Plaque & Tartar Bacteria are found in plaque and tartar.
Plaque is what remains on our teeth after we eat. If plaque is allowed
to stay on the teeth without being brushed away – it turns
into tartar.
Tartar is a mineralized substance which cannot be brushed away by
the patient; it must be removed with dental instruments by a hygienist,
dentist or Periodontist.
Some people develop tartar more quickly than others. Tartar also
houses and protects bacteria from our body’s natural defences
(the immune system). Many people ask why antibiotics cannot be used
routinely for gum disease. The reason is that antibiotics (like
immune cells) will not be able to penetrate the tartar where the
bacteria sit. For this reason much of gum treatment is directed
towards removing the plaque and tartar.
