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Dr Bronner’s or Baking Soda?
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Apr 15, 2009 at 8:42 pm #1235627
Ok so for the last few years I've been using baking soda for all my hygiene needs (yes, even for brushing my teeth). I've noticed that a lot more people seem to use Dr Bronner's soap instead though. I have yet to use Dr Bronner's but I was wondering if I should switch to it. I think Baking Soda may have more uses than Dr Bronner's but I'm thinking I may save weight if I switch to Dr Bronner's. What do you guys think?
Apr 15, 2009 at 9:31 pm #1494444Oh……….buck the trend, be a rebel. It's boring when everyone youmeet uses Dr. Bronner's, carries a WM bag and Tarptent in a ULA….
Apr 15, 2009 at 9:45 pm #1494449Here is a quote from me to recent thread:
"I use baking soda in a small BPL mini dropper bottle. I can squeeze out a small amount onto my brush and also use the baking soda for other needs if they come up.
I can't use Bonners- I hate the taste of soap. My mom would think I liked the taste of soap given the number of time I had my mouth washed out as a kid. I now have a very "clean" vocabulary."Apr 16, 2009 at 12:25 am #1494463"I use baking soda in a small BPL mini dropper bottle. I can squeeze out a small amount onto my brush and also use the baking soda for other needs if they come up.
I can't use Bonners- I hate the taste of soap. My mom would think I liked the taste of soap given the number of time I had my mouth washed out as a kid. I now have a very "clean" vocabulary."I have been using toothpaste for almost 60 years, and I am not going to change. It is going to cost me less than 1 oz in total weight and taste good. Heck just replace any of your stuff sacks with cuben fiber ones if you don't have them already, and you can more than make up the "heavy" weight of toothpaste.
Apr 16, 2009 at 5:56 am #1494481Stick with the baking soda. I made the switch from Dr. Bronner's and never looked back. There's no need for soap in the backcountry. Plus, as Tad mentioned, it tastes terrible in your mouth.
Apr 16, 2009 at 6:41 am #1494488There is a reason it's called Dr Bronners soap and not Dr Bronners tooth paste. It's disgusting because it's soap. If you want the same weight as baking soda but better flavor, go to a heathfood store and get some tooth powder instead.
Apr 16, 2009 at 7:16 am #1494494I use Ecodent tooth-powder. It is based on baking soda but has mint and such added for better flavor. A couple of grams of this stuff will last several weeks. Does not leave white spots on the ground where you spit it out either.
However, for the amount of weight involved here, I think one should use what one likes. A full trial-size tube of tooth paste weighs around 1/2 oz; if good tooth powder was not available, that is what I would use.
Apr 16, 2009 at 8:30 am #1494510Well here's the thing, due to the fact that I had surgery done on my tongue very early in my childhood, I now have very little taste buds. Which is why I have yet to encounter ANY food I didn't like (this is no joke). For this reason, taste is of absolutely no issue to me, the reason I would switch from baking soda to anything else would be purely to save weight. I do not think there is anything out there that has as many uses as baking soda does so unless I can shave off weight by switching from baking soda (atleast .5 oz to make it worth it), then I wouldn't do it.
-Sid
Apr 16, 2009 at 9:22 am #1494528I second the ecodent. Baking soda makes me gag, and I don't really cuss that much, so I don't want to wash my mouth out with soap.
Apr 16, 2009 at 10:15 am #1494538ecodent looks good.
I saw colgate toothpowder in a shop today and bought it. Turns out it contains fluoride, so I cant swallow it.
Apr 16, 2009 at 10:38 am #1494543I used ecodent a lot last year; very light (I repackaged in a little bottle I bought on this site), I think it leaves less residue in the woods FWIW, a little goes a long ways.
I'm in the camp with those that wouldn't consider brushing their teeth with the Dr. Bronners. I've heard that some people don't like it used in their house because it leaves a film on the sink (?).
The big issue for me is that I carried a small (repackaged) amount of Bronners last year and basically never used it, in town or out. I don't know if I'm a filthy beast or just "more in touch with nature", but I don't feel the need to wash my whole body in the outdoors. I use purell for my hands, and carry a couple of scentless wetwipe packets to optionally clean up before going into town. I know that others find Bronners as some sort of universal solvent (hey, someone must read the outside of the bottle), but it's something I might just drop entirely from my base weight.
If you can stand baking soda as a toothpaste, I know it has a number of other uses, it might be a great choice. FWIW one thing I did find myself mildly craving after weeks of ecodent was to brush with "real" toothpaste, partly just to get the floridation perhaps (that plus the aluminum foil keep the aliens from controlling my thoughts …).
Apr 16, 2009 at 10:49 am #1494547>>>There is a reason it's called Dr Bronners soap and not Dr Bronners tooth paste. It's disgusting because it's soap. If you want the same weight as baking soda but better flavor, go to a heathfood store and get some tooth powder instead.
