3 Questions You May Have About Plaque And Tartar
When it comes to plaque and tartar on your teeth, many people are confused about the differences between these two substances. They are not the same thing and can have a different impact on your teeth. Here is what you need to know about both plaque and tartar.
What Is The Difference Between Plaque And Tartar?
Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that is usually colorless. It is possible for you to remove plaque off your own teeth using normal brushing and flossing techniques. Meanwhile, tartar is essentially mineralized plaque. When you have plaque that rests on your teeth for a long time, it will harden and calcify until it turns into tartar. Tartar cannot be easily removed on your own and needs to be removed by a dentist.
How Does Plaque Turn Into Tartar?
The main reason that plaque turns into tartar is that people are not perfect when it comes to brushing and flossing their teeth. Many people may go a few days without flossing, or brush quickly and not adequately get those areas where tartar tends to frequently form in the mouth. In addition, some people don't always brush and floss after eating.
This means that the foods you eat in the morning can potentially cause plaque to sit on your teeth all day long. When combined with inadequate brushing and flossing, the plaque has a chance to turn into tartar. It doesn't take long for that plaque to turn into tartar since it can happen in as little as 24 hours. All it takes is a single day of not sticking to your oral health routine for tartar to form.
What Happens If Tartar Forms?
Tartar is a type of bacteria and it can form underneath your gums. If you don't have the tartar cleaned off your teeth, that tartar will eventually start eating away at your teeth in a place where you cannot see it. You may notice this in the form of an infection through the early signs of gum disease, where you have gums that bleed easily and look red or inflamed. While gum disease can be reversed in its early stages, it will eventually turn into a more serious form of periodontal disease that is much harder to fix once it sets in.
Contact a dentist if you have more questions about tartar and plaque, and the effect they can have on your oral health.