Tips for When You Can't Brush or Floss

You've probably heard or read about the importance of brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day. This routine practice can help remove plaque that would otherwise harden into tartar and attract dangerous bacteria. However, circumstances may prohibit you from brushing and/or flossing, leaving your teeth vulnerable to decay.

Whether you suffer from a condition that limits your manual dexterity or you simply find yourself without a toothbrush or other implements, you can still take steps to keep your teeth as clean as possible. Consider the following options the next time you need an alternative to brushing or flossing.

Eat Naturally Tooth-Protectant Foods

Certain foods possess properties that make them natural tooth cleaners and decay fighters. For instance, crunchy or abrasive nuts, fruits, seeds, and vegetables can scrub plaque away from tooth surfaces, although they can't remove food particles between teeth.

Many foods also contain nutrients and other substances that help protect your teeth and gums against disease or decay. An enzyme found in pineapples can whiten teeth even as it helps to dissolve plaque. The vitamin C in many fruits and vegetables can promote healthy gums, while garlic's antibiotic properties attack bacteria.

Drink Water and Milk

Your choice of beverages can help you minimize threats to your dental health in the absence of a toothbrush or floss. Ordinary water has a neutral pH as opposed to the more acidic pH levels found in alcoholic drinks, soda, or coffee. Water sources that include added fluoride can also help protect your tooth enamel.

Like water, milk also offers a relatively low-acid choice as a beverage, reducing the overall pH inside your mouth and creating a hostile environment for invading bacteria. However, it also gives you a healthy dose of calcium and other minerals to help you maintain strong enamel and optimal jawbone density. 

Try Finger Brushes or Tooth Wipes

If you can't operate either a manual toothbrush or an electric model easily, you might still manage to use finger brushes. These rubber finger covers come with flexible bristles, which you rub against tooth surfaces. Finger brushes can’t remove plaque as well as more traditional methods, but they can at least offer some protective effects.

Teeth wipes can serve as another finger-mounted tooth-cleaning option. These individually wrapped devices, while no replacement for proper brushing, provide some welcome cleansing action while also freshening your breath. 

Use a Water Flosser or Other Interdental Tool

None of the strategies listed above get access to the tiny gaps and cracks between your teeth. However, your hands may not enable you to floss efficiently, or you may run out of floss at an inopportune moment. Fortunately, other interdental cleaning solutions can help you remove that hard-to-reach plaque before it causes problems.

Water flossers clean the spaces between your teeth by blasting plaque and food debris out of your mouth. Many people who have trouble flossing thoroughly can get better results with these handheld devices. You can also get interdental brushes and picks that safely extract bits of food debris from between teeth.

Chew Sugar-Free Gum

If you plan on attending an event featuring food and drink, you may have trouble bringing a mobile toothbrush along or finding a convenient place to brush your teeth afterward. Instead, carry a pack of sugar-free gum chewing gum. This gum can freshen your breath and help dislodge food particles until you can brush your teeth properly.

If you want to protect your teeth as well as clean them, choose a gum containing xylitol as its flavoring ingredient. Bacteria that threaten your tooth enamel will absorb the xylitol but cannot digest this substance, eventually dying instead of sticking to your teeth and causing decay.

No matter how thoroughly you clean your teeth at home or on the go, you should still schedule regular checkups that include professional cleanings. Our dental team can scrape away stubborn plaque and tartar that home methods can't remove. Contact our clinic today to schedule your exam and cleaning.