Absolutely, John. The amount of abrasive in toothpaste is nearly non existant. There was some lawsuit inspired controversy years ago regarding damage to enamel from the addition of abrasives to dentifrice. The levels were found to be totally insignificant. In fact I believe the FDA limits it. Also quite some time ago, a small tribe in Africa was studied since they were almost completely free of dental disease, both decay and periodontal conditions. Their dental health was found to be the result of the practice of using a "chewing stick" all day long. I don't recall the fibrous wood that was used, but as they chewed it, it became a mass of small "bristles" which cleansed the teeth. Occasionally they would grasp the "brush" and supplement the chewing with deliberate brushing. BTW, the toothbrush containers should be soaked weekly in Chlorox solution as done with your brush. Also BTW, salt/baking soda is excellent as a tooth paste substitute. In the long run though, it's the physical action of the bristles that does the job. Regards, Lou I definitely would not advise the use of a chewing stick, however, as, without the proper wood, small fibers could come loose potentially causing damage to the gums.