In an ideal setting, we would be able to brush out teeth after every meal or after every time we ate sweets. However, we clearly do not live in a world, or have lives that allow this to happen.

As a general rule, you should be brushing your teeth at least twice daily with an American Dental Association-approved toothpaste and toothbrush or after eating sugary substances. Your toothbrush should be replaced every three to four months. The correct technique is to brush for at least two minutes (a minute on the top and a minute on the bottom) in a circular motion, concentrating on the gum line. In addition, you should floss to get between the teeth.

However, this is usually not always possible. Eating out, eating in the car, traveling, and grabbing a bite on the run make it difficult to brush our teeth after we put anything in our mouth. There is good reason to be concerned with keeping teeth clean when brushing isn't a possibility. Sugar and food particles that build up on the teeth turn to an acid that slowly erodes the enamel, leading to decay and painful, costly dental procedures like fillings and even root canals.

If you don't always have access to your toothbrush, here are some tips for keeping your teeth clean when you can't brush:
1.    Chew gum. While it's not as good as brushing, chewing sugar-free gum is actually a good way to clean teeth of plaque and even food particles after eating. It also freshens breath.
2.    Floss. It's not a bad idea to keep some floss in your purse or car. Now, you can buy floss on a little pick that is portable and more convenient to use, so you don't have to worry about pulling out a long thread of floss. Once you're done with the small pick, you just toss it in the trash.
3.    Keep mouthwash on hand. While many mouthwashes are just made to mask the odor, usually for about 30 minutes. A mouthwash that contains ingredients such as cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorhexidine, sanguinarine, and phenolic compounds will work to reduce the bacteria in the mouth, making breath fresher for up to 8 hours or more. In addition, look for a mouthwash with fluoride, an ingredient that will help strengthen the teeth, and anti-tartar agents, which reduce the amount of tartar build-up in your mouth.
4.    Rinse with water. If you don't have access to anything but water, that's fine too - swishing water around in your mouth can also help to clean teeth and remove surface food particles.
5.    Consider using tooth wipes. There are textured tooth wipes you can purchase at the drugstores that work well for cleaning your teeth while you wait to get to a toothbrush. These don't require any liquid; you simply rub them on the surface of your teeth.

Keeping teeth clean is the most important way to prevent tooth decay. But when it's not possible to brush your teeth, the above tips will help you to get your teeth as clean as possible until you can brush them.