You can take your fingernail and try to scrape it gently across the inside of one of your molars. You then take a look at your finger. If you can see some white stuff under your fingernail, then that is plaque. Tartar and plaque can pose severe problems for your teeth and gums.
Plaque is living and dead bacteria which grows on your teeth. When the plaque is not removed, it can harden and can become 50 percent within 48 hours and after that will turn rock hard after 12 days. This rock is called as tartar.
There are many reasons why you do not want to have tartar and plaque on your tooth coatings. Tartar and plaque can make your teeth look ugly, feel ugly and also smell ugly.
Tartar crust and plaque on your teeth and gums leads to tooth problems like gingivitis and periodontal disease. Removing a tartar requires a professional, some doctors' say. However, plaque can be removed. By getting the plaque off your teeth, you will prevent a lot of tartar. Removing plaque is also very easy. You need to brush often and think of your toothbrush as your sword. The friction of a toothbrush disrupts the bacterial plaque growth occurring on teeth. Most people fail to do it. You need to turn your brush so that the bristles are at a 45-degree angle to the area where your tooth and gum meet. You need to gently wiggle your brush in small circles and then covering one or two teeth at a time.
The back of your lower teeth is where the plaque often hides. Most of the times the areas where the teeth come into contact with the tongue and cheek are ignored. Most people tend to brush the smile area and then quickly brush the rest of the mouth. You need to brush at night so that you will not let the debris in your mouth. If you can brush only once a day, do it at night. Otherwise, it can lead to serious problems of plaque. You must also use a brush that fits you. You need to think small when you choose your toothbrush. You should be able to reach all sides of your teeth. This includes those at the very back of your mouth. A giant brush won't reach the nooks and crannies where dirty germs like to hide in.
You should also choose soft, rounded bristles. You can use soft nylon bristles which are easier on tooth enamel. They are very tough on plaque. Bristles should be rounded since sculpted bristles are often sharp and can slice into gums. You must also hold your brush like a pen. This produces less gum abrasion and healthier gums and still gets rid of plaque.