Plaque forms within hours of eating. It is a soft, sticky film of bacteria, food debris, and saliva proteins that coats the tooth surface and settles along the gum margin. At this stage, it is ...

Tartar (also called dental calculus) forms when plaque isn't removed within 24 to 72 hours and hardens on the teeth. Once tartar has formed, brushing, flossing and home remedies generally cannot ...