Ways to clean teeth without brush and toothpaste: how beneficial?

Most people use brushes, toothpaste and dental floss to clean their teeth, but many parts of the world do not use them. Many localities in developing countries still use traditional techniques to clean their teeth. There are techniques that are thought to be better than others.

Many parts of the Middle East, and parts of South and Southeast Asia use wooden sticks from arak (called miswak) to clean teeth . They grinded one end of the stick, then wet it with water or rose water and rubbed it on the teeth. Arak stems contain high levels of fluoride and other antibacterial agents that help prevent tooth decay.

In different cultures, wooden sticks are used from different plants, especially aromatic plants. These "chewing sticks" have been used for thousands of years. They were found for the first time since ancient Babylonian times (3500 BC), and they were also found in China 1600 BC.

In many places, people use wooden sticks from arak to clean their teeth.

Some studies have shown that using tree branches has the effect of cleaning teeth similar to toothbrushes. But the branches cannot clean the interdental area and if not used properly, they can damage the gums and abrasive teeth.

Finger

In some places, people rub their various substances on their teeth with their fingers . In Muslim countries, for example, people rub walnut bark on their teeth. Walnut bark has antibacterial properties, so they are thought to be able to whiten teeth. However, no scientific research has demonstrated this ability.

Some parts of rural areas in India, Africa, Southeast Asia and South America use brick, mud, salt or ash to clean teeth. Although these materials are capable of removing stains and plaque from teeth, they are non-fluoride and abrasive, leading to sensitive teeth and damage to the gums.

Coal is also thought to be a traditional tooth cleaning powder.

Coal is also thought to be a traditional tooth cleaning powder , which is now widely used. Some types of toothpaste as well as toothbrushes contain this material and studies show they can cling to bacteria and disable it.

But not any natural product can be used. For example, betel and areca are often used by Southeast Asian countries to clean their teeth, but they stain teeth and gums. More dangerous, they increase the likelihood of throat cancer.

Another method of cleaning teeth without a toothbrush and toothpaste is an ancient Ayurvedic method that uses oil . This method uses a small amount of coconut oil, sesame oil, sunflower or olive oil to rinse your mouth for about 15 minutes. This method is thought to be able to clean up bacteria or toxic substances. Some recent studies have shown that using oil to rinse your teeth with regular brushing and flossing can reduce gum disease.

Modern methods

According to the WTO, tooth decay and gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis) are the most common oral diseases in the world. In some cases, these diseases can reduce your risk if you clean your teeth properly and have a healthy diet. In particular, those who do not have proper oral hygiene methods account for a large proportion of people with dental diseases.

Today, modern oral hygiene devices are designed to effectively clean hard-to-reach areas, but only if they are used properly. At the same time, some supplemental methods such as oil gargling can also have a positive impact on your oral health.

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