How to brush your teeth without toothpaste?

You've run out of toothpaste, but it's too late to go shopping. As there is no question of doing without cleaning your teeth.

How to brush your teeth without toothpaste? Or how to replace the toothpaste, when you forgot your toothpaste, while traveling for example? We tell you everything!

Brush your teeth with water

If you really don't have anything on hand, because you are bivouacking in the wild, it is always better to brush your teeth with water than to do nothing. Although water doesn't clean like toothpaste, it does help you remove food debris and get rid of most plaque.

Use your hydropulper

If you have a hydropulper, it will help you out. You can use pure water or mix it with a mouthwash solution. The water jet helps to dislodge food residues on the teeth, as well as in the interdental spaces. It will allow you to get rid of plaque without even using toothpaste.

The hydropulper is especially recommended for people who wear braces. Rings tend to hold more food debris and water pressure is the most effective way to dislodge it.

Sea salt

Sea salt is a very effective substitute for toothpaste. It contains minerals that strengthen the gums (calcium, magnesium, silicon, phosphorus, sodium, nickel and iron) and its iodine has antibacterial properties. The salt neutralizes the acids that contribute to cavities and eradicates plaque before it has a chance to turn into tartar.

If the salt stings, you can dissolve it in a small amount of water beforehand.

Bicarbonate of soda

Baking soda is often used as a teeth whitening method. It has an abrasive aspect that allows to scour the surface of the teeth, with a disinfecting effect. Wet your brush and use a small amount of powder. You can also dilute it in a small amount of water.

Baking soda is particularly alkaline, which allows it to neutralize acids and get rid of bacteria that weigh down your breath.

This is a temporary solution, however, as you should not overuse abrasive powders that could damage your tooth enamel.

The other alternatives

Depending on the products you have, you can use other commonly used products.

• Soap helps to disinfect your mouth. Simply moisten your toothbrush and rub it over the soap. Test with moderation, because soaps sometimes have a strong taste that you may not like.

• Some oils have an antibacterial and fungicidal effect, in addition to being pleasant to the mouth. You can use coconut, olive or grape seed oil. Brush your teeth thoroughly after dipping your brush in a bowl of oil.

• If you don't have toothpaste or a toothbrush, you can only use mouthwash. You can use the oils previously mentioned. Swish the oil around in your mouth and spit it out.

• Ripe strawberries have a purifying effect. Mash a strawberry and use the mush as toothpaste. You will have the pleasure of taste and beautiful white teeth.

• Use siwak. Siwak roots are a very old method of brushing teeth, since the first traces of them were found over 4000 years ago. It involves using the root of the Salvadora persica shrub, which goes by various names, including arak wood. These roots are made up of fibers composed of silicas and sodium bicarbonates that scrape the surface of the teeth. They also have welcome antiseptic properties for brushing teeth. Simply remove the bark at the end of the arak stick and chew it to clean your teeth.

Make your own toothpaste

If you have several ingredients, you can make your own toothpaste. The recipes are diverse and it can be a permanent substitute for your daily industrial toothpaste, contrary to the proposals mentioned above which are only a stopgap solution.

To get the functionality of a toothpaste, you need:

• a product that cleans: powdered soap for example;
• an abrasive additive that will loosen plaque, such as baking soda;
• an emulsifier that allows to aggregate the ingredients: gum arabic works very well;
• a natural aroma for breath: a few drops of peppermint or lemon essential oil, according to your taste.

Mix these ingredients by heating them slightly until you obtain a smooth and homogeneous paste.