It only makes sense that dental plaque and tartar on teeth can lead to bad breath, or halitosis, as they’re caused by a mix of bacteria and rotting food particles and other residue. Halitosisįirst off, prepare for some funky breath.

Not surprisingly, there is no shortage of maladies associated with dental plaque and tartar. According to Humana, it takes about 12 days for plaque to turn into tartar.īook now What Dental Plaque and Tartar on Teeth Can Lead To Plaque, a sticky film, can quickly develop from that unholy smoothie of food and drink particles and bacteria. The University of Illinois at Chicago asserts that 300 different types of bacteria live inside human mouths, constituting roughly a billion microbes. Common Causes for Dental Plaque and TartarĮver have a really delicious dessert without brushing your teeth soon after? According to WebMD, eating food that contains sugars and starches and giving it time to mix with bacteria inside one’s mouth is the surest way to develop plaque.Īnd the average mouth has a lot of bacteria. Tartar is extremely common, with 68 percent of adults having it, according to Crest. This is the more serious type of tartar, Biodistra notes.

Subgingival occurs below the gums and between teeth.

Supragingival tartar occurs along the gum line and, according to Biodistra, “is often formed on the lingual surface of the mandibular anterior teeth or on the outside of the large teeth in the upper jaw.”.

If the resulting gingivitis (a mild form of periodontal gum disease) isn’t treated, it can lead to periodontitis, which MedlinePlus defines as an inflammation and infection of underlying teeth bone structure - and the number one cause of tooth loss in adults. Once burrowed between molars and under gums, tartar goes to work eroding enamel and infecting gums.

Healthline defines tartar, which is also known as dental calculus, as “an accumulation of plaque and minerals from your saliva that harden.” It’s when people get away from brushing and flossing regularly that plaque hardens and turns into tartar - and problems arise. “Plaque will never go away completely, but it can be controlled with good oral hygiene and visits to the dentist,” a Washington D.C.-based dentist told Live Science. Brush twice a day with an electric toothbrush and floss regularly and most of the food and drink residue that leads to plaque can be eradicated. This gunk coats your teeth, gets under your gum line, and sticks to fillings or other dental work.”Ī little plaque at the end of the day is normal. “ mix with proteins and food byproducts to form a sticky film called dental plaque. As WebMD explains, even people who take meticulous care of their mouth will still have plaque-causing bacteria in their mouths : The first step in protecting against tartar on teeth is being aware of the basics, so let’s do just that. Join us as we explore the basics of dental plaque and tartar, the problems it can cause, and different ways to keep tartar at bay. It’s important to prevent and remove tartar from teeth once it occurs. Left unchecked, tartar can lead to a variety of ailments like tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. Roughly 70 percent of adults have tartar on their teeth, but the unsightly brown and yellow appearance is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. The image of a perfect, pearly white smile may feel like something to aspire to - but it’s practically fiction when it comes to real life.

Calculus buildup