Ever heard of brushing teeth with no toothpaste?

[threeboysmom]

Wow. The things you learn on the DIS Boards, lol.

I never knew. Don't think I could give up toothpaste entirely - I like the "freshness" it gives me, but I do have to admit that dry brushing sounds like it would be more beneficial to the gums...

Maybe I'll brush dry first, then follow up with another brushing with toothpaste, lol.

 

[lustergirl]

We use Colgate and I love the minty after taste.

 

[willowsnn3]

I read long ago that it was the brushing that helps, not the paste.
I cannot stand the foam of toothpaste. I hate to see commercials/tv/movies with someone brushing their teeth and all that foam. I gag just watching it, lol. Brushing teeth should be a private affair IMO....
I brush my teeth with water first, then floss, then use a teeny bit of toothpaste to brush again. But really prefer to use baking soda.

That being said, did you know back in the 'olden' days people chewed on the end of a twig to soften it and then used that to brush their teeth with?

 

[bookgirl]

I've had a few dentists in the past tell me it's the brushing and tongue scrapping that matter. Toothpaste just tastes minty and makes your brain feel better. So brushing your teeth correctly with no toothpaste is better than brushing incorrectly with paste .

However if you use it for the other ingredients (fluoride, teeth whitening, sensitivity, gingivitis care, etc) then I think it might be more important.

I do use a complete care toothpaste but I use very very little.

And count me as a paste not a gel user. I hate the slimy gel feel in my mouth. Kind of put it up there with chia seeds and tapioca pudding.

 

[NHdisneylover]

That being said, did you know back in the 'olden' days people chewed on the end of a twig to soften it and then used that to brush their teeth with?

My grandmother talks about doing this as a girl. Her dad was a sharecropper and they were very poor.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

For those of you, like myself, who love the minty and foamy feeling try Aquafresh Extreme Clean. It's amazing.

 

[Lilliputian]

I've never heard of anybody intentionally not using toothpaste, but I'm not surprised that it works. I've had to do it a few times. I'm allergic to a lot of toothpastes, so if I end up separated from my own, personal toothpaste, I can't use any. They don't sell something I can use in regular stores, much less hotel gift shops. I'm always surprised with how clean I can get my teeth without toothpaste, and even my breath seems to improve.

I've heard dentists say that toothpaste makes your mouth feel clean before it is, so even though toothpaste does clean a little bit if you brush the same amount of time dry vs. toothpaste, most people end up with cleaner mouths without toothpaste. I use a toothbrush with a 2 minute timer, though, so I know I brush long enough.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I have never heard of it either (besides the baking soda thing). It can actually believe that toothpaste is more of a luxury than necessity though. Personally I like my toothpaste, but that's just me. My favorite is that stuff that comes in a squeeze bottle instead of a tube.

 

[dolphinrescuegirl]

I don't brush without paste, but my understanding is that toothpaste isn't a necessity. The brushing itself is the important part. I personally dislike the taste of toothpaste (mint)...really who decided that toothpaste had to be MINT flavored?? blech. Mint ruins the taste of anything else you put in your mouth for a good hour or two. But I use it and deal with it.

I feel the same which is why I use cinnamon flavored toothpaste. I even take my tube to the dentist so they don't use the nasty mint kind to polish.

 

[Carina]

I can't stand a mint that is TOO strong and like, burns....

Have you thought about trying some kids toothpaste?

My oldest buys crest toothpaste in orange flavor for her teeth. She says she can eat anything afterwards and not have it taste funny

 

[U2_rocks!]

My oldest buys crest toothpaste in orange flavor for her teeth. She says she can eat anything afterwards and not have it taste funny

That would never work for me - I like that I don't feel like eating anything after I brush my teeth - cuts down on snacking!

 

[trishwal]

I've heard of people brushing with baking soda instead of toothpaste. But I've never heard of anyone brushing their teeth with nothing. I swear, the things I hear at work really baffle my mind sometimes. LOL

Got into a discussion at work yesterday about what kinds of toothpaste/mouthwash everyone uses. There were literally 3 people who said that they use nothing to brush their teeth. Sometimes they just brush their teeth with a dry toothbrush (daily, not just if they have something on their teeth) or they'll wet their toothbrush with just water and then brush. I'm like

Hey, whatever works for them....

But can your teeth get clean without using some kind of toothpaste (or baking soda, etc) and what about your breath? Wouldn't it be nasty after a while?

I guess this one really threw me for a loop. I had never heard of such a thing. Just wondering what you think? And while we're at it, what kind of toothpaste (if any ) do you use? We used to use Aqua Fresh for the longest time and now have used Colgate for many years.

As a dental hygienist, yes, you can get your teeth clean without toothpaste. Here's the article that gets to the heart of why we have so many misconceptions about what toothpaste does:

http://www.dentalbuzz.com/2014/12/30/toothpaste-can-do-more-harm-than-good/


Good luck!

 

[PeterPanic]

I used to work with a guy that was convinced that all he had to do was floss everyday and that brushing wasn't necessary. He didn't have any dental problems and was convinced that this was the reason. What no one seemed willing to tell him is that he had breath issues that would stop a herd of warthogs.

I have used Aquafresh for years because they have had a "Pump" type of dispenser. I truly hate the squeeze tubes. I have just noticed recently that they no longer use the pump for adult toothpaste. They do still make it for kids toothpaste, which is bubblegum flavor. Guess what I use now. I just take the label off that says for kids and no one knows that is what I do. I'm happy because otherwise I would have to switch to the squeeze thingy. I hate the squeeze thingy. I've probably mentioned that already.

 

[aprilgail2]

My oldest buys crest toothpaste in orange flavor for her teeth. She says she can eat anything afterwards and not have it taste funny

why would you eat after brushing your teeth- sort of defeats the purposed of brushing- wouldn't you then have to brush again since you ate after brushing??

 

[OceanAnnie]

I've never heard of brushing with no toothpaste. I don't mind toothpaste.

Your post reminds me of something I read the other day. There is also a "no poo" thing going (weird name for "no shampoo"), where people use only baking soda to wash their hair. I think that's been around to a degree for a long time, but the name is newish. I thought it was interesting. I think people are attracted to it because they are against so many chemicals in products. I don't see anything wrong with it. I use shampoo, probably too much of it.

 

[Hutchy]

I feel the same which is why I use cinnamon flavored toothpaste. I even take my tube to the dentist so they don't use the nasty mint kind to polish.

That's funny because cinnamon makes me gaggy and just the smell gives me a head ache. I had to get them to add it to my chart at the Dentist so they would stop trying to use the cinnamon cleaner on me.

 

[marlynnp]

why would you eat after brushing your teeth- sort of defeats the purposed of brushing- wouldn't you then have to brush again since you ate after brushing??

You don't brush your teeth when you wake up? bleccchhh!

 

[aprilgail2]

You don't brush your teeth when you wake up? bleccchhh!

I brush my teeth, shower, go to work and eat breakfast there and brush again

 

[Callie]

I use to hate brushing my teeth for a short period as a kid. Not sure why, think I was lazy or just being a rebellion. I don't think it had anything to do with toothpaste!

Once or twice if I'm in a pinch, and need a quick clean, I brush without paste. It gets the gritty feeling gone.

But man, toothpaste seems to last me forever, and I brush twice a day! It's like I can't get rid of it.