system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
If sodas like coke break down enamel, do they not also remove plaque?

We know the acids and such in soda breaks down the enamel of teeth, but if it does that, why does it not also clean them? I am aware the sugar in the soda will continue to feed the bacteria that produce the plaque, but shouldn't the soda break the plaque down too?
gpt
Plaque is a biofilm of bacteria and extracellular matrix.  Biofilms are characteristically harder to kill, as it confers a survival advantage on the bacteria within it.  You need a physical force to remove the adhesion of the plaque to your teeth, like brushing or scraping.

Before you go to bed, instead of brushing first, use a mouthwash and see how much plaque that gets off.  Keep in mind mouthwash is 20%-25% ethanol, as well as a lot of other "physical killers" (it just rips up bacterial cell walls).  

While it may remove some of the plaque, it will never remove enough to make your teeth feel clean.  It can *prevent* the build up of plaque, but only once you've physically removed the biofilm.