Question
Does periodontal disease bacteria move along and attack other teeth even if no tartar?
Answer
Bacteria do not feed on tartar. Nor are they the same thing as the remains of your food in your mouth. These are some of the biggest and most common misconceptions about gum health.
It is simply that the extra uneven or rough surface attracts more soft plaque bacteria which accumulates on top of it. This is what creates inflammation and can trigger gum disease, which can then progress irreversibly.
It is also not always the case that the disease will spread and affect all teeth. There are many factors contributing to why the condition may be ‘localized’ or ‘generalized’.
This includes tooth-specific issues such as the fact that molar teeth have a completely different root shape to their neighbouring premolar teeth.