The Hard Truth About Plaque and Tartar
Run your tongue over your teeth in the morning and you’ll feel that sticky film. It seems harmless, but it is plaque, a living biofilm that forms within hours after brushing. Leave it alone long enough and it hardens into calculus, which behaves more like stone than anything a toothbrush can handle. Understanding how plaque forms is essential. It starts as a soft bacterial layer. These bacteria feed on sugars and release acids that weaken enamel. If plaque is not removed daily, gums become irritated, leading to gingivitis. Continued neglect allows the inflammation to reach deeper tissues, eventually causing periodontitis, bone loss, and mobility. Calculus is plaque that has hardened after absorbing minerals like calcium and phosphate from saliva. Once it forms, brushing will not remove it. Calculus above the gumline is visible, but the subgingival variety hides in pockets and often appears darker because of blood pigments. That darker color is a sign of chronic inflammation. Good b...