I can’t remember when, but since the time when I started brushing my teeth, I was already using some toothpaste. And I remembered this clearly, during my primary school days, the whole class would squat by a long drain brushing our teeth using toothpaste and toothbrush. And with one hand holding on to a plastic container filled with water for rinsing and gargling. If this is familiar to you, we could be born in the same era. 😉

Since young, I was a Darlie and Colgate user. Because those were what my parents used. It was only in year 2009 that I started looking for a healthier option for my teeth. There are many articles that warns on the danger of using toothpaste with Fluoride and other potentially harmful ingredients. WHO states that there are some undesirable side-effects with excessive fluoride intake. It can cause Dental Fluorosis that results in surface irregularities and pits on the teeth especially for young children. And so, I decided to look for toothpaste that is free from Fluoride.

My Transition

I first found Tooth Soap, which was created by a lady in US. I ordered and tried it. They are literally Soap, but shredded into tiny short strips. So I would take a few strips, put it at the back of my molars, chew a little and then start brushing with a wet toothbrush. It foamed of course, because it is Soap. It feels a little strange at first. Nobody would bite into soap right? But I did. Haha. The taste was alright because it had some salt and peppermint in it. It was acceptable. Later, they made a liquid soap version that I could pump onto my toothbrush for convenience. However, it was not very economical for me to order frequently from US. I had to find something more affordable.

P.S: Please do not experiment with just any Soap for your teeth. Not all soap are created the same. Some had unwanted ingredients.

 

It was not too difficult to find toothpaste that is free from Fluoride. But to find something that is made from as few ingredients as possible and something I may be able to understand, it takes a little bit of time. I found the Foamless Toothpaste locally (as seen above) that is free from Fluoride. I am not sure if you can imagine it. Being foam-less, it feels a little strange. But after a while, I got used to it.

But somehow, just somehow, I still think that there could be better options. After going foam-less for a few years, I switched to using my own Basic Tooth Powder and I have been quite happy with it.

This Basic Tooth Powder is effective in removing plaque and stains. I know it because I am a heavy tea drinker and it always helps to remove those tea stains. 🙂 This is foam-less as well.  I did not need a long time to adapt to this. And I guess it helps that I was using the foam-less toothpaste for quite a while before this switch.

 

To make my own Basic Tooth Powder, all I needed was Baking Soda and Salt! Really easy isn’t it? In this case, I use Arm & Hammer’s Pure Baking Soda, and Dr Gram’s Himalayan Rock Salt. And a nice glass jar to contain. 🙂

How are these ingredients helpful?

Baking Soda – is alkaline with pH value of around 8.3. It helps to neutralize the acidity in our mouth, and in turn reduces bacterial activity. Some people are worried that Baking Soda may be too abrasive for the teeth, but it is actually way more gentle than your commercial toothpaste. Are you surprised too? The keyword is Relative dentin abrasivity (RDA). This list shows the RDA value of Baking Soda and many other toothpaste brands. You will be surprised where baking soda sits on the abrasiveness scale. The Baking Soda that I use is Arm And Hammer Pure Baking Soda.

Besides being anti-bacterial, Baking Soda is also effective in removing stains and plaque, and it whitens the teeth. In the mouth, it releases free radicals that oxidizes the stains and plaque, and breaking it down.

 

Salt – is a known antibacterial agent. It is also an alkalizing agent.  I use Himalayan Rock Salt here. You can also use pure sodium chloride (purified salt).

 

Make Your Own Tooth Powder

Basic Tooth Powder Recipe

1 Part Himalayan Rock Salt
4 Parts Arm And Hammer’s Baking Soda

Measure the ingredients into a glass jar. (Remember to leave some space on top) Close the lid and shake to mix well. If you find it too salty for your liking, add another 1 part of Baking Soda to the mix.

 

 

How To Use

Directions

• Using a small spatula, scoop some Basic Tooth Powder into a small dish.
• Wet your Tooth Brush with water, dip into the Basic Tooth Powder and start brushing.

Spatula – You can use anything. Small spoon. Or reuse those tiny ice cream spatula that you will find from ice cream shops.
Small dish – What I used here was a small candle holder from Ikea. I find that the size is just right.

 

Happy Brushing!

Cheers,
Lee Cheng