# Can carrots be a substitute for brushing?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-carrots-be-a-substitute-for-brushing/204013>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 26, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-carrots-be-a-substitute-for-brushing/204013 "2003-09-26T17:34:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Fuel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fuel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuel)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-carrots-be-a-substitute-for-brushing/204013/1 "2003-09-26T17:34:27Z")

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Notice I said a substitute, not a replacement (yeah, no flouride ect.)… but let’s say that starting today, every time I go to brush my teeth (twice a day), I eat a raw carrot instead. Long term-wise, will my teeth and gums be just as healthy 40 years down the road?

Also, short term-wise, (never tried this), will it control morning breath, and bad breath in general?

I do know carrots come from a rather odd (poisonous) family of plants, and I do know about that tingly feeling that carrots and celery cause… do these things have something to do with this question?