What is dental plaque and tartar?
Plaque is a sticky bacterial film that builds up on teeth daily, while tartar (or calculus) is plaque that has hardened on the tooth surface and requires professional removal.
Plaque forms continuously on your teeth as bacteria in your mouth combine with food particles and saliva. This soft, sticky film begins accumulating within hours of eating and can be removed through daily brushing and flossing. When plaque sits on teeth and below the gumline without being cleaned away, it hardens into tartar (also called calculus). This transformation happens because minerals in saliva bind to the plaque, creating a rough deposit that becomes permanently fixed to the tooth surface.
The key difference between the two is removal. Plaque responds to a toothbrush and floss used at home. Tartar cannot. Once hardened, tartar can only be removed by a dentist or dental hygienist using specialized scaling instruments during a professional cleaning. This is why regular dental visits matter: tartar buildup irritates the gums, leads to bleeding, and can contribute to gum disease if left untreated. The rough surface of tartar also attracts more bacteria, creating a cycle that damages both teeth and gums over time.
Daily oral hygiene stops plaque from forming, but periodic professional cleaning removes the tartar that builds up despite your best efforts. Finding a general dentistry provider for regular checkups helps prevent these deposits from causing serious dental problems.