Plaque Removal Toothpaste
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Plaque Removal Toothpaste for Cleaner, Healthier Teeth
When tartar builds up on the surface of your teeth, you need the best plaque-removal toothpaste you can get. Shop for plaque-fighting toothpaste and other oral health products online at CVS.
What Is Tooth Plaque?
Plaque is a sticky film that forms on your teeth after a few hours without brushing. It's secreted by mouth bacteria, and after about 48 hours, it hardens to the point you might have trouble getting rid of it without a professional dental cleaning. The bacteria that live under the plaque produce acidic waste after you eat or drink, which dissolves the calcium of your teeth and eventually contributes to cavities. Thinning enamel caused by this process can weaken the structure of your teeth and increase the likelihood of fractures, cracks and the gum disease gingivitis.
Preventing plaque buildup takes daily effort. Using a good toothbrush with medium-stiff bristles, brush in a sweeping circular pattern over each surface of every tooth. It's also a good idea to use dental floss at least once a day and to rinse with mouthwash after.
Is There a Toothpaste That Removes Plaque?
Hardened plaque deposits start as a softer film called tartar, which is relatively easy to remove with regular brushing. Just about any tartar-fighting toothpaste helps clean away this yellowish film before it gets a chance to harden, though this is more difficult to do after the plaque hardens and sets. Toothpaste and mouthwash with fluoride can reduce plaque buildup and encourage tooth enamel to remineralize, which may reverse some of the damage the acids have done during the early stages of tooth decay.
If you have deposits of tartar that have already hardened, you may need dental plaque-removal toothpaste, which usually has an abrasive agent, such as baking soda, in it. Baking soda is decently hard, which abrades the plaque and makes it easier to brush away, but it's not as hard as enamel, so it shouldn't damage your teeth. You can look for a product such as Colgate Optic White Stain Fighter to handle this task, as long as the packaging says it uses baking soda as a cleaning agent.
Which Toothpaste Can Remove Plaque?
Removing plaque deposits is a long-term project that requires twice-daily brushing and all-around good dental habits. The best plaque-removal toothpaste should pull out all the stops and use every common ingredient known to fight plaque. Colgate Total is a good example of a full-spectrum plaque-removal toothpaste that uses chemical and abrasive ingredients to soften and remove plaque. Arm & Hammer Complete Care is another toothpaste that attacks plaque deposits using fluoride and gentle abrasives at the same time.