system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
When I brush my teeth, what's more important—the brushing or the toothpaste?

Which would leave my teeth better off: brushing my teeth with no toothpaste for a year or putting toothpaste on my teeth for a year without brushing?
gpt
Brushing the important part, the mechanical action of the bristles break up the biofilm created by bacteria, loosening up the bacteria so they can be rinsed out and of course clears out food residue that may be stuck in crevices.

If you go without brushing, but just gargle with toothpaste and regular mouth wash you will get substantial buildups of bacteria which cause decoloration, plaque buildup, gingivitis and cavities. Your gums will be very vulnerable as you have no way to clean the crevace between your teeth and gums.

Brushing with just water is very effective, although flouridation has been shown to help as it can kill residual bacteria left after brushing and rinsing.

Many animals and humans in undeveloped societies use fibrous material to help clean teeth, such as fibrous wood, dried fruits or dried animal skins.