Hesperian Health Guides
Clean Your Teeth Every Day
HealthWiki > Where There Is No Dentist > Chapter 1: Your Own Teeth and Gums > Clean Your Teeth Every Day
Bits of food stay longer in grooves and “hiding places.” This is where both tooth and gum problems start.
on top
the teeth
To prevent problems you must take special care to keep these protected places clean.
It is better to clean your teeth carefully once every day than to clean poorly many times a day.
Use a soft brush to clean your teeth. Buy one from the store (be sure it says soft on the package), or make a brush yourself. To make a brush:
| 1. Use a small branch of young bamboo, strong grass, or the skin from sugar cane or betel nut. | 2. Cut a piece that is still green and soft. |
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| 3. Chew one end to make it stringy like a brush. |
4. Sharpen the other end so it can clean between the teeth. |
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You can twist the fiber from inside a coconut husk into a kind of brush. First rub it and shake away the loose bits. Then use the end to clean your teeth.
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Whatever kind of brush you use, be sure to clean your back teeth as well as your front teeth. Scrub the tops and sides where the grooves are. Then push the hairs between the teeth and scrub.
| Toothpaste is not necessary. Charcoal or even just water is enough. When your teeth are clean, rinse away the loose pieces of food. |
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