tartar is hardened mineralized bacterial plaque that has not been removed from teeth. when tartar control toothpaste containing the soluble sodium pyrophosphate is applied to the teeth and gums a chemical bonding process occurs. any calcium phosphate which has not yet bonded to teeth is attracted to the sodium pyrophosphate. when the new compound mixes with water it is completely dissolved. this means that the destructive calcium phosphate destined to form more tartar is instead removed with the rinse water. tartar control toothpaste cannot dissolve tartar that has already bonded with the enamel but it can stop future deposits from forming.
what does it mean when toothpaste has "tartar protection"?