There is no doubt that our teeth play a very important role in our daily life. Nobody is born with teeth, but that was okay because we didn’t need to chew back then anyway. Caring for our teeth becomes our responsibility throughout our lives. So as we get older, we may lose our teeth as a result of poor care we have had until then, or due to other conditions. This situation is quite common and, of course, challenging. But don’t let your guard down because oral care isn’t just about dental health. Maintaining oral hygiene with no teeth is also crucial for both your oral and overall health.
Do you need to maintain an oral hygiene routine even if you don't have teeth?
Oral hygiene when you have no teeth might sound a little unnecessary. But we assure you that it is just as important as dental care. Don’t forget that we have many other things in our mouths that are important for oral health. So, the answer is, yes! Even if you don’t have teeth, you still need to maintain an oral hygiene routine. This routine will prevent infection and many other oral health issues.
Especially age-related dental health issues. Because as you get older, you are more likely to develop periodontal diseases. And if you’re experiencing complete tooth loss, here’s a suggestion for you. Be mindful of the nutritional values of the foods you eat. It is possible that you prefer soft foods that can be chewed more easily. But over time, this can cause nutritional deficiencies. In order not to experience these, it is essential to have daily oral hygiene care and regular check-ups.
What are the tools you need for your oral hygiene routine?
Cleaning your mouth when you don’t have teeth is different than when you do. You should use special tools that are gentler in your mouth. But what are the tools you need for your oral hygiene routine? First of all, let’s start with brushing. Look for an extra soft toothbrush that has an easy grip or a long handle. Besides these specially designed toothbrushes, you can get an electric brush with a pressure sensor for sensitive gums.
Since we can’t do the brushing by itself, we also need to talk about which toothpaste you should use with no teeth. Some kinds of toothpaste have moisturizing effects so they can help with dry mouth. However, you should avoid whitening kinds of toothpaste as they can be abrasive. As for fluoride toothpaste, it’s usually for preventing tooth decay but there’s no harm in using it even if you don’t have teeth. It’ll protect you from gum diseases. But if you already have gingivitis, you should get toothpaste with anti-gingivitis properties.
Have you ever heard of an oral irrigator before? You might be familiar with it. It looks like the scary-sounding water-spraying pipe your dentist uses. So it’s kind of a flosser tool. The oral irrigator can reach most parts of your mouth because it sprays water through its pipe-like tip. This can make oral hygiene care for elders with no teeth easier.
Cleaning your tongue and rinsing will also help. A tongue scraper will get rid of harmful bacteria on your tongue. It is also a good idea to choose a scraper for sensitive mouths. As for mouthwash, you can choose an alcohol-free or an antibacterial one so it’s gentle on your gums. If you don’t have one around, a warm saltwater rinse can also be a temporary solution.
Step-by-step on how to maintain oral hygiene without teeth
Now you know what oral hygiene tools people with no teeth should use in their oral hygiene care. Don’t forget that how and in what order they should be used is just as important as these tools. Here’s a step-by-step guide to your routine:
- Cleaning your mouth: Start by brushing the gums and the roof of your mouth. It prevents bacteria growth and helps with blood circulation. When you stimulate your gums regularly, your gum tissue will also remain healthy. But you shouldn’t apply the same pressure to the gums as you do to the teeth. Make sure to apply light pressure. A soft-bristled brush works well. Be gentle and use circular motions when brushing. If you have dentures or a bridge, it’s a good idea to clean and dry them after meals. There might be some food residue left there as well as bacteria. You should do this before and after you put the dentures in your mouth.
- Tongue-scraping: This is an important step for toothless people. Think about the times when you have your pearls. Even then it was important to clean your tongue. But now because you have no teeth, your tongue gets exposed to the food particles directly. This means you can suffer from a white tongue and bad breath more frequently. So it won’t be so wise to skip this step. Just like the toothbrush step, don’t forget to be gentle with it.
- Rinsing: After you clean your mouth properly, rinse with a gentle mouthwash. But if you’re going to use an over-the-counter mouth rinse, make sure it’s non-alcoholic. You can go for an antibacterial one also. Or your dentist might prescribe a fluoride rinse which you should use according to the given instructions.
