Dental plaque is a soft, white-coloured substance created by bacteria in the mouth. The plaque is made of certain nutrients (glycoprotein) from the saliva and the mucous membrane in the mouth. Tartar is crystallised dental plaque. It is hard and can be broken off.

Tartar makes the tooth surface rough, easily allowing new plaque to be formed. The rough surface may also cause damage to the gums. Bacteria may penetrate and cause inflammation of the gums. The gums swell up, the dog hurts, produces an excess of saliva and has a bad breath.

The worst case scenario is the dog losing its teeth. Dogs that are feeding on fresh meat are less affected by gums disorders because hardly any food residue remains between the teeth. Most likely the pH in the mouth is also playing an important role.

The only 100% guarantee for keeping tartar at bay is regularly brushing the dog’s teeth.