Dog Plaque vs. Tartar: Key Differences & How to Manage Both

Plaque is soft and sneaky. Catch it at breakfast before it becomes calcified tartar and a big vet bill.

Ash’s take: “Plaque is soft and sneaky. Catch it at breakfast before it becomes calcified tartar and a big vet bill.”

What Is Plaque?

Plaque is a soft, colorless film of oral bacteria, food particles, and saliva proteins that constantly forms on your dog's teeth throughout the day.

Ash’s take: “A food topper? Sensible human behaviour. Catch soft plaque early before it turns hard.”

What Is Tartar?

When soft plaque remains on teeth for more than 48–72 hours, minerals in saliva bind with the biofilm, causing it to calcify into hard, yellow-brown tartar (calculus).