It is the whitish sticky layer of debris that accumulates on the surfaces of the teeth and between the teeth, and is the cause of dental caries. It contains lot of bacteria, food particles, and other organic matter. It keeps constantly forming on the surfaces of the teeth, and gets converted to tartar, if not removed daily.

Everyone develops plaque on the teeth surfaces, and it is a constant process because of naturally present bacteria in our mouth. The bacteria present in the plaque produce acids, which may decay the tooth surface. It may also lead to gum problems. If caries are not treated in time, they may lead to tooth loss, or periodontal and bone infections, which may require extensive treatment. Plaque also hardens and forms tartar if not removed for long time, and this tartar strips the tooth of healthy gum attachment, leading to gum and periodontal diseases.

• Thorough brushing twice a day,
• Flossing daily to reach the area between tooth surfaces
• Avoiding sticky food
• Seeing a dentist regularly and getting professional teeth cleaning done.

It is the calcified layer of plaque that forms on the surfaces of teeth, if one is unable to remove the plaque for more than two weeks. Mostly it is formed on the back surface of teeth, as it is not easily accessible and thus not cleaned properly. The bacteria present in plaque, combine the organic matter from saliva and make it calcified and hard. It is also called calculus.

Tartar/ calculus provides more surface area for plaque to accumulate on the tooth surface, making it even more vulnerable to decay. In addition, it makes the gum line to recede, and makes the gum detached from the tooth surface. This process may result in serious problems like gum and periodontal diseases. While it is unhealthy, it also affects a person’s smile, as it is yellowish and also absorbs stains from tea, coffee and other food substances, and looks bad.

• Thorough brushing twice a day,
• Flossing daily to reach the area between tooth surfaces
• Avoiding sticky food
• Seeing a dentist regularly and getting professional teeth cleaning done Once tartar has formed on the tooth surfaces, it can only be removed by a professional, by the process of scaling.