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What is plaque?

Plaque is a soft, sticky film of harmful bacteria that builds up on your teeth and under your gums between brushing. This can easily be removed by brushing for a minimum of 2 minutes, twice a day and using either floss or interdental brushes each day.

If plaque is missed whilst brushing, this can cause your gums too become inflamed and may cause bleeding or decay.

What is tartar?

If plaque stays on your teeth for too long, it can harden, forming tartar, also known as calculus.

Tartar is not easy to remove through brushing or flossing and is usually needed to be removed by a hygienist to ensure that your gums stay healthy.

What happens if plaque and tartar aren’t removed?

If plaque and tartar are not removed, your gums will become inflamed, making it sore and uncomfortable. It can also give you bad breath due to the accumulation of bacteria.

If plaque accumulates on teeth and is not removed regularly, it may move downwards on your tooth until it reaches your bone that hold your teeth in place and starts to destroy the bone. This is a non reversible condition called periodontitis.

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