Tartar And Plaque

Plaque is always with us. A newborn's mouth is sterile, but only for the first ten hours or so of life, according to Sebastian G. Ciancio, D.D.S., professor and chairman of the Department of Periodontology, clinical professor of pharmacology, and director of the Center for Clinical Dental Studies at the School of Dental Medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Tartar is a calcified material that often contains bacterial debris and sometimes plaque. It's a white, chalky substance. Although tartar (also called calculus) can make it easier for plaque to stick around, the stuff is generally considered to be primarily a cosmetic problem. Plaque is the culprit in cavities and gum disease.

"As plaque matures and gets older, it becomes even more dangerous because it changes," says Michael G. Newman, D.D.S., adjunct professor of periodontology at the University of California at Los Angeles School of Dentistry and president of the American Academy of Periodontology. As certain bacteria in plaque feed off fermentable carbohydrates (which include sugars, even those in fruit and milk, and starchy foods such as breads, pastas, and crackers), they produce an acid that eats away at tooth enamel, causing cavities. Other bacteria infect the gums, resulting in redness, inflammation, and bleeding. These are symptoms of gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. If left untreated, gum disease may progress to the point that the infection literally destroys the bone that anchors the teeth roots. That's why gum disease is the major cause of tooth loss among adults over age 35.

Both plaque and tartar can form above and below the gum line. It takes a dentist or hygienist to remove tartar from anywhere in the mouth and to remove plaque from below the gum line. And regular professional cleanings-as often as your dentist recommends will help make your home care more effective, points out Christine Dumas, D.D.S., a Los Angeles dentist who is a consumer advisor spokes person for the American Dental Association (ADA) and an assistant professor of clinical dentistry at the University of Southern California. It's also important to have the condition of your gums checked through a periodontal probing. "It should be as routine as getting your blood pressure checked," she says. You can, however, try to keep plaque under control. "It takes physical contact," says Barrington. "You can't rinse it away." Here's what you can do.