Plaque, tartar and cavities are three different things that happen in order. Plaque is a soft, sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth every day and can be brushed and flossed away. Tartar, also called calculus, is plaque that has been left in place long enough to harden, and only a dental professional can remove it. A cavity is actual damage: a hole in the tooth created when acids from plaque bacteria dissolve the enamel. Plaque leads to tartar and to cavities, and tartar also feeds gum disease. The Timonium office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS deals with all three, and you can stop most of the chain at home.
This article explains each one, how they are connected, and what you and the dental team each do to keep them under control.
Plaque, tartar and cavities at a glance
- Plaque: a soft, colorless or pale film of bacteria. It feels fuzzy on your teeth. You remove it with daily brushing and cleaning between your teeth. Left alone, it hardens into tartar and produces acids that cause cavities.
- Tartar (calculus): hard, rough deposits, often yellowish, along the gumline and between teeth. It can’t be brushed off. It is removed at a professional cleaning. It irritates gums and holds more plaque.
- Cavity: a permanent area of damage in the tooth. It may cause no symptoms at first. It is repaired by the dentist, usually with a filling. Left untreated, it grows deeper toward the nerve.
Plaque: the sticky film that starts it all
How plaque forms
Your mouth is always home to bacteria. They mix with saliva and bits of food to form a thin film that clings to teeth, especially along the gumline, between teeth and in the grooves of back teeth. Plaque starts rebuilding soon after you brush, which is why cleaning has to be a daily habit.
What plaque does
When you eat or drink sugars and starches, plaque bacteria feed on them and release acids. Each snack or sip starts another acid attack on your enamel. Plaque along the gumline also irritates the gums, which can become red, swollen and quick to bleed.
How to remove plaque
Brush twice a day, reaching the gumline with gentle strokes, and clean between your teeth once a day. Floss, floss picks and water flossers can all help. Read why a water flosser might be a good idea and smart brushing beats aggressive brushing.
Calculus (tartar): hardened plaque
How plaque turns into tartar
Plaque that stays on teeth picks up minerals from saliva and hardens. Once that happens, it becomes tartar, the deposit dentists call calculus.
Where tartar builds up
Tartar tends to form where plaque is hardest to reach: along and just below the gumline, between teeth and on the inside surfaces of the lower front teeth. You may see it as a yellow or brown line, or feel it as a rough ridge with your tongue.
Why you can’t brush tartar away
Tartar is hard, rough and firmly attached to the tooth, so a toothbrush and floss can’t remove it. Its rough surface also collects even more plaque. Removing it takes professional instruments and training. Read do I need a dental cleaning if I brush and floss?
Tartar and gum disease
Plaque and tartar below the gumline keep the gums inflamed. Bleeding or receding gums, bad breath and deep pockets in the gums mean infection. Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and the health of your gums has been linked to serious health risks such as diabetes and cardiac disease. When tartar has built up below the gums, scaling and root planing, a deep cleaning, removes harmful bacteria from beneath them. See gum disease treatment.
Cavities: when decay breaks through
How a cavity forms
Repeated acid attacks from plaque weaken enamel. Eventually the weakened area breaks down into a hole, which is a cavity. Once decay passes through the enamel into the softer dentin beneath, it can spread faster, and if it reaches the pulp inside the tooth it can cause serious pain and infection.
Signs of a cavity
Early decay rarely hurts. As a cavity grows, you may notice sensitivity to sweets, cold or heat, pain when you bite, a toothache, a dark spot or a rough area your tongue finds, or floss that catches in one spot.
How cavities are found
DIAGNOdent, a laser pen, can detect small amounts of decay at the earliest stages, sometimes before it shows on an X-ray. Digital X-rays reveal decay between teeth and under fillings, and intraoral cameras let you see the tooth on screen. See dental technology.
How cavities are repaired
Dr. Haywood never uses amalgam. Cavities are filled with a tooth-colored composite that is mixed to match your teeth, bonded in place and completed in a single visit. Air abrasion can remove small areas of decay with no heat, pressure or vibration. Larger damage may need a bonded inlay or onlay, and a tooth damaged extensively may need a porcelain crown. Read when do you need a dental filling?
How the three are connected
- Plaque forms on your teeth every day.
- If it isn’t removed, its bacteria produce acids after you eat or drink sugars.
- Those acids weaken enamel and, over time, create a cavity.
- Plaque left in place hardens into tartar.
- Tartar holds more plaque against the teeth and gums, keeping gums inflamed and giving decay more places to start.
The simplest way to remember it: remove plaque to prevent tartar, and remove plaque and tartar to prevent cavities and gum disease. For the bigger picture, read why it’s better to prevent a cavity than fill one.
What the team does at a cleaning visit
Cleaning appointments at the practice are a full 60 minutes, and a professional cleaning every six months is recommended. The practice holds very high standards for gum health and strives for zero bleeding and zero infection. Depending on your needs, a visit can include:
- Removing plaque and tartar from your teeth, between them, and along and just below the gumline
- Checking your gums for pockets and early signs of infection
- Early decay detection with DIAGNOdent and digital X-rays
- Oral DNA testing to identify which bacteria are behind gum disease
- Super sealants for the grooves of back teeth, with a lifetime warranty
- Non-fluoride calcium rebuilding treatments to help strengthen enamel, for anyone who prefers to avoid fluoride
- Xylitol mints and lollipops to help reduce decay risk
Read more about dental cleanings and preventive care.
Paying for cleanings and fillings
The practice is out of network with all dental insurance companies. You pay at the time of your visit, and the office files the claim on your behalf so your plan can reimburse you for what it covers. Health savings and flex plans are welcome, and financing is available through CareCredit, with no-interest options up to 12 months, and Cherry, with plans from 3 to 24 months. See financing options.
Frequently asked questions
Is plaque the same as a cavity?
No. Plaque is a film of bacteria on the surface of the tooth. A cavity is damage in the tooth itself, caused by the acids plaque bacteria produce.
Can I remove tartar at home?
No. Tartar is hard and firmly attached, so brushing and flossing can’t remove it. It takes professional instruments at a cleaning visit.
Can tartar cause cavities?
Tartar holds plaque against your teeth, and plaque bacteria cause decay, so heavy tartar makes cavities and gum disease more likely.
How often should tartar be removed?
A professional cleaning every six months is recommended. If you have gum disease, periodontal maintenance may be scheduled to keep it under control.
Get plaque and tartar under control in Timonium
If it has been a while since your last cleaning, request an appointment or call (410) 453-9399. The office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS is at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093, serving Timonium, Cockeysville, Towson and Baltimore. If decay has already started, see restorative dentistry.
Ready to see your future smile?
Book a full-hour cleaning in Timonium to clear away plaque and tartar.
