What are they? Calculus or Tartar is commonly called as hard deposits on the teeth. How are they formed? A layer of dental plaque which is a biofilm forms on the surface of teeth within minutes after brushing. If you do not brush off this surface properly from the tooth surface, the calcium in the saliva and gingival crevicular fluid starts getting deposited into this layer and forms calculus. Appearance: Dental plaque is colorless but dental calculus is yellow to brownish in color. It is a hard deposit which cannot be taken out with brushing. What are the effects of calculus? Since the surface of calculus is rough and porous it deposits more of saliva and bacterial flora present in the mouth. The gums are irritated with the calculus and they start getting inflamed and moving away from the calculus. So you will see gingival recession and bone loss With gingival recession, more of root surface is exposed into the mouth and since root surface is n