4 Tips for Cleaning Your Teeth Without a Toothbrush

It's happened to all of us at one time or another. You've just finished lunch and remember you have a meeting that afternoon or perhaps a date with a friend after work. You want to look and feel your best, but you don’t have a toothbrush.

What can you do?

How to clean your teeth without brushing

You know that healthy teeth and gums require regular brushing and flossing.¹ But in a pinch, here are a few things you can try:

1. Eat crunchy vegetables

Gnaw on some fresh celery, carrots, broccoli or cucumbers. These foods can help scrape plaque from your teeth, removing some of the odor-causing bacteria.²

2. Nibble some cheese

Cheese is a saliva maker. The calcium in cheese, and the calcium and phosphates in milk and other dairy products, help put back minerals your teeth might have lost due to other foods. They also help rebuild tooth enamel.³

3. Use mouthwash

If you happen to have some mouthwash handy, you can use it to help freshen your mouth. Just don't use it any longer than recommended because the chemicals may dry out your mouth, which can cause bad breath.⁴

4. Chew sugarless gum

Sugarless chewing gum can help in 2 ways: it can loosen food particles stuck between your teeth; and it helps produce more saliva, which is what your mouth uses to naturally wash away bacteria.⁵

Humana dental insurance plans may be able to help with cavities and tooth decay

If you have a cavity or tooth decay, a dental insurance plan from Humana may be able to help. We offer a broad range of dental plans with varying levels of coverage, many with affordable monthly premiums. Some of our plans also feature no waiting periods, which means you could get covered in about 5 days. To see plans and prices in your area, check out our Humana dental insurance page.