Even if you regularly visit your dentist to have your teeth cleaned, you may wonder if there is anything you can do at home to keep the tartar and plaque from building up. If so, use one or more of the following five natural ways to remove tartar buildup using food.

Bite Into An Apple At Snack Time 

Instead of reaching for a candy bar or something else sugary for a snack, bite into an apple instead. Not only does it give you natural sugars and fiber, but the fruit also helps remove tartar buildup.

When you bite into the apple, the rough texture scrapes the surface of your enamel. The juice from the apple also softens the sticky residue on your teeth, giving each bite the potential to remove more tartar than the last.

Brush With Apple Cider Vinegar

If you do not care for apples, or your diet does not allow it, brush your teeth with apple cider vinegar instead. The vinegar is made from apples, plus it has the added benefit of being slightly acidic. The acidity helps break down the top layers of tartar and plaque.

To brush your teeth with the vinegar, saturate the bristles of your toothbrush with it. Then, brush your teeth as you normally do. Leave the residue on your teeth for about five minutes, then rinse your mouth thoroughly. Do not skip rinsing your teeth since the acidity in the vinegar could break down your enamel if left on for too long.

Rub An Orange Peel On Your Teeth

Another way to use food to remove tartar is to rub an orange peel over the surface of your teeth. Oranges contain citric acid that softens the tartar, while the outer rough, nubby skin provides a gently abrasive to scrape it off of your teeth.

To enhance this treatment, apply a small amount of the orange's juice to your teeth before you use the skin to break down the tartar and plaque. Let it soak in for about five minutes, then use the peel to wipe the substances away.

As with the apple cider vinegar discussed above, do not forget to rinse your mouth when you are finished to remove the residual acidic residue.

When you are finished, do not throw away the meat of the fruit. Instead, eat it to get a good dose of vitamin C. Not only does having enough of this vitamin in your system help strengthen your teeth and assist your body in clearing away the bacteria in the tartar, but it can also help ward off gum disease

Chew On Some Sunflower Seeds

Another way to get rid of the sticky tartar on your teeth is to chew on about a tablespoon of sunflower seeds after you eat. When you chew the seeds, the oils are released. The sunflower oil helps pull bacteria and food particles away from your enamel, while the crunchy texture removes anything loosened by the oil.

To take the benefits of eating the sunflower seeds a step further, chew them up until they create a pasty pulp, but do not swallow them. Instead, wet your toothbrush, and gently brush your teeth with the pulp. This gives the seeds a chance to come into more direct contact with the surface of your teeth, while the added pressure of brushing removes more tartar.

After you are finished, rinse your mouth with water. You can then either spit it out or swallow it.

Using one or more of the above tips can help you keep your teeth healthy and keep tartar buildup from getting out of control. However, you still should schedule an appointment once or twice a year with your dentist to have your teeth professionally teeth and examined. Visit a site like http://www.vanyodentistry.com to learn more about dentistry needs.