Jun 19, 2023 · Tartar is hardened dental plaque. It’s a leading cause of gum disease. A dentist or hygienist must remove it. You can’t remove it with brushing and flossing alone.

Jun 7, 2024 · Tartar (also called dental calculus) is hardened plaque. Any plaque that you don't remove by flossing and brushing hardens over time into tartar. Tartar is made up of dead bacteria and spit that...

Dec 19, 2025 · Tartar, also known as dental calculus, is a solidified form of plaque. Tartar in teeth develops when plaque is not regularly removed through brushing and flossing.

In dentistry, dental calculus or tartar is a form of hardened dental plaque. It is caused by precipitation of minerals from saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in plaque on the teeth.

If you’ve noticed rough, yellowish deposits on your teeth that brushing won’t budge—you’re likely dealing with hard tartar, also known as dental calculus. Unlike plaque, tartar is rock-solid and clings tightly to …

3 days ago · Tartar is hardened plaque that only a dentist can remove. Learn how it forms, what it does to your teeth, and how to keep it from building up.

Aug 3, 2025 · But after several days it absorbs minerals from your saliva and forms a solid substance called tartar. Dental tartar often originates in the gaps between teeth, around the base of teeth, and …

Mar 23, 2025 · Have you ever noticed a sticky buildup on your teeth when it's time to brush? This is called plaque, and if it's not brushed away, it can harden into a substance called tartar. Tartar is a …

Mar 3, 2026 · Tartar, also known as dental calculus, is a hardened form of dental plaque that forms on teeth when plaque is not removed through regular brushing and flossing. It is significant because it …

Tartar, sometimes called calculus, is plaque that has hardened on your teeth. When plaque isn't removed regularly by brushing and flossing, it can harden and become tartar.