# Mouth wash vs plaque disclosing tablets **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 7, 2009, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouth-wash-vs-plaque-disclosing-tablets/495611 "2009-05-07T00:25:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouth-wash-vs-plaque-disclosing-tablets/495611/1 "2009-05-07T00:25:13Z")
After using the former, the stain from the latter disappears. Is this because the dye is removed by the wash or the dye _and_ the plaque together? I’m not sure of my chemistry at all in this regard. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouth-wash-vs-plaque-disclosing-tablets/495611/2 "2009-05-07T00:38:42Z")
It just washes off the dye. Plaque is harder to remove than that: it requires physical force. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouth-wash-vs-plaque-disclosing-tablets/495611/3 "2009-05-07T14:18:29Z")
I suspected as much, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouth-wash-vs-plaque-disclosing-tablets/495611/4 "2009-05-07T15:54:41Z")
The message, of course, is to continue to brush your teeth ;).