Natural Toothbrush Alternative: Using Twigs for Oral Hygiene

If you are out in the woods and realize, while hiking, that you forgot your toothbrush and toothpaste, don't worry: you can still maintain a basic level of dental hygiene using sticks and twigs. Although twigs and sticks offer an acceptable substitute, it's still important to get hold of a normal toothbrush and toothpaste as soon as possible in order to prevent plaque buildup and gum disease. However, while you're using sticks and twigs, you may want to think about what our ancestors did for oral hygiene before the invention of the toothbrush.

Instructions

• 1

  Find a twig that is roughly 3 to 5 mm in diameter. The twig should also be pliable and bendable, indicating that the branch is alive and healthy. If it snaps right off the tree, then the branch is most likely dead . You should discard it as it will crumble in your mouth rather than helping to remove plaque. If you are in an area where black birch, also known as sweet birch, grows, use fresh twigs from its branches; they have a mint-like flavor. Native Americans used black birch twigs to help clean their teeth and freshen their breath.

• 2

  Bite and chew the end of the twig, separating the woody, fibrous material inside the bark. Continue chewing for a couple of minutes.

• 3

  Use the frayed end of the twig as a toothbrush. Use the other end as a pick to clean out the spaces between your teeth and gum lines.

• 4

  Wrap a section of cloth or part of a handkerchief around your finger and scrub your teeth using circular motions.

• 5

  Swish fresh clean water around in your mouth vigorously several times a day to help with cleaning your teeth and dislodging any remaining plaque or food particles between your teeth. If you have salt, use warm saltwater to swish and gargle to prevent further contamination and infection.