I must say this recipe works well. My mouth really feels fresh. You can use some other ingredients like essential oils for better taste but apparently you will not need toothpaste anymore. And also you will ot put fluoride into your mouth.
There are
effective, low-cost alternatives to that aromatic goo-in-a-tube you
find on supermarket shelves. Our family has been making and using its
own toothpastes and powders for years...and we've enjoyed excellent
dental health, too. You and your clan can save a significant amount of
money-and at the same time keep your teeth and gums in good shape-by
kicking the Madison Avenue habit and choosing to follow a few
simple rules:
- MAKE
THE MOST OF BRUSHING. The actual
mechanical brushing and flossing of your teeth and gums is much more
important than which (if any) cleaning agent is employed. Don't take
brushing lightly...go at it with a vengeance. Keep your Py-Co-Pay, or
whatever, relatively dry and scrub your teeth thoroughly for at least
two-and-a-half minutes, three times a day. Don't
waste whatever dentifrice you use ... in the long run, you and your
budget
will be healthier.
- USE TOOTH
POWDER . The dry dental powders
that currently seem to be out of vogue are fairly inexpensive and come
in refillable dispensers. The products are mostly made of chalk (a mild
abrasive), flavoring and a small amount of soap dust for cleansing
purposes. Just shake a nickel-sized amount into the palm of your hand,
dip a dampened brush into the substance and scrub your choppers
vigorously.
- MAKE YOUR OWN
TOOTH POWDER. Thoroughly
mix 3 parts baking soda (the cleanser and sweetener) with part salt
(the abrasive) and funnel the compound into a short small-mouthed
container such as a pop or beer bottle. You'll find that the creation
has a satisfying, different taste and leaves your mouth feeling very
fresh and soothed. If you'd like, add a
few drops of peppermint or wintergreen oil to the concoction - or mix
the home "brew" half-and-half with a commercial tooth powder - to give
the dentifrice a more pleasant flavor.
- MAKE YOUR
OWN TOOTHPASTE. This formula is
simply an extension of the tooth powder recipe: To each half cup of
homemade powder, add 3 teaspoons of glycerin, 10-20 drops of flavoring
(peppermint, wintergreen, anise, cinnamon or whatever) and 1 drop of
food coloring. Mix the ingredients thoroughly in a bowl and add just
enough water to make the concoction "tooth-pastey". Spoon the substance
into a small refillable plastic squeeze bottle or any container that
dispenses easily and won't leak. VoilĂ! Toothpaste!
The amount
of glycerin you add will control the "pastiness" of the cleanser and
obviously the type of flavoring will determine the taste. Both
ingredients are inexpensive and available at any drugstore. Your
neighborhood grocer, of course, can supply you with salt, food coloring
and baking soda.
Commercial
toothpastes generally incorporate a slick, easy flowing combination of
chalk, soap, glycerin and flavorings. Your homemade creation won't be
as smooth...but I know you'll find it more satisfying, less wasteful
and
- above all - less expensive. You'll be able to make a year's supply of
toothpaste (for a family of four) at a total cost of around a buck and
a half (...maybe a little more by 2004 standards. -ed.).
The
formulas I've outlined here have worked well for my family...but don't
be afraid to experiment and work up your own recipes.
A little
experience and imagination can go a long way. See what you
can do to produce your own homemade million-dollar smiles...
Editor's
Note: My daughter and I made some toothpaste this past weekend. I
must say that if you decide to try it, you may have
to do some experimenting, as we did. I found that the glycerin called
for
in the recipe is not enough. We also cut back on the salt, and didn't
use
any food coloring. My daughter picked out some cinnamon extract instead
of
the mint flavoring, which I would've preferred. If you go with
cinnamon,
use it sparingly!!!
I
went to three different drugstores before I found what I
needed. The last one, a local family pharmacy, had everything on the
shelves. The first two were chain stores.
I
have to say, brushing with our homemade toothpaste was an
experience, but I have never had my mouth feel fresher, and have that
feeling
last so long into the day (no, it wasn't the cinnamon...). I spent
around
$7.00, and I feel that there is enough left over ingredients to last at
least
six months or more.
Taken from the Article; PENNYWISE TOOTH CLEANSERS by Thomas W.
King
Originally published in the January / February 1975 issue of THE
MOTHER EARTH NEWS
|
