Tips for Removing Plaque

Table of Contents

• What is plaque?
• How do I know if I have plaque?
• What causes plaque on teeth?
• How to remove plaque from teeth
• How to prevent plaque buildup
• What is tartar?
• What’s the difference between plaque and tartar?
• How does tartar affect teeth and gums?
• How do I know if I have tartar?
• How to prevent tartar build up  

Key Takeaways

• Plaque is a sticky, invisible biofilm that develops on teeth from bacteria naturally found in the mouth. When it mixes with sugar, it produces acids that can lead to cavities and gum disease.  
• Everyone develops plaque, but it can be removed at home through daily care, including flossing and brushing thoroughly with a fluoride toothpaste.  
• artar, also known as calculus, is hardened, mineralised plaque that appears as a yellow or brown colour on teeth, typically along the gumline. 
• Once tartar has formed, it can only be removed by a dentist or dental hygienist through a professional cleaning process called scaling.  
• To prevent plaque and tartar buildup, it's essential to brush at least twice a day, floss daily, limit sugary and starchy foods, and schedule regular dental checkups and cleanings every six months.  

Find out more about plaque; what it is, what causes it and how to prevent and remove it.

Plaque is a sticky biofilm that develops on teeth as a result of the bacteria that naturally live in the mouth. It’s what you do about it that determines how healthy your teeth and gums are. When left alone, plaque on your teeth turns into tartar and can increase your risk of cavities or gum disease.  

Everyone develops plaque as bacteria are constantly forming in our mouths. These bacteria use ingredients found in our diet and saliva to grow. Plaque causes cavities when acids from the plaque attack your teeth after eating. With repeated acid attacks, the tooth enamel can break down and cavities can form. Plaque that’s not removed can also irritate the gums around your teeth, leading to gingivitis (red, swollen, bleeding gums), periodontal disease and tooth loss.  

Your mouth contains a lot of bacteria that collect on the surfaces of your teeth and create this bacterial film, which often starts at the gumline. It's when the bacteria mixes with sugar and produces acids that a problem develops. If you eat a lot of sugary or sweet foods – or those that contain a lot of simple carbohydrates – the bacteria in your mouth actually feed on these sugars if you let them linger on the surface of your teeth.  

• Floss:  Use floss to remove germs and food particles between teeth. Ease the floss into place gently. Don’t snap it into place — this could harm your gums. 
• Brush Teeth: Use any tooth brushing method that’s comfortable, but don’t scrub hard back and forth. Small circular motions and short back-and-forth motions work well. To prevent decay, it's what's on the toothbrush that counts. Use fluoride toothpaste – fluoride is what protects teeth from decay. Also, Colgate Total is superior for biofilm control. 
• Brush your tongue: Don’t forget to brush your tongue for a fresh feeling! Remember: food residues, especially sweets, provide nutrients for the germs that cause tooth decay, as well as those that cause gum disease. That's why it is important to remove all food residue from your teeth. Remove plaque twice a day, use mouthwash to freshen up throughout the day and floss before bed.  
• Another way of removing plaque between teeth is to use a dental pick — a thin plastic or wooden stick. These sticks can be purchased at pharmacies and supermarkets.

It's easy to prevent plaque buildup with proper care. Make sure to:

• Brush thoroughly at least twice a day to remove plaque from all surfaces of your teeth
• Floss daily to remove plaque from between your teeth and under your gumline, where your toothbrush may not reach
• Limit sugary or starchy foods, especially sticky snacks
• Schedule regular dental visits for professional cleaning and checkups

Find out more about tartar; what it is, what causes it and how to prevent and remove it.

Tartar is made up from sticky bacteria that has mineralised and is sometimes also called calculus. Plaque bacteria can be easily removed with brushing and flossing, however, any hardened tartar will need to be removed by a dentist. If left, it can quickly lead to other oral problems including cavities, receding gums or gum disease.

Plaque is mostly invisible, while tartar stains the base of your teeth brown or yellow. Everyone gets plaque, it’s unavoidable and builds up throughout the day when you eat and drink, however, tartar is avoidable if you follow a good oral care routine. Plaque can easily be removed at home with daily brushing, but tartar interacts with the minerals in your teeth to form a hard coating and needs to be removed by your dentist or dental hygienist. Tartar is old plaque that has not been removed.  

A buildup of tartar or plaque bacteria can lead to cavities and tooth decay – so, the quicker you get rid of it, the less chance you have of developing dental problems in the future! The bacteria in tartar can damage or irritate your gums and lead to gingivitis or gum disease – where your gums are inflamed, swollen and bleed easily.  

Plaque is the colourless film of bacteria that builds up on your teeth each day, whereas tartar occurs when the plaque is left to build up over time and hardens onto your teeth. The most common sign of tartar buildup is a yellow or brown colour around the edges of your teeth and along the gumline. Plaque can be easily removed each time you brush your teeth and floss, however, the only way for sure to detect tartar and remove it, is to see your dentist and hygienist.  

Now you know more about what causes tartar, it’s also helpful to understand how to prevent and remove it. A great dental care routine using an antibacterial toothpaste that targets uncontrolled biofilm, such as Colgate Total active prevention, and flossing is necessary for plaque removal. This, combined with regular hygiene visits to your dentist and hygienist will help to keep your teeth clean and healthy. However, once tartar has formed, only a dentist and hygienist can remove it by using the process for tartar removal, known as scaling. During scaling, your dentist or hygienist will use special instruments to remove the tartar from your teeth, both above and below the gumline.

Visit your dentist or hygienist every 6 months for professional cleaning to keep your mouth healthy and tartar free!