If you are traveling and have forgotten your toothbrush or if you have arrived at school or work and realized that you have not brushed your teeth, with a little resourcefulness you can solve the problem. A tissue, a stick, and even a finger can be used as a toothbrush, or you can eat certain foods to keep your teeth clean; this article will tell you how.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Finding a Toothbrush Alternative
Step 1. Use a small towel or paper handkerchief
The ideal is to use a terry towel, but alternatively a handkerchief or paper towel can also work.
- Wrap the fabric or paper around your index finger, moisten it with water, and then apply the toothpaste to your fingertip if you haven't forgotten it at home with your toothbrush.
- Brush your teeth as you normally would with a toothbrush. Move your finger from top to bottom and bottom to top, rubbing each individual tooth one at a time, starting with the gums. Complete the cleaning by moving your finger in a circular motion.
- Don't forget to rub your tongue too.
- When finished, do several water rinses.
Step 2. Find a stick
Before the advent of toothbrushes, most people used a twig to brush their teeth. In many parts of the world this habit has not been lost and people brush their teeth every day using a stick made from an oak or a native plant (for example, salvadora persica or azadirachta indica). Experts have found that azadirachta indica wood contains fluoride and some antimicrobial agents that make it even more effective than toothpaste and toothbrush.
- Look for a young, flexible twig about 6 to 8 inches long. It is important that it has not yet developed a thick bark.
- Remove the bark and chew on one end until the fibers separate and begin to resemble bristles. You can then use your rudimentary toothbrush to brush your teeth.
- You can complete the cleaning with the toothpick, but proceed carefully to avoid injuring your gums and causing them to bleed.
Step 3. Use your finger
If you find yourself in a situation where you don't even have a tissue, wash your hands thoroughly and then rub your index finger against your teeth, as if it were a toothbrush. Start with the gums and move your finger first downward to clean the upper arch teeth, and then upward to clean the lower arch teeth. Rub one tooth at a time and finally all teeth together in small circular motions.
- Rinse your finger often.
- Rinse your teeth thoroughly when you're done. Move the water inside your mouth and run it from one cheek to the other for at least thirty seconds.
Method 2 of 3: Clean Teeth without Scrubbing
Step 1. Use mouthwash
Although its function is not to replace brush and floss, mouthwash has the ability to kill microbes and inhibit plaque formation. Run him from cheek to cheek and from front to back of his mouth to clean his teeth.
Read the directions on the bottle to find out if you need to dilute the product with water
Step 2. Use dental floss
If you left your toothbrush at home but remembered to pack your floss, you can count yourself lucky. Many dentists are convinced that it is better to use only dental floss rather than just a toothbrush to prevent tooth decay. Dental floss is able to remove both food and bacteria that lurk between the teeth and along the gums. Remember to rinse your mouth thoroughly when you're done.
Dental floss stimulates the flow of blood to the gums. When the gums are healthy they act as a barrier that protects the teeth from bacteria
Step 3. Brush your teeth in the shower
Open your mouth to let the hot water run over your teeth. The water jet from the shower will wash away food residues and plaque, as does the dental water jet. You can help the action of water by rubbing your teeth with your finger.
Step 4. Clean your teeth with chewing gum
According to experts, chewing sugar-free gum can be as effective as flossing to remove food particles, plaque and bacteria from your teeth. It also makes your breath fresh. To prevent the bacteria nested along the gums from spreading back into your mouth, chew the gum for a minute and then throw it away.
Sugar-free chewing gums bring the pH of the saliva back into balance, so the formation of bacteria slows down
Step 5. Drink green tea or use it to rinse
Green tea has a high content of polyphenols: substances which, thanks to their antioxidant action, reduce plaque and fight gum disease. You can have a cup of green tea or, if you want to clean your teeth more thoroughly, you can use the tea as if it were a mouthwash.
Step 6. Clean your teeth by eating fruit and vegetables
When you don't have a toothbrush available, you can take advantage of the mildly abrasive nature of plant fibers to remove dirt and plaque from your teeth. The vitamins and acids contained in fruits and vegetables also make them whiter and fight tooth decay.
- Apples contain vitamin C, which the body needs to keep the gums healthy. In addition, they make teeth whiter thanks to the high concentration of malic acid.
- Carrots are rich in vitamin A, which strengthens tooth enamel. The fibers contained in carrots can act as micro bristles to massage the gums and clean the surface of the teeth and interdental spaces.
- By chewing celery you can stimulate the activity of the salivary glands. Saliva helps neutralize the acids that cause tooth decay.
Method 3 of 3: Toothpaste Alternatives
Step 1. Replace it with baking soda
If you've forgotten your toothpaste at home in addition to your toothbrush, you can easily replace it with baking soda. It is a staple in many toothpastes, as it has the ability to whiten teeth and remove plaque. Put some on your finger (or on a towel or handkerchief) and then rub it gently on your teeth.
Step 2. Use a mixture of water and salt
Salt has antibacterial properties and can help you eliminate some of the germs that cause plaque build-up in situations where you don't have toothpaste available. Dissolve 1-2 teaspoons of salt in 250ml of warm water, then dip your finger (or a towel or handkerchief) in the salt water before starting to rub it on your teeth. When finished, you can use the remaining salt water to rinse your mouth.
Salt is corrosive; use little if you have braces and use this method only when really needed
Step 3. Make a toothpaste with strawberries
Strawberries contain vitamin C, which keeps the gums healthy, malic acid, which whitens the teeth, and a powerful astringent that helps remove plaque from the teeth. On their own or combined with baking soda, mashed strawberries are a great substitute for toothpaste.
- When you're done, rinse your teeth thoroughly to prevent the sugar in strawberries from causing tooth decay.
- You should know that strawberries also contain fructose, which is less dangerous than sugar for dental health, but can still cause tooth decay. Consult your dentist before you start using them instead of toothpaste.
