Plaque vs. tartar: What’s the difference?
Dental plaque is a yellowish, sticky film. It develops when bacteria in your mouth feed on sugars in the foods you eat. Plaque feels “fuzzy” on your teeth, but you can remove it with brushing and flossing.
Tartar is hardened plaque. It might be yellowish at first, but it can turn darker over time. Tartar feels like a hard shell on your teeth. Unlike plaque, you can’t remove tartar with brushing and flossing.
Why is tartar breaking off my teeth?
Occasionally, tartar can break off your teeth when you’re eating certain foods or brushing too aggressively. When this happens, it can leave a rough or sharp area behind. It might be tempting to remove more tartar on your own. But doing this can damage your teeth and gums.
Call your dentist if you notice tartar breaking off your teeth. They can remove the remaining tartar safely and effectively.
Why do I have black tartar on my teeth?
Tartar takes on the color of whatever foods and drinks you consume. You might notice black tartar if you:
- Smoke or use tobacco products.
- Drink lots of tea, coffee or red wine.
Tartar beneath your gum line can also cause bleeding. When blood mixes with tartar, it can turn black.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
The best way to prevent tartar is to practice good oral hygiene. But sometimes, tartar can form despite your best efforts. If this happens, schedule a visit with a dentist right away. While tartar buildup isn’t an emergency, it’s best to remove it as soon as possible to avoid issues like cavities and gum disease.
FAQs
Tartar is a hardened plaque film on your teeth. It can cause cavities and gum disease if it's not removed. You can't remove it yourself; you'll have to visit your dentist for a professional cleaning.
What happens if tartar is not removed? ›
Not removing tartar from your teeth early can cause tooth decay as the bacteria eats away at your tooth enamel. It can lead to gum diseases such as gingivitis or more seriously periodontal disease which is when your gums recede or shrink away from your teeth.
What problems does tartar cause? ›
If you leave tartar on your teeth, it can: Erode your enamel. Cause cavities. Make your gums swell and bleed.
Is it bad if tartar falls off? ›
While not the worst, tartar accumulation to the point it breaks off poses a serious risk to your dental health. Along with gum diseases, it can permanently damage part of your teeth with a side of gum diseases that aren't fun to deal with.
Why is it important to remove tartar from teeth? ›
Tartar and plaque can: cause bad breath, from bacteria buildup. destroy enamel, the hard outer layer of teeth, which can in turn, lead to tooth sensitivity, cavities, and even tooth loss. promote gum disease.
How long does it take for tartar to destroy teeth? ›
Tartar build-up can start to damage teeth within only a few months. The earlier tartar is removed, the better. If you develop periodontitis because of your tartar, gaps can form between the tooth and gums.
Do teeth go back to normal after tartar removal? ›
Once that buildup is removed, in comparison, your teeth feel loose. But that doesn't make them likely to fall out! In spite of that increased feeling of looseness, removing the plaque and tartar buildup helps your gums and roots to reattach to your teeth, creating better oral health for you!
What deficiency causes tartar? ›
Tartar—or as we know it in the dental world, calculus— may build up on teeth (and retainers and nightguards) because of a vitamin deficiency, vitamin K2.
Can you scrape tartar off your own teeth? ›
While it may be tempting to try and remove tartar on your own, it is not recommended to scrape it off using sharp objects such as dental picks or metal tools.
Why does my mouth produce so much tartar? ›
In most situations, tartar forming on teeth is due to failure to remove plaque bacteria through good oral hygiene practices, but there are other factors that may also come into play, such as hard-to-reach areas on teeth3 and smoking and tobacco use4.
How Does Tartar Affect Teeth and Gums? Tartar can make it harder to brush and floss like you should. This can lead to cavities and tooth decay. Any tartar that forms above your gum line could be bad for you.
Can chunks of plaque come off teeth? ›
Over time, plaque hardens into tartar or dental calculus. Tartar is hard since it contains minerals present in saliva. Thus, only a dentist can remove tartar from our teeth. But, sometimes, tartar might start breaking off of teeth if you brush aggressively.
What happens if tartar enters the bloodstream? ›
This hardened tartar is known as dental calculus. Bits of this calcified tartar may break off and enter the digestive system and further on into the person's blood. This can cause a narrowing of the blood vessels when deposits of calculus begin coating the passage.
Why do my teeth feel weird after tartar removal? ›
For some, the “weird” feeling may be a sense of cleanliness by not having a film of plaque on their teeth. For others, they may experience temporary tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity most often occurs after a dentist performs a deep cleaning which involves more contact with a patient's gums than regular cleaning.
Can mouthwash remove tartar? ›
Conclusion. Tartar formation is a common dental problem that can lead to gum disease and tooth decay. While mouthwash can help prevent the buildup of tartar on teeth, it cannot remove existing tartar. The only way to remove tartar is through professional dental cleaning.
How can I remove hardened tartar from my teeth at home? ›
The acetic acid in white vinegar has antibacterial properties and promotes demineralization of tooth enamel, making it effective in removing tartar and plaque. Add half a teaspoon of salt to half a cup of water and add two teaspoons of white vinegar to it. Stir it well and gargle the mixture twice a day.
Is tartar damage permanent? ›
Tartar buildup, when left untreated, may cause permanent enamel problems and/or gum damage.
What to do when tartar breaks off? ›
Tartar breaking off teeth will leave a sharp spot behind. It might be tempting to break the leftover tartar by ourselves, but it can damage gums and teeth. Thus, we should avoid removing the sharp tartar on our own. Instead, we must immediately inform our dentists and visit them for proper treatment.
Can teeth with tartar be saved? ›
Some treatment protocols that can help preserve your natural teeth if you have periodontitis are: Scaling and root planing – are procedures that remove plaque and tartar from teeth and below the gum line. Root planing also helps smoothen the tooth roots to discourage future buildup.
