Your teeth look and feel great right after you’ve been to the dentist for a professional cleaning to remove tartar and plaque that has built up. There are natural ways to remove tartar from your teeth that you can do at home to keep that clean look and feel in between cleaning visits.
Here are a few of these natural ways to remove tartar from your teeth:
Brush with Baking Soda
Baking soda is an effective, safe way to remove plaque from your teeth without damaging the tooth enamel. This is a proactive preventive measure because tartar results from a buildup of plaque.
Baking soda is abrasive, so it works to remove tartar and plaque. It also has a high pH, so it can balance the pH level in your mouth (which is typically low from the food you eat) and prevent plaque from building up.
What to Do: Put about a teaspoon of baking soda (the basic kind you can get in the baking aisle at any grocery store) in the palm of your hand. Get your toothbrush slightly damp and then dip the tips of the bristles into the baking soda. Brush your teeth with the baking soda, then rinse. Because of the abrasive nature of baking soda, use it just twice a week unless otherwise directed by your dentist.
Rinse with White Vinegar
White vinegar can help to remove tartar from your teeth as well as the plaque that causes it. This is because white vinegar has antibacterial properties.
What to Do: Mix 2 teaspoons white vinegar with ½ c. water and ½ teaspoon salt (salt is optional). Stir well to combine. Rinse your mouth with the mixture twice a day after brushing.
Scrub with Orange Peel
The vitamin C, citric acid, and anticmicrobial properties of orange peel help to remove tartar from your teeth and help prevent plaque from forming in the first place.
What to Do: Take an orange slice and rub it on your teeth to get the juice on your teeth first. Let the citric acid soften the tartar for about 5 minutes. Then rub a piece of orange peel over your teeth and gums to scrub away the tartar and plaque. Rinse with water to remove any residual citric acid.
Chew Sesame Seeds
Sesame seeds also can act as a scrub to remove tartar from your teeth without damaging the enamel.
What to Do: Chew a tablespoon of sesame seeds. Then, without spitting the seeds out, use a clean toothbrush to gently brush your teeth. Rinse well to remove all the seeds.
We're Here to Help
We’re here to help you keep your smile beautiful and healthy. Using these natural ways to remove tartar from your teeth in between regular dental cleanings can keep your teeth looking and feeling great. And they might just make your cleaning visits easier, too.