Tartar control toothpaste is formulated to prevent the hard buildup on teeth, known as tartar or dental calculus. This specialized toothpaste interferes with the natural process that hardens the soft bacterial film on your teeth. Its effectiveness relies on disrupting the calcification process, but it is not a substitute for professional dental care.
Understanding Tartar Formation
Tartar, or dental calculus, is a hardened mineral deposit that forms when dental plaque is not fully removed from the tooth surface. Plaque is a soft, sticky biofilm composed of bacteria, food debris, and saliva that constantly forms on teeth. If this soft film is allowed to remain, it provides a matrix for hardening to occur.
Within a short period, often as little as 24 to 72 hours, this plaque begins to absorb minerals naturally present in saliva, primarily calcium and phosphate ions. This process, called mineralization, causes the soft plaque to calcify, turning it into the rough, porous substance known as calculus. Once this occurs, the deposit becomes strongly bonded to the tooth enamel and cannot be removed by regular brushing or flossing at home.
Key Ingredients and Their Mechanism
Tartar control toothpastes contain specific active chemical agents designed to inhibit the mineralization process. The most common agents are soluble pyrophosphates, such as tetrasodium pyrophosphate, which act as crystal growth inhibitors. These compounds bind to calcium ions in the saliva and the dental plaque.
By complexing with the free calcium, pyrophosphates prevent the ions from being incorporated into the plaque’s structure, thereby disrupting the formation and growth of calcium phosphate crystals that make up tartar. This chemical interference slows down the maturation of the plaque into hardened calculus. Another agent often used is zinc citrate, which works by inhibiting the growth of plaque bacteria itself, thereby reducing the initial building blocks for tartar to form.
Does Tartar Control Toothpaste Actually Work?
Clinical evidence confirms that tartar control toothpastes are effective tools for prophylaxis. Studies show that regular use can reduce the formation of new supragingival calculus—tartar above the gumline—by a significant amount, sometimes between 30 and 50 percent compared to using a regular fluoride toothpaste. For consumers, the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance provides assurance that the toothpaste has been clinically proven to be safe and effective at reducing new tartar buildup.
These toothpastes have a fundamental limitation: they cannot dissolve or remove existing, hardened calculus already bonded to the teeth. Once tartar has formed, it is too hard for the chemical agents to break down and requires professional removal through scaling by a dental hygienist. Therefore, their effectiveness relies on consistent use to disrupt the calcification process before the plaque has a chance to harden.