Your beloved companion, the toothbrush – some people are attached to their cellphones, and others to their laptops, and others are attached to so many other things. However, the most underrated thing almost all people are attached to is their toothbrush. Your toothbrush is something you can not go without.
What will happen if you are traveling to a remote destination with no shops and no online services or couriers or anything that connects you to the modern world, and you lost your toothbrush? How are you going to brush your teeth without a toothbrush?
Imagine if you are stranded on a remote island with no way to replace your beloved toothbrush. Are there ways to clean your teeth without the help of a toothbrush? How did the people of ancient times clean their teeth? How did they cope without toothbrushes? Is it at all possible to clean your teeth if you are not using a toothbrush and toothpaste?
If you were to just think of the possibility that you could not brush your teeth for days to come, the panic of not being able to clean your teeth or even have mouthwash to get rid of the foul taste in your mouth would cause panic.
If you had no way to get rid of the grime clinging to your teeth, that would also be something to panic about! But don’t despair, there are ways to brush your teeth without a toothbrush.
How Did The Ancient People Clean Their Teeth?
In ancient times, people used innovative ways to clean their teeth. Because of their healthier diet, the ancient people did not need to brush their teeth as regularly as we have to today.
There were no such things as chemically loaded food; neither was there the processed food we consume today. Their diet consisted of fresh fruit, vegetables, and high fiber food. The fiber in the food removed the harmful things from their teeth while consuming it.
Unfortunately, the diet of mankind changed, and now we have to clean our teeth on a much more regular basis. This is now our burden for having such a hectic lifestyle. Here are some of the ways the ancient people used to clean their teeth.
The Chew Stick
The chew stick was widely used all over the known world. The chew stick can be tracked back roughly 3,500 years into the history of mankind. The chew stick is just a twig with one side chewed until it is frayed on one end, and that is then used to scrub the teeth clean of grime clinging to the teeth.
Twigs of different trees and plants were used for chew sticks. In India, the neem twig was used for a chew stick. This plant had antibacterial properties and helped to keep the gums healthy. In many other cultures, the twigs from scented plants were used for removing bad smells from the breath. In some countries of the world, the chew stick is still used as a daily routine to clean teeth in rural areas.
Crushed Seashells
Some ancient cultures used crushed seashells to clean their teeth. By making a paste from the crushed seashells and using your finger, a piece of cloth, or even a paper towel, you can scrub your teeth with this seashell paste to remove grime clinging to your teeth. You can even scrub your tongue clean with this seashell paste.
Just be sure to rinse your mouth thoroughly after use of the seashell paste to get rid of the smell that comes with it. If you are close to the sea, you can rinse your mouth with comes, which is rich in minerals, but do not swallow the seawater.
Salt and Lemon Juice
While we are on the subject of salt, you can use salt to scrub your teeth clean, as well. You may just use your finger, like in the case of the seashell paste, or a piece of cloth or paper towel. Salt, together with lemon juice, is quite a good and naturally antibacterial way to clean your teeth.
The salt can serve as a scouring agent, while the natural antibacterial properties of the lemon juice will fight the bacteria on your teeth and in your mouth. That will also leave you with a nice and fresh lemon smell in your mouth. Just make a paste from the salt and lemon juice, and you have a mouth cleaning compound.
Some of these methods are not that bad, but, thankfully, we would only have to follow these steps in the case of an emergency. We still love our toothbrushes.
