Adrianna E. answered • 11/22/23
Bio Major / Chem Minor & in Final Year of Dental School
It's important that we identify the term tartar first.
Tartar is usually a word used interchangeably with calculus. Both words are sometimes incorrectly used interchangeably with plaque.
Plaque is a soft, white-ish or yellowy wipeable layer of bacteria typically from foods, minerals in your saliva and the bacteria that naturally exists in and around your gums or teeth. This can easily be removed with a toothbrush and floss.
Calculus (Tartar) is the hard deposits in the form of a biofilm on the teeth and under the gum tissue that develops when these bacteria/mineral-filled-plaque layers are not removed. Everyone has a limit for how effective their toothbrush and/or flossing habits can effectively remove plaque, specifically when this refers to the subgingival environment. As the hardened biofilm adheres or sticks to the tooth it transforms a smooth surface into a rough one increasing its surface area, thus trapping more bacteria and building a larger deposit of calculus.
Think of the tooth surface like the texture of a balloon. If I were to wrap that balloon in crumpled layers of tin foil and then pour thick sticky honey all over it and let it harden, its going to be trapped in the little nooks and crannies of the tin foil instead of being easily wipeable off the balloon itself.
Since everyone's body is made differently, everyone has a different mineral composition in their salivary gland production. People who have higher mineral depositions in their saliva will naturally build plaque and subsequently calculus quicker than others. Some people have very little or hydrate very well in conjunction with excellent oral hygiene habits resulting in the prevalence of very little calculus.
Regardless of their production of plaque and/or calculus buildup, it is recommended for them to see a dentist 2x a year for a cleaning and exam because their will always be places the dentist can reach that your toothbrush/floss cannot :)
