Believe it or not, there are other ways to clean your teeth besides the regular combination of toothpaste and toothbrush. Indigenous groups use other techniques to clean their teeth. What are those other techniques? Are they effective? CNN answers those questions as they list these alternative methods, and their effectiveness (backed up by science, of course):
Twigs
Many people in the Middle East, and some parts of South and Southeast Asia, use twigs from the arak tree (known as miswak) to clean their teeth. They fray the end of the twig, dampen the resulting bristles with water or rosewater and then rub the bristles against their teeth
The wood of the arak tree (Salvadora persica) has a high concentration of fluoride and other antimicrobial components that prevent tooth decay. But the sticks can't reach areas between the teeth, and if they aren't used properly, they can damage the gums and abrade the teeth.
Fingers
Some people in rural India, Africa, Southeast Asia and South America use brick powder, mud, salt or ash to clean their teeth. Although these ingredients effectively remove stains and plaque, they don't contain fluoride and are often abrasive, resulting in sensitive teeth and receding gums.
Oil Pulling
A small amount of coconut, sesame, sunflower or olive oil is swirled around the mouth for 15 minutes. This is believed to wash out bacteria and toxins. Oil pulling, when performed along with routine brushing and flossing, can help to reduce gum inflammation, according to recent studies.
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