fresh feeling mouth WITHOUT brushing teeth or chewing gum?
August 19, 2016 7:58 AM Subscribe
How can I get a fresh clean feeling in my mouth without brushing my teeth or chewing gum?
I'm an over-brusher. Left to my own devices I'd probably brush my teeth into early death. I need to stop. The problem is I need a clean and fresh feeling in my mouth for my brain to realize meal time is over (otherwise I keep reaching for food). I eat pretty often, so sugarless mint chewing gum (my substitute for brushing) is off the table because the amount I need is crazy (and probably not very healthy).
I'm looking for alternative ways to get the taste and feel of a clean and brushed mouth. Know any?
Things I already do/try - rinsing my mouth, drinking water, eating a carrot/apple (really good at eating here).
BTW I'm open to exotic suggestions (like brushing my teeth with licorice roots) , chewing leaves (which?) and drinking herbal tea (which?).
I'm an over-brusher. Left to my own devices I'd probably brush my teeth into early death. I need to stop. The problem is I need a clean and fresh feeling in my mouth for my brain to realize meal time is over (otherwise I keep reaching for food). I eat pretty often, so sugarless mint chewing gum (my substitute for brushing) is off the table because the amount I need is crazy (and probably not very healthy).
I'm looking for alternative ways to get the taste and feel of a clean and brushed mouth. Know any?
Things I already do/try - rinsing my mouth, drinking water, eating a carrot/apple (really good at eating here).
BTW I'm open to exotic suggestions (like brushing my teeth with licorice roots) , chewing leaves (which?) and drinking herbal tea (which?).
Water pic + mouth wash.
posted by Obscure Reference at 8:00 AM on August 19, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Obscure Reference at 8:00 AM on August 19, 2016 [6 favorites]
Closys Alcohol Free Mouthwash
posted by andrewzipp at 8:03 AM on August 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by andrewzipp at 8:03 AM on August 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
Have you tried the disposable mini-brushes like the Colgate Wisp?
The bristles are super soft, and the little mint pearl is strong enough to assuage my garlic breath in a pretty short amount of time.
They are an environmental disaster, and if overbrushing is a problem for you, even these soft bristles might not help. But I like them.
posted by sparklemotion at 8:05 AM on August 19, 2016 [2 favorites]
The bristles are super soft, and the little mint pearl is strong enough to assuage my garlic breath in a pretty short amount of time.
They are an environmental disaster, and if overbrushing is a problem for you, even these soft bristles might not help. But I like them.
posted by sparklemotion at 8:05 AM on August 19, 2016 [2 favorites]
You could eat a small handful of herbs: mint, tarragon, cilantro, etc. Persians typically have a platter of herbs (called sabzi) on the table to munch with the meal, but it seems like it would be a perfect (and benign/healthy) way for you to signal the end of a meal in a fresh way.
Also, you could put mint leaves in tea, which is also a fresh feeling. It's typically added to black tea, but plain hot water or herbal tea would work as well.
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 8:14 AM on August 19, 2016 [5 favorites]
Also, you could put mint leaves in tea, which is also a fresh feeling. It's typically added to black tea, but plain hot water or herbal tea would work as well.
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 8:14 AM on August 19, 2016 [5 favorites]
Peppermint herbal tea.
posted by erst at 8:14 AM on August 19, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by erst at 8:14 AM on August 19, 2016 [6 favorites]
I have gone through phases of being borderline addicted to these essential-oil-infused toothpicks. They are EXACTLY what you want! You can get these in any hippie grocery store. The mint ones would be perfect for you, though I usually go for the cinnamon ones. You just put them in your mouth and suck or chew on them for a minute. No sugar whatsoever. (And unlike the 'tea' or 'mouthwash' suggestions you can just carry them in your pocket and pop one in your mouth whenever, like with gum.)
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:15 AM on August 19, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:15 AM on August 19, 2016 [10 favorites]
Mint tea?
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:17 AM on August 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:17 AM on August 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
What about a single sugarless mint?
I'd also nth trying mouthwashes, especially some of the fizzing ones. If you can train your brain to associate the fizzing sensation as the meal being over, that might help.
posted by Candleman at 8:31 AM on August 19, 2016
I'd also nth trying mouthwashes, especially some of the fizzing ones. If you can train your brain to associate the fizzing sensation as the meal being over, that might help.
posted by Candleman at 8:31 AM on August 19, 2016
I use a lot of mouthwash, but it doesn't really work that great.
