushed or flossed away. The hard buildup can only be removed by a dental provider. Depending on the extent of buildup and where it’s located, the bacteria inside of the tartar will trigger an immune response that causes:
- Gum detachment and pocket creation
- Bone deterioration
- Bleeding and swelling
- Tooth mobility
- Tooth loss
- Chronic bad breath (halitosis)
- Gum recession
- Tooth sensitivity
- Higher risk of root-surface cavities
How To Remove Plaque
Plaque removal is simple once you understand the best way to clean your teeth each day. The key is to physically disrupt it within the first 24 hours before it calcifies into tartar.
The best way to remove plaque is with a proper, thorough brushing routine.
Here’s how to get started:
- Use a soft, extra-soft, or electric toothbrush. Avoid firm or stiff-bristled brushes, as these can damage your teeth.
- Angle the bristles slightly towards your gums to target areas where plaque is thickest.
- Make light-handed, short strokes back and forth on one or two teeth at a time. Avoid harsh scrubbing back and forth.
- If you’re using an electric toothbrush, allow it to do the work for you. Simply position it in the desired location and hold it in place for several seconds before moving to the next.
- Move to the next teeth, repeating the process until you’ve cleaned all of the inside, outside, and chewing surfaces throughout your mouth.
- Brush for a minimum of two minutes, twice a day.
But brushing won’t remove plaque between your teeth or just below the edges of your gums. To clean those areas, you’ll need to floss at least once each day.
- Wrap the floss in a “C” shape against the side of the tooth.
- Gently rub up and down several times, keeping the floss against the tooth.
- Allow the floss to slip just below your gums to disrupt buildup in that space.
- Lift the floss up and over the pointed gum tissue between your teeth before moving to the next tooth.
If flossing is challenging, you can consider using a water flosser or floss holder to help.
Additionally, you’ll want to plan regular checkups at least twice a year for a professional scale and clean. During these visits, we’ll remove all plaque (and tartar) and make you aware of areas that you might be missing whenever you brush and floss. Our providers can show you how to manipulate your toothbrush, floss, or other oral care products to target those spaces and keep them clean between visits.
When plaque isn’t removed routinely and hardens into tartar, the buildup can creep below the gums and create “periodontal pockets” around the teeth. These areas usually require a series of deep cleans to combat oral disease, as opposed to preventative six-monthly cleans.
How To Remove Tartar
Tartar buildup should only be removed by your dentist, hygienist, or oral health therapist. Do not attempt to remove tartar by yourself or using home treatments, as it could result in serious physical injury and permanent damage to your teeth and gums.
Since tartar is physically calcified onto your tooth surfaces, specific instruments are needed to safely lift it away from your teeth. These devices can range from manual hand scalers to electric tips that gently vibrate and flush away the hardened residue.
Although you can easily find tartar removal kits on the internet or even at some stores, these devices are not endorsed by professional dental organisations and can cause lacerations, dental trauma, or result in the need for emergency care.
Scheduling a six-monthly scale and clean will ensure that tartar buildup is kept to a minimum. As we remove the deposits, it will help create a clean oral environment that’s easier to maintain on a day-to-day basis between checkups. But if cleans are missed, the tartar will expand and become difficult to remove (not to mention harmful to your oral tissues).
How Often Should You Brush Your Teeth?
Ideally, you want to brush your teeth for a minimum of two minutes twice each day. If you’re able to brush more frequently than that—such as mid-day or after each meal—that’s even better.
Regular toothbrushing aims to lift away dental plaque residue before it calcifies into tartar or triggers an immune response in your mouth. Since it’s normal to occasionally miss certain areas while brushing, more frequent toothbrushing helps ensure that plaque is removed before it calcifies into tartar. But you also want to gently stimulate your gums to promote oxygenation and healthy tissues.
Always remember that brushing your teeth is only half of the battle. Without daily flossing, plaque and tartar will inevitably build up between your teeth and below the gumlines. Flossing (or water flossing) will help dislodge plaque and food debris to combat gum disease, halitosis, and decay.
Plaque and Tartar Removal in Caulfield North
Hawthorn Road Family Dental offers gentle, thorough scale and cleans for patients of all ages. But if you’re behind on your checkups and have noticeable tartar buildup, we can help with that too. Contact us today to request a checkup and clean to get your oral health back on track.
