Sunday, July 27, 2008

I'm About to Run Out of Toothpaste









Frugal Babe said...

I started using baking soda to brush my teeth recently. It works great, and I don't have to wonder about all the mystery ingredients in toothpaste anymore. And it's a lot less expensive than toothpaste. I do have one of those fancy electric toothbrushes though :)

Kate said...

Hi, frugal babe! How do you like the taste of baking soda? I have to admit it made me grimace the few times I've tried it. I've been using a certain brand on the advice of my dentist because I have sensitive teeth. But that seems to have diminished, so maybe I don't need to do that anymore. I suppose it's something I ought to at least consider. Do you make a paste out of it, or just put the powder on the wet brush?



BonzoGal said...

I started using less toothpaste when my dentist told me that you actually don't need ANY paste at all- that the brushing was the important part and the toothpaste was just to make it pleasant. (And impart a little fluoride- but I'm allergic to fluoride so I don't use it.) I agree- these little bit add up! Eking out just a bit more toothpaste, shampoo, etc. won't make me rich, but it makes me aware of what I'm spending- or NOT spending.

Carl said...

I've just tried bicarb soda as toothpaste myself, after seeing it recommended by various people. It certainly does taste different to toothpaste, but actually I found it more pleasant, because it didn't leave so much residue in my mouth (and even if it did, I wouldn't care whether I swallowed it).

It also works very well as a deodorant, both personal and for spaces like fridges. I highly recommend trying it; not only is it a big saving, but the chemicals in commercial deodorants are highly questionable (check out

Charley said...

Hi, Kate! I've suffered from a gum disease as well but I got cured with the help of my periodontist (Chattanooga based). I had to follow a rigorous routine like brushing thoroughly for 5 minutes and flossing after every meal. But I am happy it is gone now. Also, I didn't mind driving long hours just to get to Chattanooga. Dental implants are so popular now that I am thinking of having one for my missing tooth.

Anyway, baking soda is indeed a great alternative to toothpaste! It whitens your teeth without using harsh chemicals.

Carl said...

My personal tooth-cleaning strategy is to use a pin as a toothpick. Not something that I can generally recommend, especially because of the risk of injury (pricking, swallowing, etc), but it's the only thing I've found that can remove calculus, except for a scale & clean from the dentist.