What is Plaque and Tartar

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#666699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04900840erlcjm.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Greater St. Louis Dental Hygienists' Association</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Greater St. Louis Dental Hygienists Asso"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who We Are">Who We Are</A>   |   <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is a RDH?">What is a RDH?</A>   |   <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Facts You Need to Know About Preceptorsh">Facts You Need to Know About Preceptorship</A>   |   <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tips for Parents Childrens Oral Health">Tips for Parents - Children's Oral Health</A>   |   <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Oral Cancer Information">Oral Cancer Information</A>   |   <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Brush and Floss Techniques">Brush and Floss Techniques</A>   |   <B>What is Plaque and Tartar</B>   |   <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Periodontal (gum) Disease?">What is Periodontal (gum) Disease?</A>   |   <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Tooth Decay">What is Tooth Decay</A>   |   <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Emergency Tips">Emergency Tips</A>   |   <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tooth Development">Tooth Development</A>   |   <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fluoride Facts">Fluoride Facts</A>   |   <A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Halitosis (Bad Breath)">Halitosis (Bad Breath)</A>   |   <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bleaching Your Teeth">Bleaching Your Teeth</A>   |   <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links">Related Links</A>   |   <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us ">Contact Us   </A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" background="04311c00egdysm.png"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="178844a0.png" border=0 width="132" height="74" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who We Are">Who We Are</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is a RDH?">What is a RDH?</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Facts You Need to Know About Preceptorsh">Facts You Need to Know About Preceptorship</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tips for Parents Childrens Oral Health">Tips for Parents - Children's Oral Health</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Oral Cancer Information">Oral Cancer Information</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Brush and Floss Techniques">Brush and Floss Techniques</A></div> <div> <B>What is Plaque and Tartar</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Periodontal (gum) Disease?">What is Periodontal (gum) Disease?</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Tooth Decay">What is Tooth Decay</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Emergency Tips">Emergency Tips</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tooth Development">Tooth Development</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fluoride Facts">Fluoride Facts</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Halitosis (Bad Breath)">Halitosis (Bad Breath)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bleaching Your Teeth">Bleaching Your Teeth</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links">Related Links</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us ">Contact Us   </A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dental Professionals">Dental Professionals</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Consumers">Consumers</A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dental Professionals">Dental Professionals</A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFCC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> What is Plaque and Tartar</div> <div> <B>Plaque</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2179c820.jpg" border=0 width="156" height="130" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Plaque is a sticky, film-like substance of bacteria that is constantly forming on your teeth, both above and below your gums. The bacteria feeds on sugars in foods and forms acids which can attack tooth enamel and cause cavities. The bacteria in plaque also produces toxins which can irritate the gums and lead to periodontal (gum) disease. Plaque forms in and around the teeth and below the gumline, making it essential to remove it by brushing at least twice and flossing at least once daily.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Tartar (Calculus)</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="17496760.png" border=0 width="150" height="118" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <IMG SRC="17596750.png" border=0 width="150" height="117" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <IMG SRC="17696770.png" border=0 width="150" height="119" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Slight                               Moderate                        Heavy</div> <bR> <div> Plaque left on the teeth combined with minerals in your saliva calcify and form a rough, hard deposit called tartar or calculus.  Just as plaque gets all around the tooth both above and below the gumline, so does tartar. As tartar builds, plaque bacteria clings to it, allowing a ripe breeding ground for the bacteria to thrive in. Tartar cannot be removed by brushing and flossing once it has formed. Tartar can only be removed by your dentist or hygienist. The cleaner you keep your mouth with daily brushing and flossing, and the more regularly you visit your dentists for regular preventive care,  the less tartar you will build and the less likely you will be to develop periodontal (gum) disease.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>