What’s the difference between plaque and tartar?

Plaque is a sticky, acidic film that coats your teeth and is made up of bacteria, food particles, and saliva. It’s normal for plaque to form on your teeth, but it should be removed through brushing and flossing every day. Tartar forms when the plaque on your teeth accumulates over time and becomes hard. In other words, tartar is simply hardened...

Can I remove tartar from my teeth at home?

Unfortunately, once plaque has hardened in to tartar, it can’t be removed with at-home oral care. The only effective way to completely remove tartar from your teeth is to see a dentist. They have special tools and the skill to safely remove tartar from the surface of your teeth. However, you can also prevent tartar from building up and causing more...

What happens if tartar isn’t removed?

If tartar isn’t removed through a combination of good oral hygiene and visits to the dentist, it can accumulate and cause gum recession, cavities, tooth loss, jaw bone deterioration, and even more serious health problems.

Tartar (Dental Tartar or Dental Calculus): Causes, Symptoms, and Removal

Plaque and Tartar

Tartar (Dental Tartar or Dental Calculus): Causes, Symptoms, and Removal

Last updated 06/25

This blog has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Monika Negi, a qualified Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist with 5+ years of experience.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Tartar is a hard, mineralized deposit that forms due to plaque buildup on the surface of your teeth and below the gumline over time. This creates an environment for bacteria to produce acids that erode enamel and cause cavities, tooth decay, and other serious health problems.
Plaque can accumulate on your teeth due to poor oral hygiene, excessive consumption of sugary or acidic foods, dry mouth, and tobacco use.
Tartar can only be removed by a dentist or dental hygienist with special skills and tools. It’s not recommended that you try to scrape the tartar off your teeth at home. At hometartar removal can damage the enamel and gums and potentially cause further oral health issues.
You can prevent the accumulation of tartar on your teeth by maintaining a good oral hygiene routine, including effective brushing with an electric toothbrush, flossing, rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash, and visiting a dental professional for a cleaning and checkup.

Close-up of teeth with dental calculus on them

What Is Tartar?

Tartar, known as dental calculus, is a hard, mineralized deposit formed from a buildup of plaque on your teeth over time.

Put simply, the bacteria in your mouth feed on food debris (like sugars and starches) and break that debris down into a sticky, acidic film known as plaque. If plaque isn’t removed, it continues to accumulate and eventually hardens into tartar.

Untreated tartar can eventually lead to tooth decay, resulting in cavities, rotten teeth, and other issues.

There’s no way to completely eliminate the bacteria in your mouth, but you can minimize it by maintaining an oral hygiene routine that includes brushing, flossing, rinsing with mouthwash, and visiting a dental professional for a cleaning.

Let’s take a look at the factors that cause tartar buildup.

Woman eating a donut and holding a plate of desserts

Causes of Tartar Buildup

Poor Oral Hygiene Poor oral hygiene allows the bacteria in your mouth to accumulate and develop quickly into plaque — and eventually tartar and cavities. The best way to keep tartar buildup from becoming a problem is to follow this routine:

Diet As we mentioned above, bacteria feed on the sugars and starches in your diet and create plaque that sticks to your teeth. Foods that can contribute to plaque buildup include:

Candy and other sweets
Sodas
Sugary juices
Citrus fruits
Starchy foods (such as potatoes and corn)

Dry Mouth

Saliva helps wash away food particles and bacteria and prevents them from sticking to your teeth. Without enough saliva (as is the case with dry mouth), there’s a higher chance of plaque accumulation and tartar formation.

For more detailed information on how to manage dry mouth and prevent dental calculus, check out this article from the Oral-B blog: Dry Mouth: Causes, Remedies, And Treatments.

Tobacco Use

Tobacco use of any kind will dry out your mouth and reduce the likelihood that your saliva will be able to remove food particles and keep bacteria development in check.

Smoking also encourages the growth of harmful bacteria, making it easier for plaque to stick to your teeth and increasing your chances of tooth decay — even with a good oral hygiene routine.

If any of these causes sound familiar and you think you may be prone to tartar buildup, take a look at the symptoms below.

Close-up of teeth with yellow tartar deposits along the gumline showing hardened plaque buildup

Tartar Buildup Symptoms

Rough Texture on Teeth

One of the first symptoms of dental calculus is a rough, gritty texture on your teeth. You might feel this when you rub your tongue over them, and some people even describe the feeling as if their teeth were “wearing sweaters.”

