Can You Dissolve Dental Plaque? What Removes Plaque and Tartar

Plaque and tartar: what is the difference?

Plaque is a soft, sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth every day, most of all along the gum line and between the teeth. Left there, it inflames the gums, which then bleed easily, and it feeds tooth decay. Scottish dental guidance (SDCEP) states that this early gum inflammation (gingivitis) is reversible with improved self-care¹.

Tartar, also called calculus, is plaque that has hardened. The American Dental Association describes it as a hard mineral deposit that can only be removed through cleaning performed by a dental professional². It is rough, so fresh plaque sticks to it, and it can form above and below the gum line.

That difference decides what you can do yourself. Plaque is your job, every day. Tartar is the dentist's or hygienist's.

What removes plaque at home

Plaque is removed mechanically: something has to wipe it off the tooth.

• Brush twice a day for about two minutes. UK guidance recommends brushing at least twice daily with fluoride toothpaste³, including last thing at night, and spitting out the excess rather than rinsing. A small-headed brush with soft or medium bristles suits most people. Aim the bristles at the gum line, where plaque collects.
• Manual or electric: both work. The same guidance says both types are effective for plaque control. A Cochrane review found that electric brushes lowered plaque scores slightly more over periods longer than three months, by about 21% on a standard plaque index (Quigley-Hein)⁴, with the clinical importance unclear. The brush you use well matters more than the type.
• Clean between your teeth every day. A toothbrush does not reach between the teeth. A Cochrane review found that interdental brushes used with brushing may reduce plaque⁵ and that floss may reduce gum inflammation, although the evidence is of low certainty and the effects may not be clinically important. Interdental brushes that fit your gaps are usually easier than floss; floss suits tight contacts.
• Check where you miss. Plaque-disclosing tablets colour the plaque left behind, so you can see where to brush better.

Rinses and home remedies: an honest verdict

Many products and recipes promise to dissolve plaque or tartar. None of the sources we use shows any of them removing tartar, and none replaces brushing.

• Chlorhexidine mouthwash (an antiseptic rinse). A Cochrane review found a large reduction in plaque⁶ on top of brushing, but in people with mild gum inflammation the improvement in the gums was not considered clinically relevant. It stained teeth in trials of four to six weeks, can change taste and irritate the mouth, and is meant for short periods on a dentist's advice. It is not a tartar remedy.
• Oil pulling (swishing coconut or sesame oil). A review of 25 short trials rated the evidence of very low certainty⁷; chlorhexidine reduced plaque more than oil pulling.
• Miswak (a chewing stick). Used on top of brushing it reduced plaque in a review of 10 studies (9 analysed), and on its own it was comparable to a toothbrush⁸; how often and how it was used was poorly reported. It is a cleaning tool, not a dissolver.
• Vinegar, lemon, baking soda and other kitchen recipes. Not assessed for plaque or tartar by any source we use, so we make no claim that they work. The American Dental Association notes that studies of home whitening with acidic fruits and vinegar raise questions about their safety⁹. If you are thinking of trying one, ask your dentist first.

If you see hard, yellow or brown deposits along the gum line or behind the lower front teeth, no product will shift them. Book a clean.

Professional cleaning: what it does and how often

A dentist or hygienist removes tartar with hand instruments or an ultrasonic scaler and polishes the teeth. In people with gum disease (periodontitis), deeper cleaning below the gum line is a core step of treatment: the European periodontology guideline recommends it¹⁰ for stage I-III periodontitis, followed by regular supportive care at intervals set between 3 and 12 months according to each person's risk.

For adults whose gums are in better shape, the question is how often. A Cochrane review of two UK trials followed 1,711 adults without severe gum disease who saw their dentist regularly for two to three years. A routine scale and polish every 6 or 12 months made little or no difference to gum inflammation¹¹ compared with no scheduled cleaning, and slightly reduced tartar; the importance of that small reduction is unclear.

In practice, how often you need a professional clean depends on your own gums, how quickly you build tartar and whether you have had gum disease. Your dentist sets that interval with you. Treatment for gum disease is explained on the gum disease treatment page.

When to see a dentist

Book an appointment if you can see or feel tartar, if your gums bleed when you brush¹² or are sore or swollen, or if bad breath does not go away with cleaning. The NHS also advises seeing a dentist if a child has sore, bleeding gums.

Ask for an urgent appointment if your teeth feel loose, your gums are very sore and swollen, or you have ulcers, red patches or a lump in your mouth or on your lip.

Emergencies. Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you:

• find it hard to breathe, speak or swallow¹³
• have a swollen or painful eye, sudden problems with your eyesight, or swelling in your neck¹⁴
• have a lot of swelling inside your mouth
• find it hard to open your mouth

Frequently asked questions