A use-once 1/2" slab of sticky clayey stuff in a cellophane pouch. You peel off the wrapper then bite down into the slab until your teeth are fully embedded. The heat/saliva/something* of your bite activates the clay, which then sets quickly to a rubbery solid. You unclench your teeth, leaving the germs, plaque, and last remnants of yesterday's supper behind on the slab.

The precise chemical makeup of the slab obviously needs some research, but I am confident we can find something in the lab.
-- DrCurry, Mar 04 2004

A close-up picture of plaque http://www.doctorsp...com/Gum_Disease.htm
Take a gander at the little cartoon about halfway down. [NotTheSharpestSpoon, Mar 19 2006]

// leaving the germs, plaque, and // all of your fillings
-- Worldgineer, Mar 04 2004


Hmmm... I've had a similar experience at my friendly local orthodontist, only it was blue waxy stuff.
-- spacecadet, Mar 04 2004


What if you substituted epoxy for clay, so your teeth were left behind? Teeth! They’re just havens for bacteria anyway.
-- ldischler, Mar 04 2004


any idea that prevents me ending up with toothpaste drying out in my goatie is good. problem i can see is the gag reflex
-- engineer1, Mar 05 2004


I also remember that gunk ,when you were dragged by the legs by your mother to the dentist, i thought i was being put down, that stuff was disgusting.A mouth full of orange goo solidifying your dental gateway.I would gladly eat clay.(good clean teeth though)
-- skinflaps, Mar 05 2004


Hmm. Well it's a good idea, but clay being clay, it won't really be as effective...I mean, dude, what if the clay gets stuck in between your teeth? Braces, et cetera? And besides, people are going to constantly need a slab, sooo...it's not the most economical dental cleaner ya know. I think travellers would use these, but only if it would be widely available so that they can get it anywhere.
-- knees, Mar 19 2006


Detailers clay?
-- bristolz, Mar 19 2006


And it doesn't have to be limited to only one use. See [bristolz]' "Butt Flicking Clay" idea for a secondary application that will allow you to recycle the original product after use as a teeth cleanser. Perhaps the neutral clay will also help alleviate smoker's breath.
-- jurist, Mar 19 2006


I think plaque builds up in layers. So while the clay would remove the top layer, you would have to do it a couple of times to get down to the bare tooth. Never mind that you would also be shoving quite a bit of gunk into your gums whenever you chomped down.

Now, if you used clay with nanobots in it, th-

<sign> We are sorry, we are experiencing technical difficulties. This anno will not be continued due to forbidden thoughts. Sorry for the inconvenience. <sign>
-- NotTheSharpestSpoon, Mar 19 2006


This would work better if the clay were really runny, then set up. Sort of like that "cement mixer" bar trick with irish creme and rose's lime. That way the stuff could flow between teeth, then when it set up .... err, it would probably remain between teeth, wouldn't it?
-- bungston, Mar 19 2006



random, halfbakery