Researchers at the Newcastle University were studying an enzyme found in the marine bacterium Bacillus licheniformis in a research meant for for cleaning ships' hulls.
But, they found that the enzyme was able to "cut through" plaque on teeth and clean hard-to-reach areas.
The find could lead to a range of medical applications, including teeth cleaning, the team said.
Better products offering more effective treatment can be made using the enzyme, said researcher Dr Nicholas Jakubovics of Newcastle University's School of Dental Sciences.
"Plaque on your teeth is made up of bacteria which join together to colonise an area in a bid to push out any potential competitors," the Daily Mail quoted him as saying.
"Traditional toothpastes work by scrubbing off the plaque containing the bacteria - but that