Understanding the Difference Between Plaque And Tartar

At Florida Smiles Dental, we excel at helping our dental patients to maintain fresh and clean teeth and gums. One of the ways we do this is with dental cleanings in Fort Lauderdale, FL. We recommend coming in for a cleaning at least once every six months, or more frequently if you really want to prioritize your oral health. During your dental cleaning, your dental hygienist will rid your teeth of plaque and tartar using a combination of special dental tools.

What is Plaque?

You know when you wake up in the morning and your teeth feel kind of, well, icky? Plaque is that sticky substance that forms on your teeth overnight. But it’s not just overnight. During the day and evening, plaque can slowly build up on your teeth. Plaque forms when sugars and starches from food interact with bacteria in your mouth. Due to its sticky nature, the plaque sticks to the enamel of your teeth. When you brush and floss, you’re brushing and flossing away the plaque, which is why your teeth feel so nice after brushing.

What is Tartar?

Essentially, tartar is hardened plaque. If you don’t do a thorough job of brushing away plaque, any plaque left behind hardens into tartar. To understand how hard tartar is, it can be likened to cement. So you can see why, when you come in for a dental cleaning, your dental hygienist might have to work a little harder to get rid of tartar. Don’t try this at home because you won’t get far. To get rid of tartar, special tools are needed. It’s very stubborn, and bonds to teeth enamel like nobody’s business.

For dental cleanings that will get rid of tartar and plaque, visit your dentist in Fort Lauderdale, FL as often as possible. We look forward to seeing you!