Using Your Finger If you are unable to get a paper towel to brush off the plaque and food particles from your teeth, you can simply use your finger. Fingers have a rough surface that may be able to clear off the top surface of your teeth.
Finger brushing is better than not brushing at all. That said, it should be used only occasionally or when needed. Finger brushing with toothpaste can help freshen breath and reduce some of the plaque and bacteria found on teeth. But it can't effectively get under the gum line or in the crevices between teeth.
Brush With a Damp Washcloth or Paper Towel: For those who are unable to find a complimentary toothbrush in a hotel, a washcloth or paper towel is an excellent alternative. To use a washcloth or paper towel as a toothbrush, simply wet a small corner of the rag and apply a dab of toothpaste (if available).
Try a Tongue Scraper Instead of a Toothbrush
If your toothbrush slides too far back, you'll gag before you can finish your cleaning session. For a more effective clean, invest in a tongue scraper. Tongue scrapers feature a curved edge that scrapes away germs and bacteria when you drag the device across your tongue.
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing your beautiful smile twice a day. Skip a session, and you're on your way to encouraging the growth of bacterial buildup in the form of plaque, which can lead to cavities and even gum disease.
White tongue is the result of an overgrowth and swelling of the fingerlike projections (papillae) on the surface of your tongue. The appearance of a white coating is caused by debris, bacteria and dead cells getting lodged between the enlarged and sometimes inflamed papillae.
“Dry brushing” is when you brush your teeth without the use of water or toothpaste. The main reason that people dry brush their teeth is that it helps them to learn how to clean their teeth more efficiently and in the correct way.
When you go without brushing, the bacteria in your mouth can put you at risk for tooth decay, can lead to much more serious conditions such as cavities or gum disease. Even in as little as one night, you can put your mouth at risk for developing the first stages of a cavity or gingivitis.
Wetting before softens toothbrush bristles and rinses off debris. Wetting after ensures the toothpaste melts into your toothbrush so it doesn't roll off. Not wetting your toothbrush means there aren't extra steps between applying toothpaste and brushing.
Furthermore, research shows that dry brushing (brushing without toothpaste) increases the likelihood that people brush their teeth much longer, clean more surfaces effectively, and remove more plaque and bacteria. Dr. Plotnick suggests dry brushing for 90 seconds, making sure to clean every surface of every tooth.
The quickest, easiest, and most accessible way to clean your teeth without a toothbrush and toothpaste is to take a sip or warm water and swish it vigorously around your mouth. This action frees up any surface dirt on your teeth.
Natural Toothcare. Native Americans cleaned their teeth by using chewsticks and chewing on fresh herbs to cleanse their teeth and gums. Chewsticks were twigs that had two uses: one end was frayed by a rock and used for brushing, while the other end was sharpened and used as a tooth pick.
You may not have realized this, but teeth are not meant to touch. It sounds odd, but think about it. They don't touch while you speak, smile or rest. Even when you chew, your teeth only have to be close enough to mash food, not necessarily touch.
Cavemen chewed on sticks to clean their teeth and even used grass stalks to pick in between their teeth. Without the availability of high-quality toothbrushes and toothpaste, however, cavemen's teeth were more susceptible to cavities and decay, even with a healthy, carbohydrate-free diet.
Dental plaque is acidic and can wear down our precious tooth enamel, causing cavities. Excessive collection of plaque may also result in gum problems like gingivitis. But, studies show that we can remove dental plaque by simply brushing our teeth sans the toothpaste.
Use a mouthwash or mouth rinse that contains fluoride instead of water. Rinse, gargle, spit out the mouthwash and that should be enough. But don't use water. Wait at least half an hour after brushing your teeth to drink water or consume beverages.
There are a lot of opinions on this one. While it is safe to practice dry body brushing daily, it's definitely not recommended. The last thing you want to do is over-brush and negate all the good stuff you're doing for your skin. Once or twice a week should be sufficient enough to see and feel results.
While it's never too late to start taking care of yourself, those over the age of 30 must pay special attention to maintaining healthy habits. Oral health and hygiene is no exception. Teeth not only serve an important function in daily life; they reflect your overall health.
Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide
Using a paste made of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide is said to remove plaque buildup and bacteria to get rid of stains. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after brushing with this paste.
A healthy tongue should be pink in color with small nodules called papillae over the surface. Certain medical disorders may cause your tongue to change in appearance, and a color-changing tongue could be your first indication of a severe underlying issue.
Clinicians don't know definitively what causes them. One study from 2016 links them to smoking, and others hint at a genetic cause, a condition that is hereditary. At times, cracks can occur along with other health issues: malnutrition, geographic tongue, Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome and pustular psoriasis.
A healthy tongue is usually pink with a thin whitish coating. There should be no cracks or ulcers on the surface and its size should be of medium thickness. The tongue also contains small nodules that may feel slightly fuzzy. These are known as papillae and are essentially hairs that form between the taste buds.