On a related note:

http://magicsoapbox.com/doc/?page_id=12

I love the background music.

Save spaceship earth and keep good hygiene at the same time!

I carry a 1oz container of Dr B's peppermint and brush with it all the time both on the trail and on ultralight commando-style business trips. I also carry 2oz of baking soda + salt.

Just rinse well and no whining.

-Tim-

A while back I bought a bottle each of eucalyptus and peppermint Dr. Bs. When packing for a trip I wasn't paying attention and packed my eucalyptus flavor in to my misc. stuffsack when I meant to pack peppermint to test it as a toothpaste. Needless to say, to avoid temptation I didn't pack my normal toothpaste when trying this alternative.

The taste was bad, but bearable; the foamy/soapy mouth was bad, but bearable. I didn't experience an aftertaste after I drank what I believe was a small can of Spicy V-8 (a decent semi-lightweight beverage by the way, about 4 ozs in, 0.75 oz out, and plenty of sodium, vitamins, and nutrients to start a long day).

My major disappoint was that my mouth didn't really feel clean after using it. Sure, it felt better than it did before I brushed, but I don't feel it accomplished anymore than just brushing with a wet toothbrush. This could have, of course, been the effect of being used to the freshness we all feel after brushing with toothpaste.

Ever since then I've just packed my usual travel sized toothpaste bottle; I can spare a couple of ounces.

Why not keep 1 package of baking powder and 1 package of peppermint leaf powder. Mix them together and you have peppermint tooth powder.

Baking soda can be used in its other practical capacities and the peppermint has several beneficial herbal applications such as a muscle rub.

Tooth powder in travel packs

*Note* I have not ordered from that particular vendor, theirs was simply the first result my search pulled for reference.

Edited by kspendley@mindspring.com on 06/19/2009 13:40:51 MDT.

I use the scentless Bronners both on the trail AND at home for brushing my teeth. I'm not bothered at all by the slightly soapy taste.

I don't understand. Why are people using Dr. Bronners, or tooth powder, salt, or baking soda, instead of dried toothpaste dots? Dried kernels of toothpaste taste good, don't require you to buy anything, and are lighter than any other option. I am willing to learn. Can anyone explain their motives to me?

Toothpaste leaves a white residue all over the foliage when you spit it out. Baking soda doesn't and is certainly by far the most non-polluting option, especially comparet to soap. It also has multiple uses!

Mary, thanks, those do seem like good reasons to consider baking soda. Can anyone explain their reasons for using (or having an interest in trying) Dr. Bronner's? I realize that you may carry some anyway, so it is simpler than including another item in your kit (but not lighter). Is an ideological interest in material simplicity the major reason that so many in this thread are interested in using Dr. Bronners as toothpaste?

I bought a bottle of the peppermint stuff recently, tried it out a couple of days ago and had to rebrush my teeth with regular paste to get rid of the aftertaste.

Not for me

i think sacrificing a few grams for a travel size tube is worth it.

Edited by JakeDatc on 04/29/2012 17:53:55 MDT.

I loved reading the LARGE bottle with all the scripture references, and 101 uses for Dr Bonner's. Including that douching with it would change the pH enough to prevent conception.

Whenever I meet someone born in the early 70's named Sunshine or Starlight or Meadow, I wonder how well that worked to actually prevent conception.

Why bother with toothpaste at all?

I brush 2x day and use a toothpick in place of floss followed by a good swishing around with water. I feel fresh enough and nobody's complained. Mayber they're being polite.

Toothpaste is too messy and one more thing to keep track of when packing. If you want "fresh" how about some breath papers?

I don't think going pasteless has any health ramification. Any dentists or hygienist that can weigh in with some authority?

Being a dentist, I suppose I should chime in here. No, toothpaste isn't actually required for proper oral hygiene. Aside from cancer, and viral lesions such as herpes and cold sores, dental disease requires three factors--bacteria, a food source for them, and a location (tooth surface or gingival, or "gum," pocket). The bacteria first create a sort of spider web on the tooth surface, which we call plaque. This gives them a place to live and it collects more and more food for the little guys. They eat the food, and their waste products include acid. The pH of the area drops, and the result is tooth decay and/or gingivitis. Now, the key to good oral health is to break up the plaque formations regularly to keep the bacteria at bay (and reduce their numbers). These little guys are part of the mouth's oral flora, but they don't really do much damage unless they can form the plaque. After a thorough brush/floss, it takes the bugs about 24 hours to reform their plaque homes and return to causing trouble. Theoretically, once a day should cover it. But since we are all human, we aren't really that good at being perfect. So it is best if we brush and floss 2-3 times a day. The mechanical removal of plaque is the critical element here. Toothpaste does provide a topical fluoride application, which is perhaps more important for children than adults. Aside from that, toothpaste is unnecessary unless you like the taste.

My grandmother used baking soda to brush her teeth. Worked well for her. I don't see the need for tooth paste myself. Either Dr Bonner or baking soda for healthly gums and plack reduction. I chew gum when worried about bad breath, helps keep me from drying out just like a small stone as a multi use item.

Thanks, Gary - that's good to hear from someone who knows!

I intuited as much some time ago, and stopped carrying toothpaste on hikes. I still brush and all, and I do use toothpaste daily cuz it tastes good, but it's one less thing to carry on a hike!

I feel vindicated! ;-)

"Being a dentist, I suppose I should chime in here. No, toothpaste isn't actually required for proper oral hygiene."

Thanks, Gary, for validating a choice I made many years ago. Initially, it was made out of concern about attracting bears in the era before Aloksaks and canisters; later, weight also entered into it in a minor way. I wasn't sure how important toothpaste was, or was not, but assumed that a thorough brushing and flossing, followed by an equally thorough rinsing would take care of most of the problem and , in any case I wasn't going to be out for an extended period most opf the time.

I have also been using Listerine Pocketpak oral care strips afterward as a substitute for liquid mouthwash. Could you tell me if they actually kill any significant amount of bacteria, or am I just wasting my money?

Thanks,

Tom

I've got no interest in brushing my teeth with soap or drying toothpaste dots in my studio. It's water and a chopped down toothbrush for me.
Being BPL, I've been surprised at how many people carry something for their teeth when nothing but a brush will do.

Sodium Bicarbonate aka baking soda and some table salt works well as a toothpaste. YMMV of course but I not only hate the dirty tooth feeling I have when I forgo paste of some kind but also my family's dental history is quite frightening. Anything I can do to prolong the loss of my teeth (inevitable when you don't have dental insurance) is a plus. Could be worse, I'm only down a single molar while at my age, my dad was ten root canals in and minus three or four teeth.

No need, Tom. But like toothpaste, if you like the taste...