[Idrees]

I am very lazy when it comes to brushing teeth and don't brush my teeth daily at night and have many fillings in molars. I don't want plaque to be created or any other kind of tooth decay. Can anyone please tell me if I make a mixture of alum i.e. dissolve alum in water and just do mouth gargles (کلی in Urdu) so will this kill germs like bacteria that can damage teeth. If not then is there any easy time saving and cheaper alternative like this so that I only do mouth gargles and there won't be any need of tooth brushing with tooth paste.

I'll be very thankful fot the reply.

[nikosmom]

There is no substitution for brushing.

It's the physical brushing that removes the plaque, not so much about the toothpaste. Toothpaste has fluoride to help strengthen teeth and fight cavities and has other ingredients to lightly "scrub" away plaque.

It only takes a couple minutes to brush your teeth so I don't see how it can be any less time consuming. Brush your teeth while you shower; that'll save you some time if that's your concern.

Some people use baking soda to brush but baking soda can abrade tooth enamel over time so it's really best to stick with a commercial toothpaste. Rinses are just that; they rinse away some particles while exposing your teeth to fluoride. But still not a substitute for brushing.

Think of it this way: do you only want your dishes rinsed or would you like them scrubbed until they are clean?

[Amir1981]

You are too lazy to spend 2 minutes brushing your teeth? I think you are headed for dentures pretty soon!

[flossie]

The only way to remove plaque is mechanically. That means brushing and flossing. Nothing else works.

As for the alum... why would you want to use something that has been found to be one of the causes of Alzheimer's daily??