tartar
TAHR-ter
/ˈtɑːr.tər/
A hard, calcified deposit that forms on teeth when plaque is not removed.
Refers exclusively to hardened, mineralized plaque (dental calculus) that cannot be removed by simple home brushing.
The story behind the word. Tartar originally described the hard encrustation that formed inside wine casks during fermentation, derived from Medieval Latin 'tartarum'. In medieval alchemy and medicine, any crusty mineral deposit was called tartar, leading 18th-century medical writers to apply the term to the rock-hard crust that settles on uncleaned teeth.
Word relationships
- calculus: Calculus is the formal clinical term for dental tartar, whereas tartar is the common everyday name.
Commonly confused with
- plaque: Plaque is soft bacterial biofilm; tartar is rock-hard mineral deposit bound to the enamel.
Word family
- tartarous (adjective): Resembling or consisting of tartar.
Collocations
- tartar control
- tartar buildup
- remove tartar
- hardened tartar
Example sentences
- "Once plaque turns into hard tartar, only a dental hygienist using special instruments can remove it." Professional prophylaxis
Memory hook
TARTAR is HARD like TAR on the road, forming a crust on teeth. TARTAR = Rock-hard, crusty plaque.
When not to use
Do not confuse dental tartar with culinary tartar sauce or cream of tartar without clarifying context.
Fun facts
- Because tartar is porous and mineralized, it absorbs stains easily from coffee, tea, and tobacco, turning yellow or brown.
Related words
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