How to Brush Your Teeth If You Don’t Have a Toothbrush
Travel products website Minimus reports that 18% of travelers surveyed admitted that they often forgot to take their toothbrush with them. (Glad to hear I’m not the only one.) Even worse, when you are late for your destination, it’s not easy for you to get to the store to buy replacements, and your hotel doesn’t offer them to guests. If you hate going to bed with daytime bacteria on your teeth and gums, here are some ways to keep your oral hygiene without a toothbrush.
Use your finger
As a last resort, just use your finger – the Pennsylvania Dental Implant and Periodontics Center claims that brushing your teeth with toothpaste and your finger is a sufficient method of removing plaque in some cases. Simply place a drop of toothpaste on your finger and rub it across all sides of your teeth and gums as if you actually had a toothbrush, although you might first consider rinsing your mouth with water several times to clear your mouth. and remove as much food debris as possible.
Mix dental floss and mouthwash
If you’ve forgotten your toothbrush but have floss and mouthwash , you’re in good shape. Simply floss your mouth, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water, and then apply a mouthwash to kill any remaining bacteria. (Yes, we understand that there is a very small chance that you forgot your toothbrush but remembered the floss and mouthwash.)
Use a washcloth
The scrubber is my alternative toothbrush for when I forgot mine. The roughened texture will erase more plaque than your finger ever could. This method can also be done with a paper towel. First, rinse your mouth with water to remove as much food as possible. Then, wrap a cloth or paper towel around your index finger and apply the toothpaste to the covered finger if you have one (although it’s worth doing it even if you don’t have one ). Use a washcloth to wipe all parts of your teeth and gums. I have also known to clean my tongue with a washcloth, wiping it as cleanly as possible. Rinse and then use mouthwash (if you have one).
Eat vegetables
Ironically, Grace & Leedy Dentistry and other dentists recommend eating crispy vegetables instead of brushing your teeth well. “Fibrous vegetables can act like a brush in their own way. When you eat them, biting can remove existing food particles and clean your teeth, ”explains Grace and Lidi and notes that if you could probably use a celery stalk as an alternative toothbrush. (Imagine a scenario in which you need to brush your teeth and have access to toothpaste and celery, but not a toothbrush.)
Chew gum (sugar free)
As with chewing vegetables, chewing gum can be a great way to remove plaque when brushing is not suitable. Chewing gum can force out any food particles in your teeth and cause saliva, which is a natural disinfectant for mouthwashes. Humana Healthcare recommends avoiding sweets and using sugar-free gum until you get a replacement toothbrush.
Oil pulling
Schaumburg Dental Studio in Illinois recommends a process called “ oil rinsing ,” a brushless method that involves rinsing a teaspoon of oil in your mouth. “Oil gargling is believed to flush toxins from the mouth,” says Schaumburg Dental Studio, although the scientific evidence is a little hazy . Coconut oil and sesame oil are considered the most effective in removing toxins, but sunflower or olive oil can also help.