One question that comes up when watching the television show Survivor, is how do they brush their teeth? There are lots of times when our patients are also out in the wild (or in an airplane) and want to brush their teeth, but don’t have their toothbrush handy. What to do?
Fortunately, a little forward thinking is all it takes to keep your teeth clean, until a quality tooth brush is on the scene. Before we tell you about some actual products to consider, here’s what you can use in a pinch.
Washcloth: the texture on the washcloth makes for a decent tooth cleaner if nothing else is available. The washcloth should be washed, of course, after this. A paper towel can work as well, though make sure it’s high quality so it doesn’t fall apart in your mouth. Wrap the towel around a finger, with some toothpaste applied.
Mouthwash or mouth rinses: Rinsing your mouth with mouthwash can be helpful, especially if it’s specially formulated to kill germs and has fluoride.
Sugarless gum: Chewing sugarless gum can help remove some food particles, and also stimulates saliva. The saliva will wash away some of the bacteria in your mouth.
Water: Just swishing some water is good for your teeth. Like saliva, it helps remove bacteria.
Travel size toothbrush: It doesn’t hurt to carry a travel-sized toothbrush in your purse. You can buy ones that are small and come with a waterproof case so it doesn’t make a mess in your bag.
Baby finger brush: If you have children, you might remember the thimble-like tooth cleaner you wore over your finger. It had little plastic bristles on it. You can use that on adult teeth too. Put yours in a plastic bag for travel, and it makes an adequate travel toothbrush.
Disposable: Colgate makes a disposable mini toothbrush called Wisp. Wisp comes in packages with several brushes, easily stored in a purse or drawer. Oral B used to make a product called Brush Up, which is a textured teeth wipe you use with one finger. It came in a small, thin packet, easy for travel. While Oral B discontinued the product, you can still find some other brands selling a similar product online.
You want to keep your teeth clean and healthy, of course. That involves regular dental visits. Dental offices like Klement Family Dental offer a variety of dental services, including sedation dentistry, dentures, dental implants, fillings, extractions and regular dental care. We can also act as an emergency dentist. Please consider us as your dentist in St. Petersburg FL.
