What Is Plaque, and What Is Calculus (Tartar)?

Plaque is the soft bacterial layer that builds up on teeth; calculus, also called tartar, is hardened plaque that needs professional removal (healthdirect, gum disease). Brushing harder is not the answer to a deposit that has already hardened.

If you notice a rough area, ask the dentist to identify it rather than scrape it with a home tool. At a cleaning visit, ask which places are collecting deposits and how to reach them. The advice may involve a change in brush angle or a tool for the spaces between teeth.

Professional cleaning and home care have different jobs. Ask what the planned clean includes, whether further gum treatment is needed and how often you should return based on the examination. Between appointments, concentrate on the routine you have been shown rather than trying to remove every rough patch yourself. Understanding where plaque gathers in your own mouth is more useful than simply being told to brush for longer.

• healthdirect (Australian Government). Gum disease
• healthdirect (Australian Government). Dental care and teeth cleaning

For plaque control, start with a soft brush you can comfortably move around every tooth (healthdirect, teeth cleaning). A brush that reaches awkward areas and fits your hand matters more than choosing from advertising claims about a superior clean.

Ask the dentist to point out the places you miss and demonstrate how to reach them. Tell them if limited grip, gagging, braces or a small mouth makes cleaning difficult. You can bring your brush to the visit so the discussion is about the tool you actually use.

Powered brushes show an average advantage in plaque reduction, but the clinical importance of that difference was unclear in a Cochrane review (Yaacob and colleagues, 2014). Either choice still needs suitable technique and cleaning between teeth. Compare replacement-head costs and ease of use before buying. If calculus is already present, a new brush does not replace a professional clean; ask how home care and the next appointment should work together.

• healthdirect (Australian Government). Dental care and teeth cleaning
• Yaacob M, et al. Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health. Cochrane, 2014
• healthdirect (Australian Government). Gum disease

Not everyone needs a routine mouthwash. Start by asking whether your brushing and cleaning between teeth are meeting your needs, then whether a rinse has a specific job in your plan. Adding a product is not the same as removing the deposits that concern you.

If a dentist recommends chlorhexidine, ask about the duration and side effects; a Cochrane review found plaque reduction alongside cleaning but also staining and taste changes (James and colleagues, 2017). Do not assume that a stronger rinse can replace the technique you have been shown.

For hardened calculus, ask about professional removal rather than looking for a rinse to dissolve it (healthdirect, gum disease). Bring the bottle you use if you want help understanding its purpose. Ask when to use it in relation to brushing and when to stop. The aim is a simple routine with a reason for each step, not a bathroom shelf full of products that duplicate one another.

• James P, et al. Chlorhexidine mouthrinse for gingival health. Cochrane, 2017
• healthdirect (Australian Government). Gum disease