How To Get Rid Of Plaque On Your Teeth? (3 Important Ways)
Have you ever run your tongue over your teeth and felt like there was something on them? However, if you look in the mirror, you can’t always find anything. That is plaque! But you might be wondering How To Get Rid Of Plaque On Your Teeth?
Typically, plaque is colorless. However, it can cause teeth discoloration as food molecules stick to it over time.
Plaque is constantly being accumulated on our teeth’ surface. It happens to everyone and is a very common thing. The big question is, how do you remove hardened plaque from your teeth?
Yes! There are several ways to remove plaque from your teeth and you should be curious about them! Leaving the plaque untreated can lead to a number of different tooth problems and infections.
So, let’s find out more about plaque and how to keep it from ruining your teeth.
Tartar VS Plaque: What Is The Difference?
Before beginning plaque treatment it is important to know what is plaque and what is tartar. You should know whether it is plaque deposited on your teeth or if you should be seeking treatment for tartar.
The constant sticky deposit of bacteria on your teeth creates an outer layer called plaque. Although plaque primarily contains bacteria, its sticky nature can cause food particles and saliva to stick to it and become a part of it.
The bacteria inside the mouth feed on the food particles we consume that stick to our teeth. The breakdown of these food particles by bacteria creates a layer of plaque.
Plaque is colorless, however, constant contact with food particles in the mouth can cause it to become yellowish.
If the plaque is not timely removed, it can harden with time to form tartar. Plaque is easily removable by good dental hygiene, flossing, and brushing. However, removing tartar is not as easy and will require you to visit a dentist for it.
Can Plaque Be Removed From Teeth?
Can plaque be removed? Yes! But can you scratch plaque off your teeth? Absolutely not!
Trying to scrape away the plaque off your teeth will only cause you to damage your teeth further! You could end up damaging the tooth enamel or the gum tissue.
You can instead refer to your dentist to get plaque removed. A dentist may use different procedures to remove plaque which also involves scraping (this is different from the torture you might inflict on your teeth yourself at home!).
Dentists use special tools to scrape off plaque from the teeth without damaging the gums or the tooth enamel. If the plaque has hardened into tartar, they may employ root scaling. It is a special cleaning technique that involves numbing the relevant area and using small tools to remove the tartar.
Can You Get Rid Of Plaque On Teeth By Yourself?
Before it evolves into the hard and dangerous tartar, plaque is quite easy to remove. You will not even need to visit a dentist if you do not want to.
Here are ways to remove plaque on teeth by yourself:
● Floss
Ideally, you should floss first to loosen any food particles stuck to the teeth so they can later be brushed away. Use at least 18 inches of floss thread to carefully and thoroughly floss the teeth every day. Floss all your teeth from the sides as well as the back.

● Regular Brushing
Brush no less than twice a day every day! Make sure to use a soft brush and replace it every 3 to 4 months as it begins to get rough. Make sure to get all sides of the teeth as you brush and brush for at least 2 minutes in every session!
Keep your brushing strokes gentle. Don’t get aggressive on the teeth to remove plaque.
● Baking Soda
Baking soda is known to be an effective strategy for plaque removal. It is a natural cleanser and great for scrubbing.
It has been found that brushing teeth with toothpaste that contains baking soda removes more plaque than ordinary toothpaste. So, if you want to get every bit of plaque off, use baking soda in your toothpaste.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can a dentist remove plaque from teeth?
Yes. Dentists use specialized tools and techniques to safely remove plaque and tartar from the teeth by a well known procedure ‘SCALING’.
2. Does removing plaque at the dentist hurt?
No. Plaque cleaning is a painless and satisfying procedure. Many people fear the process because of the idea of ‘tools’ and ‘scraping’ but the process is simple and pain-free.
3. Can teeth fall out after plaque removal?
Teeth do not fall out after plaque removal. Your dentist might give you antibiotics to remove any oral infections and your gums may be a little sensitive temporarily. However, this gets cured over time without any teeth falling out.