Frugal Toothpaste

**Kaos Kitty** · 01-06-2009, 09:19 PM

Some of you may already be doing this - but I thought I would share my frugal toothpaste recipe.

I've been using 1 cup of baking soda mixed with 1 tsp of salt in place of toothpaste for the past year. I keep it in a fancy sugar bowl with it's own lid and matching spoon in the bathroom. To brush my teeth I just spoon out a tablespoon into my hand, wet my toothbrush, dip it in the baking soda and brush away! It really removes stains and does a good job (or so my dentist tells me). At first I hated the taste and added a few drops of peppermint oil into the mix (mix really well!) and rinsed my mouth out with home made mouth wash after. Now - I don't mind the taste at all.

It's less chemicals for me, breath freshening, whitens/cleans my teeth, inhospitable to bad bacteria and good for the sink (freshens the drain!)

Just one more little way to save money and do something good for yourself and the environment!

**bumplett** · 01-06-2009, 09:49 PM

great to know!

I'm willing to try it too!

I've finally used up all but two tubes of toothpaste from my stockpile (that took forever) and I've been thinking of using Tom's of Maine toothpaste, but the idea of spending $4 + on one tube of toothpaste just makes me cringe...... I know it's BETTER for me, the environment, the earth, my kids, yada, yada, yada; but dang, $4!?!

so, a great big THANKS for this idea!!

QM · 01-06-2009, 10:57 PM

I'll have to try it when we run out of toothpaste. Our stockpile has a few tubes left so it won't be for a while. Thanks!

**cheles2kids** · 01-07-2009, 06:33 AM

I've always like using a little bit of baking soda to brush my teeth with as well, but I read on another forum the other day to be careful with it because it can "strip" the enamel off of your teeth.

I hadn't really given it much thought but I guess it makes sense because it has a kind of a gritty/scrubbing action thing going on whenever you use it.

I haven't done any other research on it yet, but I just wanted to throw that out there for anyone who might want to research it further.

I just reread your post & saw where your dentist recommends this?
If so, then I would continue using it, if he's okayed it.
But when I read that bit of information about it the other day, I thought it was definately worth researching a bit more.

**Grainlady** · 01-07-2009, 06:33 AM

There's another "interesting" method that's free, except for the price of your brush... It's called DRY TOOTHBRUSHING. Do a Google search for more information.

**Kaos Kitty** · 01-07-2009, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by cheles2kids

I've always like using a little bit of baking soda to brush my teeth with as well, but I read on another forum the other day to be careful with it because it can "strip" the enamel off of your teeth.

I hadn't really given it much thought but I guess it makes sense because it has a kind of a gritty/scrubbing action thing going on whenever you use it.

I haven't done any other research on it yet, but I just wanted to throw that out there for anyone who might want to research it further.

I just reread your post & saw where your dentist recommends this?
If so, then I would continue using it, if he's okayed it.
But when I read that bit of information about it the other day, I thought it was definately worth researching a bit more.

It's not the baking soda that does the scrubbing (baking soda removes stains and deodorizes, very soft scrub without scratching- I use it to clean my porcelain tea cups), it's the salt that does the main scrub. That's why this recipe has only 1 tsp of salt per 1 cup baking soda. Although I have used it with 2 tsp salt per 1 cup baking soda (I found it too salty). Of course you want to use regular table salt, not sea or kosher salt which has a much larger grain! If a person is using a toothbrush with bristles too hard for them (I use a soft bristle), and apply too much pressure with even regular toothpaste there is a risk of enamel damage. That info is from my dentist.

Other research I've done has given baking soda and salt a "thumbs up". I take everything I read with a "grain of salt"

and try to find accredited peer reviewed research done by academics. There's not a whole lot of info out there (probably because there's no money in it for big business). But I do recall reading about the research presented by a dentist at a dental conference, and that's what convinced me to try it.

I've been using it twice a day since September 2007. I was just at the dentist two weeks ago (I get a check up every year), and my teeth look great. No enamel damage, no cavities, and the hygienist was surprised at how clean and plaque free my teeth were. I told the dentist about my baking soda toothpaste and he just nodded and said that's fine.

Like anything, be cautious and do your own research if you need to feel more comfortable. "Tooth powder" has been around a long time, probably what our grandparents used before the convenient commercial toothpaste.

**momof2joys** · 01-07-2009, 11:35 AM

Who knew??? See, I learn something new everyday!!! Thanks!!

**kittykatstrong** · 01-07-2009, 12:15 PM

Thanks for the info.

**tbs727** · 01-07-2009, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by bumplett

great to know!

I'm willing to try it too!

I've finally used up all but two tubes of toothpaste from my stockpile (that took forever) and I've been thinking of using Tom's of Maine toothpaste, but the idea of spending $4 + on one tube of toothpaste just makes me cringe...... I know it's BETTER for me, the environment, the earth, my kids, yada, yada, yada; but dang, $4!?!

so, a great big THANKS for this idea!!

I've used Tom's of Maine and didn't like it at all! Total waste of money.