Dental Plaque and Calculus

What is that on your teeth?

Dental plaque is a sticky film that develops on your teeth throughout the day. It is removed in the morning and at night with tooth brushing and flossing.

When not removed, it can cause dental disease such as tooth decay and gum disease.

Plaque is made up of the food that we have eaten throughout the day and bacteria. When plaque is not removed and remains on the teeth for a long time, it hardens and turns into calculus, otherwise also known as tartar. Once the plaque has turned into calculus, you are no longer able to remove it through brushing or flossing, instead you need to have a dental hygienist or dentist remove with specialised instruments.

Before

After