Can’t Brush? Here are 10 Alternatives to Brushing Your Teeth.
Your teeth are more precious than you may think, playing several key roles in your health and well-being; besides enabling you to chew up your food, they help you speak clearly and contribute to your facial structure and appearance. For all these reasons, you’ll be keen to keep your teeth in tiptop condition.
Dental experts advise brushing them twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, but sometimes that’s not always feasible when you lead a busy life, as you may have discovered. If you have a tight schedule or spend much of your time traveling, for instance, it may be hard to find opportunities for toothbrushing, but fortunately, there are alternatives to brushing your teeth when the need arises. Here are ten handy compromises to fall back on.
How to brush your teeth without a toothbrush. What to do if you forgot to brush your teeth. Help is here with 10 alternatives to brushing your teeth.
1. Munch On a Raw Vegetable
If you’re going out, slip a slice of raw vegetable into your bag or pocket, peeled, wrapped and ready to nibble. Any crunchy, low-sugar vegetable, such as a chunk of carrot, cabbage or pepper, will suffice. A sharp-tasting apple will also serve the purpose but avoid sweet ones, containing more sugar, potentially counteracting their cleansing texture. The crisp, clear-cut fruit or vegetable morsels will slide smoothly against your teeth, collecting and sweeping away crumbs and plaque. You can take quick bites of your natural teeth-cleaner at any time of day, whenever you get the chance.
2. Drink water
A drink of fresh, plain drinking water will cleanse your mouth, washing away crumbs from your teeth, gums and tongue as you swallow. If you have some fluoride toothpaste with you but no brush, pop a pea-sized blob of the paste into your mouth when you get the opportunity, and spread it over your teeth with your tongue. Then rinse out with the water rather than swallowing. It’s important not to ingest more than minimal amounts of toothpaste, as significant accumulations could be harmful.
3. Swill with mouthwash
Fluoride mouthwash can go a long way to protecting your teeth from decay, so if possible, keep some with you to swill after meals or whenever convenient. If storage is a problem, pour a little into a small container that can be stowed away in a bag, pocket or drawer. Take a sip of the mouthwash and whirl it around your teeth and gums before rinsing out into an empty cup or glass, or better still, a washbasin.
4. Chew Gum
Not only can chewing gum freshen breath, but it is also known to loosen food particles and plaque. Just make sure it is sugar-free.
How to Brush Your Teeth Without a Toothbrush
5. Use a Paper Towel
Dampen a piece of paper towel, wrap it around your finger and add toothpaste. Start at the gum line, working down in a circular motion, one tooth at a time. When done with each tooth, finish by cleaning your tongue.
6. Use Your Finger
If you do not have paper towels, substitute by using your finger and continue with the same motion as your would with a paper towel.
7. Baking Soda
If toothpaste is not available, you can substitute it with baking soda. It is found in many types of toothpaste and is known to have teeth whitening capabilities.
8. Floss
Dental flossing should be in your daily routine always. So, of course, flossing is a vital option when you do not have access to your toothbrush.
More Alternative to Brushing Your Teeth
9. Clean With Your Tongue
If none of the above measures are workable for you, use your tongue to sweep up the tiny particles from around your mouth, which can then be swallowed naturally, perhaps with a sip of water. The tongue is well suited to this task, being strong, sensitive, and highly flexible in shape and movement. With your tongue’s mobile tip, feel your way all-around your top teeth, inside, outside, and over the biting area, sweeping downwards from the gums towards the center of your mouth. Then go likewise around your bottom teeth, cleaning upwards from the gums. Finally, swallow hard, preferably with the help of some water.
10. Avoid Sweet Food and Drinks
It’s always advisable to avoid snacking on sweet foods and drinks for the sake of dental hygiene, but it’s imperative when you can’t brush your teeth at reasonable intervals. If you anticipate having no opportunity in the day to brush your teeth, compensate by keeping to a low-sugar diet for the day.
Keep Your Teeth and Gums Strong and Healthy
With these quick alternatives to brushing your teeth and simple solutions, you can keep your teeth and gums as strong and beautiful as ever, even when you have to skip tooth-brushing. But if the situation continues or repeats regularly, seek out a way of getting that vital brushing routine into your daily schedule, even if it means adjusting arrangements a little. If anything deserves “VIP” treatment, it’s your teeth.
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Next time you find yourself unable to brush your teeth, we hope you have gained valuable knowledge reading our blog, 10 Alternatives to Brushing Your Teeth. If you are interested in learning more about dental issues, take a look at our blog.
