Learning to Manage Your Dental Problems

What To Know About Plaque And Tartar Buildup

20 October 2021 by Charlotte Beck

Do you always seem to have a lot of plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth? This can lead to a lot of scraping and scaling at the dentist to get rid of it, which nobody wants to go through. Here is what you need to know about this substance that forms on your teeth and causes many common dental problems.

What Are Tartar and Plaque?

Your mouth has a lot of bacteria, which can't be avoided due to eating and drinking throughout the day. That bacteria is what eventually turns into plaque. It starts with the bacteria attaching itself to the outer pellicle layer of your teeth, which is like a very thin film. That bacteria then feeds on all of the foods that you eat during the day, and proceeds to reproduce. As you introduce more foods to your mouth, that bacteria continues to grow during the day. It eventually gets to a point where it forms a white gooey substance on your teeth. 

The goal of brushing your teeth every night is to remove the plaque that has formed during the day while it is soft and easy to remove. Even after brushing your teeth, that bacteria continues to form plaque while you sleep when your mouth is closed. It is a constant battle of trying to keep the plaque from solidifying, because over time that soft plaque turns into hard tartar. Once that happens, it is not possible to remove the plaque from your teeth with regular brushing. 

How Is Tartar Removed?

Your dentist can help remove that tartar after it has formed on your teeth, which is why going for your semi annual cleaning and inspection is so important. They can remove that tartar using a hand scaler or ultrasonic scaler, with the latter breaking up the plaque into small pieces using vibrations and water. 

While it may seem that the tools used to remove plaque from your teeth are causing damage, it actually is not. That is because the enamel on your teeth is tougher than the tools that are used, and the tools are tougher than the plaque. That's why the dentist is able to safely remove plaque in their office. 

What Happens if Tartar Isn't Removed?

The impact of leaving tartar on your teeth is that it will get beneath the gums and eventually lead to gum disease. That bacteria can even get into your bloodstream, which can cause other health issues. The process to remove the tartar only becomes more intense when it leads to gum disease, which can be avoided with regular brushing and cleanings by your dentist. 

For more information about plaque and tartar, contact a dentist in your area.

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