In fact, tartar is plaque that has had time to harden on your teeth. We introduced plaque to you first because tartar is closely related. The way to avoid all of this happening? Brushing and flossing the teeth every single day! This decay can spread fast, causing you cavities that can grow rapidly. Plaque will eventually create small fissures in the teeth and seep inside the tooth where it will cause tooth decay. Tooth enamel is naturally hard, but even the hardest substances can be weakened over time. If it’s not cleaned off with proper and frequent brushing, then it slowly erodes away your enamel. Plaque loves to stick to your tooth surface. The more sugary foods or drinks you consume, the more plaque you will have. Others, however, work to break down your tooth enamel. Many mouth bacterias help break down the food you eat to start the digestive process. Plaque is a substance made from sugars in the foods you eat mixed with bacteria in the mouth. Your tooth enamel is the hard, outer surface of your tooth. What is it and what does it do to your teeth? The American Dental Association tells us that plaque is a sticky, acidic substance that erodes your tooth enamel. However, not all patients know what the big deal is about plaque. If you’re like most patients, you’ve probably heard of plaque before.

Learn more about what plaque and tartar do to your teeth and how you can avoid the effects of both! You can prevent the formation of both with proper oral hygiene habits. Both of these will erode the tooth enamel and lead to dental caries, also known as cavities. Tartar is a hard, calcified deposit that forms on the teeth and contributes to tooth decay. What do both of these do to the teeth? Plaque is an acidic substance that comes from the sugar in the foods you eat mixed with bacteria in the mouth. When you don’t clean your teeth often enough, plaque and tartar can build up.

Dental calculus broke off