Toothpaste is a mandatory attribute of personal hygiene and it is difficult to imagine a modern person who can do without oral care for a long time. Toothpaste not only eliminates bad breath, but is also a good preventive measure for quite serious diseases of the teeth and gums.
However, there may be situations when toothpaste may not be at hand, or its use for some reason is not advisable. In such situations, the question is quite natural: what can replace toothpaste ? The alternative option should be as safe as possible and at the same time quite effective. In order to decide what to replace toothpaste with , you need to pay attention to its composition.
Alternative to a toothbrush
In a situation where you don’t have a brush at hand, you should use natural material. We are talking about a branch of a coniferous tree, be it pine, spruce or fir. It is enough to tear off a small stalk and place it in hot water. The tip of this product is softened by lightly chewing with your teeth. The end result is something like a brush. The product is carefully passed over the surface of the teeth, removing accumulated plaque.
Separately chew pine needles, which are rich in vitamin C, vegetable oils, and amino acids. In combination, the noted substances have a disinfecting and anti-inflammatory effect on the tissues of the oral cavity. Chewing pine needles for several minutes strengthens tooth enamel and gums.
Using a softened pine twig, it is important to thoroughly clean not only the internal, but also the external surfaces of the enamel. Particular attention should be paid to the bases of the molars. After all, it is here that the salivary ducts are located and the formation of tartar is most often observed.
Soda
How to brush your teeth if you don't have toothpaste? A good option is using baking soda. The substance has a non-toxic composition. The powder has an abrasive structure, which promotes high-quality plaque removal. The product has disinfecting properties. In addition to removing bacterial waste products, baking soda is a good teeth whitener.
To brush your teeth without toothpaste, dip a toothbrush or a piece of sterile cotton wool in baking soda. The substance is treated with chewing surfaces. To enhance the positive effect, you can add a couple of drops of lemon juice to the powder. At the end of the procedure, the oral cavity is thoroughly rinsed with water.
After brushing your teeth with baking soda, it is important to avoid eating food and hot drinks for an hour. The abrasive can leave microscopic damage on the enamel. Various types of influences can provoke cracking of the tooth surface in the future.
Doctors do not recommend regularly brushing and whitening your teeth with baking soda. The reason is the same scratching of the enamel by powder crystals. Particles of the substance remaining in the oral cavity can provoke inflammation of the gums and mucous membranes.
Advantages and disadvantages of oral care products
Finding out which is better: an irrigator or an electric ultrasonic brush can only be done by comparison.
Irrigators have the following advantages:
- Prevents the development of periodontal disease, gingivitis, stomatitis and other oral diseases;
- Remove plaque without damaging the enamel;
- Work in several modes;
- The case is resistant to mechanical damage;
- Equipped with different attachments.
Among the shortcomings are the limited rotation of the nozzles and the lack of wireless charging.
The advantages of electric toothbrushes include:
- Nozzles for removing plaque from the tongue;
- Effective removal of dental plaque;
- Presence of a timer;
- Teeth whitening after tobacco and coffee.
The disadvantages of such devices include rough impact. In particular, electric brushes often damage gums and can even loosen teeth.
Tea tree oil
People who want to know how to brush their teeth if they don’t have toothpaste should use tea tree oil. The product contains a lot of biologically active elements that inhibit the activity of pathogenic bacteria that parasitize tooth enamel. The product has a pleasant aroma, eliminating bad odors.
The hygiene procedure is carried out according to the following scheme:
- prepare a glass of warm boiled water;
- add about 3-4 drops of tea tree oil to the liquid;
- the composition moisturizes the toothbrush and removes plaque from the enamel;
- Finally, rinse the mouth with the product several times.
It is useful to perform the procedure daily, before going to bed. Regular use of tea tree oil for oral care reduces the likelihood of developing inflammatory processes in the structure of gum tissue. The folk remedy is suitable for combating caries and periodontal disease.
Useful tips
There are recommendations that allow you to brush your teeth efficiently:
- You should not start cleaning earlier than 15 minutes after eating. This increases the effectiveness of the paste. After eating some food, for example, spicy or sour, the procedure should be performed no earlier than half an hour later.
- It is advisable to brush your teeth after breakfast and before going to bed at night. Dentists consider this time to be the most suitable for these procedures. Brushing before bed prevents the growth of harmful microorganisms in the mouth, since the salivary glands function weakly at night.
- Cleaning should be done for at least 3 minutes, but do not overdo it. Cleaning for too long (more than 10 minutes) can lead to problems with the enamel, especially when using a paste with a high fluoride content.