There exists mint-flavored water.
posted by kevinbelt at 8:32 AM on August 19, 2016
There exists mint-flavored water.
posted by kevinbelt at 8:32 AM on August 19, 2016
Sugar free cough drops. Chewing on cloves/herbs (fresh thyme or parsley). Altoids. A little finger scrubby thing?
posted by jessamyn at 8:35 AM on August 19, 2016
posted by jessamyn at 8:35 AM on August 19, 2016
I carry mint-teatree toothpicks around with me, and pop one in my mouth when doing so is not rude. Feels pretty fresh.
posted by dis_integration at 8:44 AM on August 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by dis_integration at 8:44 AM on August 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
I wipe the outside of my teeth on paper napkins (sometimes the edge of my towel when I'm in the bathroom) and it always makes my mouth feel fresher.
posted by terretu at 8:53 AM on August 19, 2016
posted by terretu at 8:53 AM on August 19, 2016
Are you sure you are asking the right question?
1) How do I get a clean feeling in my mouth?
2) How do I stop compulsive munching (which I currently do via the clean feeling in my mouth?)
posted by srboisvert at 9:02 AM on August 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
1) How do I get a clean feeling in my mouth?
2) How do I stop compulsive munching (which I currently do via the clean feeling in my mouth?)
posted by srboisvert at 9:02 AM on August 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
If you want to try another fruit, I like a couple of strawberries much more than an apple or orange for this.
posted by a sourceless light at 9:07 AM on August 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by a sourceless light at 9:07 AM on August 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
A single xylitol mint is tiny and it helps combat mouth dryness, which if you have it is contributing to the non-fresh feeling. My sister's dentist told her to use these after eating.
posted by BibiRose at 9:16 AM on August 19, 2016
posted by BibiRose at 9:16 AM on August 19, 2016
For home and out-and-about, GUM soft picks. For me they can dislodge a bunch of dubiously smelling stuff from between my teeth. Rinse out mouth after use.
For home - a tongue scraper! Seriously. For example.
posted by carter at 10:33 AM on August 19, 2016
For home - a tongue scraper! Seriously. For example.
posted by carter at 10:33 AM on August 19, 2016
A traditional mouth freshener is cardomom, the green kind. You can carry around a few pods, and open one or two as needed to pop out and chew the seeds. Very strong flavor.
posted by cacao at 11:12 AM on August 19, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by cacao at 11:12 AM on August 19, 2016 [2 favorites]
Like cardamom, a few fennel seeds make a decent post-meal mouth-refreshing chew. Same with a thin slice of raw ginger.
You should probably avoid "eating" a small amount of toothpaste, if you're using a fluoridated variety. But when I'm in a rush I, too, squeeze a bit of toothpaste on my index finger, give my mouth a finger swirl, then spit.
I'm a big post-meal tea drinker (and I do this to help me avoid compulsively snacking). Beyond mint, I like peppery-gingery teas and teas with licorice in the mix. It's got a pleasant slippery mouthfeel that hits that "clean mouth" button.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 11:28 AM on August 19, 2016 [2 favorites]
You should probably avoid "eating" a small amount of toothpaste, if you're using a fluoridated variety. But when I'm in a rush I, too, squeeze a bit of toothpaste on my index finger, give my mouth a finger swirl, then spit.
I'm a big post-meal tea drinker (and I do this to help me avoid compulsively snacking). Beyond mint, I like peppery-gingery teas and teas with licorice in the mix. It's got a pleasant slippery mouthfeel that hits that "clean mouth" button.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 11:28 AM on August 19, 2016 [2 favorites]
Flavored floss.
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:57 PM on August 19, 2016
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:57 PM on August 19, 2016
How about either Lush Toothy Tabs or these new fizzy mouthwash tabs they're coming out with?
Mmm, I need more Toothy Tabs.
posted by fiercecupcake at 12:58 PM on August 19, 2016
Mmm, I need more Toothy Tabs.
posted by fiercecupcake at 12:58 PM on August 19, 2016
Gently brush your tongue. If you're worried that you'd be too rough, get a children's toothbrush.
posted by annaramma at 4:00 PM on August 19, 2016
posted by annaramma at 4:00 PM on August 19, 2016
Brush-Ups (I'm not familiar with this specific brand but have used similar)
posted by lakeroon at 10:54 PM on August 20, 2016
posted by lakeroon at 10:54 PM on August 20, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
Like, I think mouth wash would do you real well here.
posted by phunniemee at 7:59 AM on August 19, 2016 [9 favorites]