No matter how much we brush and floss, some of us have continuing problems. Dentists claim that the only way to remove dental tartar is by a dentist or dental hygienist. First of all, I think it's important to understand what dental tartar is. Since I'm not a Dentist and don't want to be accused of practicing dentistry without a license, I'll stick to the Websters Dictionary definition. The key ingredient in tartar, the predominate force that encapsulates food, bacteria and saliva into a harden mass on teeth seems to be calcium carbonate, the same substance which causes scale damage in residential and commercial plumbing.
Calcium carbonate is a mineral substance found in limestone and other calcareous rock formations.
Like all carbonates, it is normally insoluble in water. However, when rain water falls through polluted air or runs over acidic material, the water itself becomes acidic. Naturally soft rain water is known as natures solvent due to its ability to clean. The cleaning ability is due primarily to its low surface tension. When rain water becomes acidic, the natural cleaning ability is enhanced.