Beyond the Brush: Why Plaque and Tartar Keep Coming Back (Even When You Floss)

Khristina Maureen
Jul 4, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Jan 21

Close-up of a dental procedure, showing gloved hands using instruments inside an open mouth with visible teeth and gums. Blue dental tool.

Let me guess:

You brush twice a day.

You floss (most days).

You swish mouthwash like it’s a pre-date ritual.

You’ve got the Waterpik, the proxy brush, maybe even that rubber-tip pokey thing your hygienist loves but you secretly hate.

So why — WHY — is your hygienist still chiseling tartar off your teeth like she’s auditioning for a dental-themed episode of Gold Rush?

First of all: zero judgment. I see this all the time. And no, it’s not just about how hard you brush, how long you floss, or whether your teeth are crowded or tricky to reach.

There’s another layer here, literally, that most people never get told about.

Let’s break it down through a functional lens.

What Is Plaque and Tartar Made Of?

Biofilm: The OG Microbial Hangout

Biofilm is like an Airbnb for bacteria.

It’s a soft, sticky film made of microbes, proteins, and saliva, totally normal and constantly forming.

The issue? When your immune system is worn down or inflammation is high, the wrong bacteria throw a rave. That biofilm gets extra clingy, extra chaotic, and much harder to control.

Plaque: That Sneaky Build-Up

Plaque is that fuzzy feeling on your teeth, the “Did I even brush?” moment.

It’s biofilm + leftover food particles + mouth bacteria.

Those bacteria feed on carbs and sugars and spit out acids as party favors.

Acid = enamel damage, gum irritation, inflammation.Not cute.

Tartar (a.k.a. Calculus): Dental Concrete

Here’s where it gets real.

Tartar is hardened plaque.

When plaque hangs around too long, the minerals in your saliva, mainly calcium and phosphate, bind to that sticky film and turn it into rock-solid crust.

Think of plaque like a sponge

.It soaks up minerals until it becomes dental cement.

Why does your saliva do this? Because saliva is supposed to remineralize enamel and buffer acids.

But when mineral-rich saliva meets plaque that’s overstayed its welcome? Boom. Tartar.

Once tartar forms, brushing and flossing won’t touch it.

Only professional tools and your hygienist’s elbow grease can.

Why Tartar Keeps Coming Back (Even When You’re a Brushing Pro)

So you’re doing everything “right.” Why the jackhammer every visit?

1. Mineral Imbalance

Saliva isn’t just spit; it’s your mouth’s remineralizing system.

Low vitamin D, K2, magnesium, or phosphorus?

That system breaks down.

Your body may even borrow minerals from bone and teeth to buffer acidity elsewhere, leaving your mouth short-changed.

2. Chronic Inflammation

Gums don’t live in isolation.

Stress, poor sleep, and blood sugar swings all keep your tissues stuck in fight mode.

That means more aggressive bacteria, stickier plaque, and faster tartar buildup.

3. Mouth Breathing & Dry Mouth

Saliva is your built-in rinse cycle.

Mouth breathing (especially at night), dehydration, or certain meds slow saliva flow — and dry mouths become tartar factories fast.

Dry = sticky = buildup.

4. pH Problems

Your mouth prefers a slightly alkaline environment.

Acidic foods, reflux, stress, they all shift your pH.

When things get too acidic, bad bacteria thrive, minerals don’t deposit where they should, and plaque clings more firmly.

Tartar Isn't Cosmetic - It’s a Clue

Tartar isn’t just that yellow crust your hygienist complains about.

It:

Traps bacteria that inflame gums
Weakens enamel
Eats away at the bone holding your teeth in place

It’s like termites quietly chewing through your foundation until one day the floor gives out.

What Can You Actually Do?

Think beyond the brush:

✔ Boost minerals - whole foods rich in vitamin D (Source), K2, magnesium (Source), and phosphorus (egg yolks, leafy greens, sardines, bone broth, pumpkin seeds).