Take down plaque and tartar by understanding the common causes, prevention, and treatment options
Experiencing pain when you eat, brush or floss is your body’s way of telling you there’s something up. Bleeding gums? Same deal. And how about when you run your tongue over your teeth. Is there a fuzzy, grainy sensation?
If you regularly experience any of these then your teeth may be suffering a plaque attack. And if left to run rampant, it could lead to an even more serious terror: tartar.
In this article we’ll help you identify these common oral health enemies and explain what causes them, the differences between them, and what happens when these enemies go unchallenged for too long.
What are tartar and plaque?
If you’re familiar with plaque, it’s probably because you’ve heard your dentist talk about it. It’s rare for a dentist to get through a consult without mentioning it. I know I struggle. And that’s because it’s something everyone has to deal with. (Yes, even dentists.)
Plaque is the build-up of bacteria in the mouth. It’s the clear (or sometimes pale yellow), sticky substance on your teeth that makes them feel fuzzy. Yes, it sounds gross. But it’s totally normal, and impossible to avoid altogether. Why? Because our mouths are full of bacteria, most of which is good for us and essential to our health.
But there’s a downside. When we eat or drink, the bacteria feeds on the sugars in our food and creates acids. And it’s the acids produced by the bacteria in plaque that can cause tooth decay.
Tartar, or ‘dental calculus’, is a far more serious (but avoidable) problem. Tartar enters the battle when plaque isn’t regularly removed. Minerals in our saliva bond to the plaque to form crystals (tartar) that, when left, harden on the teeth. Far more noticeable to the eye, this crusty yellow layer can turn brown (yuck!) and stain the protective enamel on your teeth. Tartar is tough stuff, and the only way it can be removed is by a dental professional.
So what’s the difference between the two?
The biggest difference between plaque and tartar is the consistency and ease of removal. You can clean away plaque at home. Brushing twice a day and flossing keeps this soft, sticky substance in check, which means tartar is unlikely to make an appearance.
As I said earlier, tartar can only be removed by your dentist or oral hygienist. (I’ll talk about how it’s done later.) Left untreated, tartar can lead to gingivitis (tender, swollen and bleeding gums). And gingivitis can in turn lead to periodontal disease, which is one step away from tooth loss. And that’s a slippery slope to start down, as tooth loss leads to costly dental restoration treatments such as dental implants.
Causes of plaque and tartar build up
The main culprits of plaque build-up are excessive amounts of sweet, sugary food and drink, along with simple carbohydrates that contain a lot of starch (e.g. white bread, rice, pasta, potatoes). But other factors can increase the risk of plaque build-up in your mouth, such as:
- aging
- stress
- smoking
- medication
- malnutrition
- diabetes (that leads to high blood sugar levels)
- medical treatments or diseases that weaken the immune system.
Many of these factors are an issue because they affect the amount of saliva in the mouth. Saliva helps ‘wash away’ plaque, but if you have a dry mouth and not much saliva swishing around—which can happen with smoking or certain medications—the plaque bacteria hangs around.
Hormonal changes can also play a part. Pregnant women and those undergoing therapies that affect their hormones may find themselves more susceptible to the effects of plaque.
How can you tell if plaque or tartar are present?
Plaque isn’t hard to see, especially if there’s a large build up. But it is easy to dismiss. When you look at your teeth every day, it’s easy to think the calcified bits between and around your teeth are normal. It’s just how your teeth look.
But that’s not the case.
The main giveaway is your teeth feeling ‘fuzzy’. Bad breath and tooth sensitivity are also signs that plaque is waging war.
Tartar is easier to spot, as the symptoms are far more dramatic. Look out for:
- yellow or dark brown stains between your teeth or along the gum line
- a roughness on the edge of your teeth
- bad breath.
When gums become tender, red and swollen so much that they bleed, the tartar may be part of a bigger gingivitis gum disease problem. To keep your chompers chipper, take any of these signs as your cue to see your dentist.
DIY tips for preventing plaque
Keeping plaque in check means you’re less likely to suffer from tartar. And nothing keeps plaque at bay better than following a good oral hygiene routine. But that’s not all you can do.
Eating a balanced diet rich in vegetables and nutrients and low in sugary, processed foods and starchy carbohydrates also helps, as do certain foods, fruit and vegetables. Cheese, celery and carrots all help saliva neutralise the acids that cause plaque to form. If you don’t have those at hand, chew on sugar-free gum. Chewing stimulates saliva which, as we know, helps wash away plaque bacteria.
Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste (paying particular attention to the gumline) and flossing between meals removes any plaque that has built up overnight and during the day. Don’t have enough time to floss? Rinsing your mouth with water after eating is a quick option that’s better than nothing.
How your dentist removes plaque and tartar
Removing plaque and tartar is a routine procedure done by a dentist or oral hygienist. During regular check-ups they’ll use a high-powered ultrasonic scaler to scale and polish the teeth and along the gumline. A hand scaler is used next to get rid of any stubborn areas, followed by a final polish.
The final polish is called a ‘prophy’, which is short for ‘prophylax’, and is done one of two ways.
- Using a prophy cup. A soft rubber cup is attached to a handpiece and prophy paste, which is a slightly abrasive fluoride paste, is put in the cup. It’s then run all over the teeth.
- Using a prophyjet or airflow, which is a mixture of sodium or non-sodium bicarbonate powder and water. Using a handpiece, the mixture is run around the teeth under pressure.
Tartar is harder to remove, but your dentist and oral hygienist are both trained to do so. Using a scaler that’s either handheld (relying on touch) or ultrasonic (where the vibrating instrument chips away at the tartar), they remove the stubborn build up around the gums. Next they use a gritty toothpaste to scrub and polish the teeth, followed by a final floss and a rinse to clean the mouth of any debris left over from the scale and scrub.
Here at Keppel Dental we have some great resources to help keep your mouth free of plaque and tartar, including guides on brushing, flossing and getting into a good oral health routine. Of course, to keep gum disease at bay it’s important to see your dentist regularly so they can check for any signs you may not have spotted.