- During the day, you need to use toothpicks to remove food particles in the interdental space. The procedure must be performed carefully to prevent injury to the gums and infection in the wound.
- You should independently identify problem areas and give them due attention. For effective care, it is advisable to consult a dentist.
- You should pay attention to the gums, since often beneficial effects for the teeth lead to damage to other areas of the cavity. Bleeding gums can be a symptom of gingivitis.
- Using mouthwashes is not necessary, but it provides a comprehensive approach to prevention.
Wood ash
What can you use to brush your teeth instead of toothpaste? An ancient folk method is the use of ash. In nature, cooled coals should be taken from the fire. The substance is ground into powder. Add a couple of drops of water until a thick, paste-like consistency is formed. The product is applied to the finger and passed over the surfaces of the teeth. Finally, rinse your mouth with plenty of water. As a result, the enamel gets rid of accumulated plaque and becomes clean and snow-white.
Wood ash is more than just an abrasive. The product contains potassium, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, iron. The complex of these elements creates a special environment in the oral cavity that is not suitable for the active reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms. If you add ground mint leaves to a paste prepared from ash, you can get a product with a pleasant taste and aroma.
Irrigator
This is a special device that helps remove plaque and food debris using water or medicine. According to dentists, using an irrigator instead of floss and brush is much more effective for the entire oral cavity.
The irrigator (aerator) includes a compressor or hydraulic pump, a water container, a set of different nozzles and a comfortable handle. Water or medicinal liquid is supplied into the mouth by a compressor through a nozzle under pressure. This cleaning removes food debris and plaque, improves blood circulation in the gums, and makes them stronger.
The attachments include classic, periodontal, orthodontic, nasal, with a mini-turbine or a spoon for cleaning the tongue. Irrigators can be used for prevention or therapy if a special solution can be used instead of water. There are devices where water is supplied by pulsation or air microbubbles. The device can be used in any environment, it is only important that there is a charged battery or power supply.
Clay
What to do if you don't have toothpaste? How to brush your teeth? A good idea would be to use white or blue clay powder. The product is absolutely harmless to the body. The substance contains an abundance of microelements that disinfect oral tissues. Brushing your teeth with clay helps eliminate bad odor.
To rid the enamel of plaque, freshen breath and achieve a whitening effect, I act according to the following principle:
- take about 50-70 grams of white or blue clay;
- the product is moistened with a few drops of water;
- the product is mixed until a mass of paste-like consistency is formed;
- add a dessert spoon of liquid honey, as well as a couple of drops of propolis infusion, essential oils of sage and chamomile.
The prepared paste is applied to a damp brush. Brush your teeth, carefully treating the enamel surfaces. Finally, rinse your mouth with water. Performing the procedure in the morning and evening has the most positive effect on oral health.
Why do you need to brush your teeth?
Prevention of dental diseases and care include daily brushing of teeth with a brush and toothpaste 2 times a day. If you do this rarely, plaque builds up. And when care is performed more often, there is a chance of damage to the enamel.
If regular cleaning is not done, then a problem appears in the form of bad breath, plaque and yellowish discoloration, and dental ailments. Dentists advise brushing your teeth before breakfast, not after. The reason is the presence of a biofilm of plaque and bacteria that remains on the teeth after an overnight rest.
Healing herbs
When looking for effective folk remedies for cleaning teeth, you should pay attention to plants such as mint, sage, calamus root, thyme, and cloves. These herbs are combined in equal proportions and ground to a powdery consistency. The resulting product is applied to a moistened brush. Perform delicate teeth cleaning. Using the method allows you to remove plaque, disinfect the oral cavity and improve the condition of the gums.
Kitchen salt
The mineral substance is known for its disinfecting properties. Thanks to its crystalline structure, the product perfectly cleanses plaque from tooth enamel. The effect of salt on the gums reduces the likelihood of developing inflammatory and putrefactive processes. The oral cavity gets rid of unpleasant odor.
You can use sea salt to clean your teeth. The product is a source of a wide range of microelements: iodine, manganese, phosphorus, calcium, silicon, iron. The noted elements have an antiseptic effect on the tissues of the oral cavity.
How to brush your teeth without toothpaste? The salt is thoroughly ground in a mortar until it becomes dusty. Add a couple of drops of vegetable oil. A damp brush is dipped in the substance. Next, teeth are brushed according to the usual principle. Finally, the oral cavity is thoroughly rinsed with water.
