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What do you do to keep up your oral health? Do you make a point of brush and floss every day? If so, good for you—but what would you do if you found your toothpaste tube empty one day and weren’t able to get more right away? As you can probably guess, you shouldn’t just avoid brushing. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do in a pinch.

Mouthwash is one option you should consider. As you may know, mouthwash can fight off cavities, bad breath, gingivitis, and even wash away food particles. However, please remember that, while using mouthwash is better than nothing, please don’t plan on replacing brushing.

However, do you know what you would do if you didn’t have toothpaste or mouthwash? Did you know that hydrogen peroxide could be an option you should consider? You see, if you mix equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and water, you can use it just like mouthwash. However, please do not swallow any of this solution. If you aren’t comfortable with this option, you can also consider brushing with baking powder on your toothpaste.

Similarly, chewing gum and certain herbs can help. You see, chewing gum promotes saliva, which carries away bad bacteria and bad food particles. If you are worried about using gum, please consider using mint, rosemary, sage, and thyme instead. Still, please remember that none of these options will work as well as using toothpaste.

Finally, to enjoy a healthy smile, please remember to visit a dentist once every six months for a routine cleaning and checkup. If you would like to learn more, or are interested in scheduling an appointment with Dr. Laurin Cardwell, please don’t hesitate to contact Cardwell Family Dentistry at 828-631-3567. We will gladly answer any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you soon.