However you describe it, this texture on your teeth is a likely sign of early tartar buildup.

Tooth Discoloration

A more visible symptom of tartar buildup is yellow or brown discolorations on your teeth — particularly around your gumline.

The colors develop because the tartar readily absorbs stains from food and drink, such as coffee, tea, red wine, berries, and other pigmented items.

Bad Breath

Tartar is made up of deposits of old food matter as well as bacteria. The bacteria feed off the old food matter and release a gas that can produce odor resembling rotten food. These gases can accumulate in your mouth, leading to bad breath.

You might think your bad breath is a result of the meal you ate last night but, in reality, it’s an indicator that dental calculus has formed on your teeth.

Gum Inflammation

Another visible sign of tartar buildup is gum inflammation. In some cases, the swelling can progress to the point that your gums bleed.

If you notice pain, redness, swelling, or bleeding in your gums, visit your dentist right away, so they can help prevent the infection from spreading further.

Additionally, if you notice any of the other symptoms listed here, check out the treatment options below.

Tartar Buildup Removal Options

Once plaque hardens into tartar, it can’t be removed by brushing or flossing. The only way to get rid of tartar is by seeing a dentist or dental professional, who will use scaling instruments to scrape the tartar off.

That being said, there are things you can do at home to remove plaque before it turns into tartar and to prevent tartar from accumulating and causing bigger problems.

Brush Twice a Day

The best way to prevent tartar buildup is to brush twice a day with an electric toothbrush and a tartar-control toothpaste.

Floss Once a Day

Flossing once a day is another great way to remove plaque from between your teeth and prevent the formation of dental calculus.

Regular string floss works well, but for a more complete clean, also try a water flosser.

Rinse With an Antiseptic Mouthwash

Mouth rinses are an excellent way to reach the nooks and crannies in your mouth that floss and a toothbrush just can’t reach. A dentist-approved antiseptic mouthwash can help kill bacteria on the surface of your teeth and freshen your breath as well.

Limit Sugary and Starchy Foods

Limiting sugary and starchy foods can help cut down on the “fuel” that speeds plaque and tartar formation along.

Build a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean protein. Be sure to drink plenty of water every day to stay hydrated.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

To completely get rid of tartar — not just slow its buildup — visit a dentist for a professional cleaning with specialized tools.

It’s not good for your teeth if you — instead of a dental professional — try to scrape the plaque away. In fact, you can do more damage if you don’t do it just right. Let the professionals remove tartar while you focus on daily care, such as brushing and flossing.

Oral-B iO Series electric toothbrush removes 100% more plaque for a deeper clean than a regular manual toothbrush

Remove Plaque and Prevent Tartar Buildup with Oral-B

Tartar forms on your teeth as a result of plaque buildup and, over time, can lead to cavities, rotten teeth, and other health concerns. If you’re looking to remove plaque and avoid tartar, get into a good oral hygiene routine using an electric toothbrush, like the Oral-B iO Series.

These advanced toothbrushes are the latest in oral care technology and are designed to remove plaque bacteria — 100% more than a manual toothbrush — from the surface of your teeth, even in hard-to-reach areas.

Add daily flossing (with a water flosser and string floss), rinsing (with a dentist-approved mouthwash), and regular visits to the dentist to create the perfect dental health routine to prevent tartar buildup.

FAQs

Plaque is a sticky, acidic film that coats your teeth and is made up of bacteria, food particles, and saliva. It’s normal for plaque to form on your teeth, but it should be removed through brushing and flossing every day.

Tartar forms when the plaque on your teeth accumulates over time and becomes hard. In other words, tartar is simply hardened plaque.
Unfortunately, once plaque has hardened into tartar, it can’t be removed with at-home oral care. The only effective way to completely remove tartar from your teeth is to see a dentist. They have special tools and the skill to safely remove tartar from the surface of your teeth.

However, you can also prevent tartar from building up and causing more issues by keeping your teeth clean through a proper oral hygiene routine and avoiding sugary and starchy foods.
If tartar isn’t removed through a combination of good oral hygiene and visits to the dentist, it can accumulate and cause gum recession, cavities, tooth loss, jaw bone deterioration, and even more serious health problems.

References

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content?contenttypeid=1&contentid=4062
https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/gum-disease
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/16914-oral-hygiene
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/10958-tooth-discoloration
https://odphp.health.gov/our-work/nutrition-physical-activity/dietary-guidelines

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