Dental health contrast: Understanding differences, formation, and additional facts
Plaque and tartar, two common dental issues, can significantly affect the health of your teeth and gums. Plaque, a soft, sticky substance, and tartar, its hardened form, require different approaches for removal and prevention.
Formation of Plaque and Tartar
Plaque forms naturally in the mouth, especially after eating, particularly when sugars and carbohydrates are present. This sticky film is created when bacteria in the mouth combine with food particles and saliva. If plaque remains undisturbed, it mineralizes with minerals from saliva to form tartar, a hard, rough substance that strongly adheres to the teeth [1][2][3][5].
Removal of Plaque and Tartar
Plaque can be removed daily through proper oral hygiene: brushing twice a day, flossing, and using mouthwash. However, tartar requires professional dental procedures such as scaling and sometimes root planing to clean both above and below the gum line, because it cannot be removed by regular brushing or home remedies [2][3][4].
Impact on Dental Health
Plaque contains bacteria that produce acids, causing tooth enamel decay, cavities, and gum inflammation (gingivitis). Untreated plaque and tartar lead to gingivitis, which if left untreated progresses to periodontitis, causing gum destruction, bone loss, tooth mobility, and even tooth loss [2][3][5]. Tartar exacerbates these problems because its rough surface promotes further plaque accumulation and irritates gums, making inflammation more severe and maintaining a chronic infection [2][3][5].
Risk Factors for Increased Development
Poor oral hygiene (infrequent or ineffective brushing/flossing), high sugar and carbohydrate diets feeding plaque-forming bacteria, inadequate professional dental care and cleaning, dry mouth conditions reducing saliva’s natural cleansing, smoking, and certain medical conditions that alter oral flora or gum health are all factors that can increase the risk of plaque and gum disease [2][5]. Areas difficult to clean, like around braces or crowded teeth, where plaque can accumulate easily, also pose a higher risk.
In summary, plaque is the soft precursor that can be removed with proper daily care, whereas tartar is hardened plaque requiring professional removal. Both significantly impact dental health by fostering tooth decay and gum disease, with plaque as the starting point and tartar aggravating the problem. Maintaining rigorous oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups are critical to controlling their formation and minimizing risk factors [2][3][5].
It's essential to be aware of the signs of plaque and tartar build-up, such as discolored spots on teeth, hard, rough patches on teeth, swollen, painful, or bloody gums. If you suspect you may have gum disease, prompt dental care is advised, whether you believe you have plaque, tartar, or both [6]. Regular brushing, flossing, and a balanced diet can help reduce the amount of plaque a person has, but to remove tartar, a person must go to the dentist [7].
References:
[1] American Dental Association. (2020). What is tartar? ADA.org [2] Mayo Clinic. (2020). Plaque. Mayoclinic.org [3] National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. (2020). Gum Disease. Nidcr.nih.gov [4] Colgate. (2020). What is tartar and how is it removed? Colgate.com [5] WebMD. (2020). Plaque and Tartar. WebMD.com [6] British Dental Health Foundation. (2020). Gum disease. Bdhf.org [7] Oral-B. (2020). Tartar Control. Oralb.co.uk
- Maintaining good oral hygiene, which includes brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash, can help prevent the formation of plaque that may lead to gum disease.
- Regular dental visits are necessary for the removal of tartar, a hardened form of plaque that strongly adheres to teeth and exacerbates gum disease by promoting further plaque accumulation.
