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You will often hear the terms plaque and tartar used interchangeably, so it is easy to think they are the same. While similar, there are some important differences, and understanding these can help you manage your oral health more effectively.

Everyone has dental plaque and, to some extent, tartar because everyone needs to eat! When you chew food, it is mixed with saliva, which helps the food to break down so your body can absorb the nutrition more easily. However, your mouth is host to over 500 different species of bacteria that also like to eat, and these feast off the leftovers whenever you have a meal.

Eating Produces Plaque

These bacteria are found in dental plaque, a sticky biofilm continually forming on your teeth day and night. The bacteria, saliva and food particles all combine to form dental plaque, and if it has been a while since you brushed your teeth, you can even feel this film by running your tongue over them.

The bacteria in dental plaque also produce toxins and acids that attack your tooth enamel, and gums. These are the same bacteria that can cause cavities and gum disease if their growth remains unchecked. The main reason why it’s important to brush and floss your teeth regularly is to get rid of dental plaque and interrupt bacterial growth. When you don’t brush and floss your teeth thoroughly, any plaque that remains on your teeth soon hardens into tartar.

What Happens When Tartar Develops Over Teeth?

If plaque remains on your teeth, it begins to harden into tartar between one and three days afterwards. Tartar, also called calculus, is a hard substance that strongly bonds to your tooth enamel. It is a crusty substance that can easily become stained, so you may notice a yellow or brown buildup around your gum margins, where your teeth meet your gums.

You cannot remove tartar or calculus by brushing or flossing your teeth, as it must be removed professionally during your dental cleanings when you visit our practice. Unfortunately, so long as tartar remains on your teeth, the bacteria within it continue to produce toxins and acids that infect and inflame your gums.

The risk of developing calculus is greater if you smoke or have a dry mouth, where you cannot produce enough saliva. Even people who clean their teeth thoroughly will have some tartar on them, which is why dental cleanings are such an important part of your preventative dental care plan.

Fighting Plaque and Tartar Buildup

The easiest way to prevent excessive plaque and tartar buildup is to ensure you have an excellent oral care routine. When you brush your teeth, pay attention to cleaning each tooth surface thoroughly to remove plaque buildup. Regular daily flossing removes plaque buildup and the food debris that feed harmful bacteria trapped between your teeth. When you visit our dental practice, we can clean your teeth professionally and offer advice on how to brush and floss effectively.

We certainly hope you are, as this is the percentage of people who floss their teeth daily. Unfortunately, we know many people ignore this essential task, but it is important if you want to have strong, healthy gums and healthy teeth.

If you don’t currently floss every day, here is why it is important and some easy tips on how to make it a habit.

Why Is Flossing Necessary?

Daily flossing protects your teeth and gums against a host of dental problems. When you brush your teeth, you can only clean around two-thirds of each tooth. The contact areas between your teeth account for the other third; these areas can easily trap food particles and bacteria in dental plaque. These bacteria will feast on the food particles, eventually causing tooth decay, and gum disease frequently begins in these contact areas. When you floss before or after brushing your teeth, it removes dental plaque and food particles, protecting your teeth and gums.

What Happens If I Don’t Floss?

If you fail to floss regularly, plaque quickly builds up between teeth. In just a day or two, plaque starts to harden into tartar or calculus, and this crusty substance can longer be removed by brushing and flossing your teeth. The only way to remove calculus is to have your teeth cleaned professionally at our dental practice.

The bacteria in calculus will continue to feast on the leftover food and produce toxins that infect and inflame your gums, as well as acid that weakens your tooth enamel, so your risk of developing gum disease or cavities increases further. The presence of calculus makes it easier for more plaque to stick to your teeth.

While cavities are a problem, we are particularly concerned about gum disease as the inflammation in your gums can gradually destroy them and result in a loss of jawbone, so ultimately your teeth become loose and will either fall out or need to be extracted. Also, gum disease is linked to serious health problems, including cardiovascular disease, dementia, diabetes and respiratory problems.

How to Get into the Habit of Flossing Daily

If you keep forgetting to floss, then place a reminder on your phone to alert you, or even a sticky note on your bathroom mirror can be sufficient to make you reach for the dental floss. Another trick is to try listening to a podcast or music while you brush and floss; the time will fly by. Initially, you could also try rewarding yourself when you remember to floss daily, such as having a specialty coffee or indulging in a Netflix binge.

Lastly, if you find flossing difficult, please talk to us. We can demonstrate easy ways to floss effectively or talk about other alternatives, such as a water flosser, interdental brushes, or pre-threaded flossers.

Once you get the flossing habit, skipping it will soon feel wrong, especially when your reward is stronger, healthier gums and a nice clean smile.

New Year is a time for making changes. Most New Year resolutions are centred on improving your health or personal growth and development. Instead, why not resolve to be different this year and resolve to improve oral health? You will help to protect your overall health and your wallet, and you’ll benefit from a healthy, confident smile.

Overhaul Your Daily Routine

A proper daily dental care routine is easier than you might imagine, and it doesn’t take long for something that feels like a chore to become a well-established habit. Flossing is a good example as many people will avoid this task, but when you perform it regularly, you will soon get to enjoy the sensation of having a cleaner and fresher mouth and gums that look and feel in the pink of health, not to mention praise from our dental team on caring for your teeth and gums so well.

Your daily dental care routine should include the following:

• Twice daily brushing using a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid harming your teeth and gums.
• Fluoridated toothpaste to help protect against tooth decay. After brushing, spit, but don’t rinse, so a thin coating of toothpaste will remain on your teeth, offering a little extra protection.
• Daily flossing ensures you clean thoroughly between each tooth. If you can’t get on with flossing, ask us for help. We can discuss other tools to try, like interdental brushes, soft picks or an electrical flossing device and can guarantee there will be something you will find easy to use and which will quickly become second nature.

If you wish to use mouthwash, pick an alcohol-free brand that won’t dry out your mouth and preferably contains fluoride or is antimicrobial.

Choose Tooth-Friendly Foods

Your diet and when you eat certain foods can impact your oral health. When you eat foods that feed harmful bacteria, allowing them to thrive, your risk of dental disease increases. These include anything sweet or carbohydrate-rich, so these foods are best kept as part of your main meal. Avoid snacking on sugary or starchy foods between meals, and ensure you eat lots of fruits and vegetables and other nutrient-rich foods. If you are unsure, we can always review your diet and make some useful suggestions.

Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking is a popular resolution at this time of year, and if it is on your list, make this the year you finally stop for good. Tobacco stains your teeth, causes bad breath and increases your risk of gum disease and oral cancer, not to mention the detrimental effect on your general health.

Keep Up to Date with Professional Dental Care

Regular dental checkups and hygiene appointments are vital for ensuring you enjoy optimal oral health year-round. Most people need to see us twice yearly, and you only need to spend about an hour each time. It is the perfect way to prevent any dental problems from developing or worsening and will save you time and money in the longer term.