Just because you forgot to stash your trusted toothbrush in your suitcase or backpack doesn’t mean that you should allow plaque to have a party in your mouth.

Whether you are camping out with your officemates or sleeping over at your friend’s home, it’s possible to clean your teeth even without a toothbrush around.

Here are some of the smartest steps that you may take if you want to brush your teeth without a toothbrush:

Chew Gum

Popping your favorite chewing gum in your mouth can help clean your teeth because it encourages the production of saliva that can flush out food particles and bacteria.

Definitely, it’s a good idea for you to opt for sugarless gum — otherwise, you will only provide microbes in your mouth with something that they love to feast on.

But that’s okay if it’s just regular gum that you have access to. All you have to do is thoroughly rinse your mouth with water afterwards to remove sugar left behind.

Grab a Paper Towel

Reach for a piece of paper towel and wrap it around your index finger — you just made yourself a makeshift toothbrush that you can use to clean your pearly whites with.

Start rubbing that paper towel-wrapped fingertip of yours on each of your chompers. Unwrap and wrap a clean section around your finger and brush again.

If the paper towel around is rough and stiff, it’s a good idea for you to place a drop of water or two on it to help save your gums from becoming scratched or irritated.

Use Baking Soda

If there’s a box of baking soda that’s accessible, then there is no need to worry if you have no toothbrush around — it’s something that can get the job done really, really well.

All you have to do is dampen 1/3 of your index finger with water and dunk it in baking soda and start scrubbing away. Sprinkle more baking soda on your index finger as necessary.

Or you may also simply dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and use it as mouthwash. Just try your best not to swallow any of it!

Count on Oil Pulling

Put simply, oil pulling is swishing oil in your mouth. Actually, it comes straight from India as a part of a really old traditional form of healing called Ayurveda.

To clean your teeth via oil pulling, all you have to do is place a teaspoon of any vegetable oil that you can find, be it coconut oil, olive oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil or almond oil.

Swish the oil of your choice in your mouth for a couple of minutes — it’s said to lift bacteria and plaque from your mouth, flushing them out the moment that you spit the oil out.

Try a Twig

If you’re in the great outdoors, then you have easy access to a super nifty replacement for a toothbrush, and that’s a twig from a bush or tree that you can find around.

However, the right twig for the job is a green one and not something that can be used as firewood. Chew on one end until the fibers become frayed, and use it to brush your teeth with.

Just make sure that the bush or tree that you are getting a green twig from is not the poisonous kind! If you’re with someone who is well-versed with plants, don’t be too shy to ask.

Can you think of other ways to clean the teeth without a toothbrush around? If so, feel free to share some of them in the comments section below so that others may try them, too!