Natural Ways to Clean Your Teeth (other than brushing)

Everyone knows that it’s important to brush your teeth every day to ensure good dental health. Unfortunately, there are always occasions where you need to brush and don’t have access to a toothbrush or toothpaste. When this happens, most people just don’t worry about cleaning their teeth because they don’t know of any other way to do it. Well, there actually are other ways to keep your teeth clean. They aren’t all as effective as brushing, but still better than doing nothing. It’s handy to know what to do when you don’t have a toothbrush because neglecting to clean your teeth, even for just one day, can cause serious problems down the road. You don’t want to risk that, so here are some things you can use as an alternative:

1. Tooth Wipes
   Tooth wipes are relatively new on the market. They go on your finger, and you use your finger to “brush” your teeth. The only downside is that they don’t get in between your teeth, but it’s still better than leaving plaque buildup everywhere else.
2. Dental floss
   Dental floss, of course, will get in between your teeth. If you have tooth wipes and dental floss on hand, that’s almost as good as brushing.
3. Toothpicks
   Toothpicks are great to use after you’ve eaten to get big pieces of food out, and they work almost as well as dental floss for getting things out from between your teeth. They won’t be able to go deep into the crack between your teeth like dental floss will, but it can get out what you can see on the surface.
4. Mouthwash
   Mouthwash will kill germs on your teeth and in your mouth, prevent tooth decay and keep your breath fresh. Mouthwash is also very good for people who have sensitive gums. Sometimes gums have a tendency to bleed when brushed, and using mouthwash can help prevent bacteria from getting inside the sensitive areas.
5. Dental Chewing Gum
   You can use dental chewing gum as an alternative to brushing when you have no other choice. Chewing gum will freshen your breath, just as mouthwash will, and it will also help to loosen up food particles that are stuck to the teeth. This will make it easier for you to remove them by using tooth wipes, floss or toothpicks.

You never know when you’ll be stuck without a way to brush your teeth. You could go away on a trip, get stuck at someone’s house without your things, or run out of toothpaste at home. By keeping all of the above mentioned items on hand, you won’t have any excuse for not having relatively clean teeth no matter what. Remember, anything is better than not cleaning your teeth at all!

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