10 Home Remedies for Plaque and Tartar

Plaque is a sticky, invisible film of bacteria that lives in the mouth and sticks to the teeth. When this slimy coating is left alone, it turns into chalky calcified substance called tartar, which is extremely difficult to remove. There are a lot of factors that attribute to the building up of plaque in your mouth, like poor food choices, bad oral hygiene, wrong brushing technique, etc. Thankfully, there are some home remedies that can naturally help remove plaque and tartar.

Oil Pulling

Perhaps the age-old practice of swishing some oil in your mouth helps detox your teeth and remove plaque successfully. This home remedy is quite effective in keeping your oral health in check. You just need to swish 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin coconut oil in your mouth and keep it there for 10-15 minutes, preferably on an empty stomach. Be careful, as you don’t have to swallow it. Spit it to flush out all the toxins clogged into your teeth.

Baking Soda

Reach out for baking soda which is a staple in every kitchen’s cabinet! It is a popular home remedy that works by neutralizing acid in the mouth, thereby brightening your pearly whites. Baking soda reduces the amount of bacteria in your mouth and improves the health of the teeth. All you need to do is, spoon a small amount of sodium bicarbonate on a wet toothbrush and once the bristles get coated, simply brush as you usually would. Do this remedy once a week.

Salsa

Foods known for bringing water in your mouth can indeed fight dental decay. As you consume spicy food, the mouth waters due to chili component, and this in turn makes the environment hygienic. Spicy food has the capability of stimulating the salivary glands; and saliva is required for cleaning your gums. Also, if the salsa is hot, you can drink water, which again will clean your mouth from tartar and plaque.

Cheese

All cheese lovers have another reason to hail their favorite food. It has been proved that cheese boosts the activity of the salivary glands, thereby neutralizing the plaque acid. Cheese forms a protective film around your teeth, which keeps bad bacteria at bay. Besides, it has calcium and phosphate content, which remineralizes the teeth. You just need to eat a small piece of cheese after each of your meal as this prevents plaque build-up.

Sesame Seeds

A holistic Ayurvedic treatment for removing stubborn tartar from your teeth is chewing sesame seeds. A handful of sesame seeds is all that you require for getting rid of plaque. Swish your mouth with sesame seeds for 10 minutes, and make sure you do not swallow them. These seeds work as a natural scrub, while polishing your teeth and removing tartar deposited in the teeth.

White Vinegar

A lot of health practitioners strongly believe in the antibacterial properties of white vinegar and they advise using this remedy for reducing accumulation of plaque. It contains acetic acid which protects your teeth and offers great, lasting results. Rinse your mouth with a mixture of 2tablespoon white vinegar and 1 teaspoon salt in a cup of water. You will notice a gradual improvement in the appearance of your teeth.

Orange Peel

An amazing home remedy for cleaning the plaque off your teeth is rubbing them with orange peel. This Vitamin C rich remedy acts as a natural whitener that fights plaque by destroying bad bacteria present in your mouth. Orange peel contains limonene that fights plaque and doesn’t erode the enamel. Simply rub orange peel against your teeth and let it stay overnight. This cheap and natural way can eliminate tartar causing microorganisms permanently.

Black Tea

Another popular home remedy that is known to eliminate the yellow phosphates deposited on the surface of the teeth is black tea. Black tea is a rich source of fluoride and rinsing with this tea can reduce the possibility of plaque formation. You need to brew the tea for about 5-6 minutes so that maximum amount of fluoride gets extracted. And then rinse your mouth using lukewarm water. This remedy will not just prove effective in removing tartar, but will also make your teeth last longer.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera has been widely used for ages as a home remedy for treating periodontal diseases caused by plaque formation. It is a cheap and easily accessible solution that can be easily applied as scrub for removal of tartar. Aloe Vera is known for its antibacterial properties, which aid in killing bacteria causing plaque formation. Besides, it also prevents tooth decay and bad breath. Just get a fresh Aloe Vera leaf and slit it open. Apply the pulp extracted and rub it properly over your teeth and gum line. Let the pulp sit there for 5-10 minutes and rinse it away for better looking teeth.

Banana Peel

A lesser known, but quite effective home remedy for getting rid of plaque deposited on your teeth is rubbing of banana peel. Peel a ripe banana and rub the inner side of the fruit on your teeth. As bananas are a good source of potassium and calcium, they will help in whitening of teeth and removal of plaque. After rubbing with the inside of banana peel, brush your teeth in the usual manner for best results.