- See your dentist regularly: Regular dental check-ups are a must regardless of whether you have teeth or not. You may have the onset of gum disease or other oral diseases that you are unaware of. A dental professional can spot early signs o gum diseases. It’s always better to have an early diagnosis. In this way, it’ll be easier to prevent the disease from progressing.
Oral hygiene for pearly pink gums
Now you know what oral hygiene tools people with no teeth should use in their oral hygiene care. Don’t forget that how and in what order they should be used is just as important as these tools. Here’s a step-by-step guide to your routine:
- Cleaning your mouth: Start by brushing the gums and the roof of your mouth. It prevents bacteria growth and helps with blood circulation. When you stimulate your gums regularly, your gum tissue will also remain healthy. But you shouldn’t apply the same pressure to the gums as you do to the teeth. Make sure to apply light pressure. A soft-bristled brush works well. Be gentle and use circular motions when brushing. If you have dentures or a bridge, it’s a good idea to clean and dry them after meals. There might be some food residue left there as well as bacteria. You should do this before and after you put the dentures in your mouth.
- Tongue-scraping: This is an important step for toothless people. Think about the times when you have your pearls. Even then it was important to clean your tongue. But now because you have no teeth, your tongue gets exposed to the food particles directly. This means you can suffer from a white tongue and bad breath more frequently. So it won’t be so wise to skip this step. Just like the toothbrush step, don’t forget to be gentle with it.
- Rinsing: After you clean your mouth properly, rinse with a gentle mouthwash. But if you’re going to use an over-the-counter mouth rinse, make sure it’s non-alcoholic. You can go for an antibacterial one also. Or your dentist might prescribe a fluoride rinse which you should use according to the given instructions.
- See your dentist regularly: Regular dental check-ups are a must regardless of whether you have teeth or not. You may have the onset of gum disease or other oral diseases that you are unaware of. A dental professional can spot early signs o gum diseases. It’s always better to have an early diagnosis. In this way, it’ll be easier to prevent the disease from progressing.
Oral hygiene for vividly pink tongue
Let’s just say it, some people might overlook tongue cleaning. But in order to have a healthy mouth the tongue cleaning part is a must. Especially if you don’t have teeth. You should clean your tongue at least once a day. The best tool you can use for this is a tongue scraper. It gently cleanses the surface of your tongue and is easy to use. This way you will get rid of the food and bacteria buildup, prevent bad breath and get a vividly pink tongue.
Apart from a tongue scraper, you can also use an alcohol–free, antibacterial, or antiseptic mouthwash. An antiseptic mouthwash is a good option as they are good at preventing infection and maintaining good tongue health.
Will oil pulling work if you don't have teeth?
Yes, you can do oil pulling even if you don’t have teeth. You will benefit from it as it is used as a mouth-cleaning tool and can restore your oral biome to a healthy state. In one study, 75 patients performed oil pulling with sesame oil. After 15 days, the harmful bacteria decreased. (1). Another similar study was conducted on 60 patients with mouthwash and oil pulling with coconut oil. As a result of both cleanings, the number of bacteria in the saliva decreased (2). There is even a study done on children. 20 children rinsed with chlorhexidine or sesame oil. Sesame oil was as effective as chlorhexidine in reducing the level of microorganisms causing bad breath. (3).
However, despite these studies, there is not much scientific evidence that oil pulling is beneficial even for people with teeth. Although most people say it’s good for bad breath, relieves their mouth, and even reduces sinus problems, more research is needed to be done anyway.
1. Sharath A, Vadhana Vc, Geethapriya P, Vijayasankari V. Effect of sesame oil, ozonated sesame oil, and chlorhexidine mouthwash on oral health status of adolescents: A randomized controlled pilot trial. Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry. 2019;37(4):365. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/jisppd.jisppd_244_19
2. LNU R, Kaushik M, Reddy P, Udameshi P, Mehra N, Marwaha A. The Effect of Coconut Oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans Count in Saliva in Comparison with Chlorhexidine Mouthwash. The Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice. 2016;17(1):38-41. doi:https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1800
3. Asokan S, Emmadi P, Sivakumar N, Kumar Rs, Raghuraman R. Effect of oil pulling on halitosis and microorganisms causing halitosis: A randomized controlled pilot trial. Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry. 2011;29(2):90. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/0970-4388.84678