If you had One Thing to Use to Clean Your Teeth, What Would it be?

What if you found yourself without a toothbrush? What would you do? How would you keep your teeth clean?

While brushing your teeth with a toothbrush is by far the most efficient way of removing plaque and harmful bacteria, in a pinch, there are other tools you can use that will do a decent job of protecting your teeth against cavities, gingivitis and bad breath.

The main action of a toothbrush is scrubbing, using a bit of friction. The toothbrush uses strong, yet flexible bristles to scrub your teeth, removing the plaque and bacteria from the surfaces of your teeth and between your teeth. 

When the bristles are rubbed against your teeth, friction is created and the food particles are removed. Therefore, the ideal tool should be something you can use to scrub your teeth, causing friction, but without harming the enamel.

A Small Cloth

We have all either seen or heard of someone using their finger to scrub their teeth, but that is not an effective method. Why? 

Your soft, slick finger will not create any friction against your teeth.

However, by simply wrapping a small washcloth or other soft, textured material around your finger, you can create a decent replacement for your toothbrush. The cloth, paired with the rubbing of your finger along your teeth, gum line and tongue will allow you to remove the bad bacteria, particles and plaque quite efficiently.

Mouthwash

Mouthwash can actually be quite harmful to your teeth. 

Some mouthwashes get rid of both the harmful and the beneficial bacteria in your mouth.

The purpose of the “good” bacteria is to protect your teeth and gums against the “bad” bacteria. By removing all of the bacteria in your mouth, you are putting your mouth at risk.

However, in a pinch, using mouthwash to wash away stagnant food particles is a great alternative to doing nothing at all.

Sugarless Gum

Why do we often wake up with a dry, sticky, gross taste in our mouths?

While we sleep, a very important natural cleaning process slows way down. While we sleep, we create a lot less saliva.

 

Saliva is a wonderful, natural cleaner. 

Activities that increase your saliva production can be beneficial to the health of your mouth.       

               

Chewing sugarless gum will increase the production of saliva and will wash away some of the bad bacteria in your mouth. The action of chewing the gum can also help loosen some of the food particles. 

Water

Most people say the one treat about going to the dentist is the water pick.

Squishing water around in your mouth is an excellent way to free up loose food, wash the surfaces of your teeth and wash away bacteria. 

Unlike mouthwash, it has no harsh chemicals and will not kill the beneficial bacteria, but it will do a good job of ridding the sugars and other harmful components found in many foods.

 
While all of these suggestions can serve to help you maintain good hygiene when you find yourself without a toothbrush, nothing is better than a good ole toothbrush and piece of floss!