+1
Apr 16, 2009 at 10:54 am #1494550At home, when I run out of toothpaste, I resort to baking soda. It does a durn good job of scrubbing the teeth clean, but it takes a minute to get used to the taste. Other than that, on the trail I can think of using it to make biscuits and as a deordorant. What other uses do you find for it, Sid?
BTW, the only time I use Bronner's is in the shower when I have a cold. The peppermint aroma really opens the nasal passages.
Apr 16, 2009 at 12:46 pm #1494584Monty,
there is a very long list as to how many things I've used baking soda for, but just to name a few other than brushing my teeth with it…If my clothes or anything else smells really bad I've used baking soda to get rid of the smell.
I've washed just about everything with baking soda to clean it.
I've used it on bug bites before (and any other skin irritation I've had for that matter!).
I've used it as deoderant.
I've even used it once to relieve a stomache ache by mixing a little bit with water and drinking it.
You can also use it to put out fires, although I haven't had to use it for that purpose before.
this is just to name a few…
I think I just convinced myself to keep using baking soda.-Sid
Apr 16, 2009 at 1:12 pm #1494594I my wife, a pharmacist, special order this for me at her drugstore. It tastes the way toothpaste should taste.
Apr 16, 2009 at 1:47 pm #1494603I ordered it from the Arm and Hammer web site a few years ago. Agreed, it is a great product. But it does have a scent, so plain baking soda may be safer in bear country.
Apr 16, 2009 at 2:49 pm #1494628> You can also use it to put out fires, although I haven't had to use it for that purpose before.
What, do you get it in 50# sacks or something?
What kind of fire would you use baking soda on??Back to the point…
I use Dr Bronner's daily, but sure wouldn't brush my teeth with it. I tried that once. Baking soda works fine, but I find that I enjoy real toothpaste, and it's plenty light enough. I'd like to try that powder though.Apr 16, 2009 at 3:35 pm #1494646You could use baking soda to snuff out a kitchen grease/oil fire.
Using water on that sort of fire will result in a large flare up/explosion.
I have been using a mix of 60% baking soda and 40% salt.
The salt is an anticeptic or sorts.
I have to admit that it tasted nasty to me in the beginning, but I am used to it now…my wife and 6 yr old daughter use it when we are on the trail and think nothing of it anymore.
Plus, the amount of uses that you can get with baking soda per weight has to be much better than what you would get from a liquid.
-Tony
Apr 16, 2009 at 7:03 pm #1494727I have read that ARM & HAMMER and other tooth powder are fluoridated meaning you cant swallow it.
Ecodent is fluoride-free tooth powder based on baking soda which means you can multiuse it for same purposes as baking soda.
Note that Eco-Dent – Tartarguard SpecialCare Toothpowder is not recommended for swallowing.
Apr 16, 2009 at 7:15 pm #1494734> You could use baking soda to snuff out a kitchen grease/oil fire.
You think so? Try it some time… outside please.
A grease fire in the kitchen is easily and quickly extinguished by simply putting the lid on the pan.
I just can't think of anything I could dual-use baking soda for on the trail. Heartburn maybe?
?Apr 16, 2009 at 7:35 pm #1494744Chris,
Actually the only thing you've pointed out that you can't really use baking soda for on the trail (because you wouldn't have enough of it) is putting out a fire. I definitely don't depend on baking soda for putting out fires, it was just one of the things baking soda can do and I listed it.
The "dual-uses" of baking soda which you cannot use Dr. Bronners for (or any other kind of soap for that matter), are such things as relieving any kind of skin irritation (such as insect bites, sun burn, rashes, etc.). Also can be used as deodorant and you can use it to clean anything and get rid of bad odors. You can also relieve mild stomache aches if you mix a little bit of baking soda with water and drink it. These are a few common "dual-uses" of baking soda. If you research some I'm sure you could find more.-Sid
Apr 16, 2009 at 8:01 pm #1494755Yep, I'm with Sid.
After brushing , I swallow the stuff, not that I am that anal about LNT but since I can, why not.
I also add a little bit to my water for the end of day full wash. It softens the water and deodorises at the same time. But of course baking soda can be an acquired taste, much easier to do (IMHO) the Bronner's soap.
As a bonus here in Australia we have gum trees (eucalyptus) everywhere, so twigs get used as a toothpick/dental floss, that leaves a nice clean taste in my mouth.
FrancoApr 16, 2009 at 8:29 pm #1494766Apr 17, 2009 at 4:37 pm #1494992> Actually the only thing you've pointed out that you can't really use baking soda for on the trail (because you wouldn't have enough of it) is putting out a fire.
I was talking about in the kitchen. (Specifically mentioned by Tony, not you). That thing about putting out a grease fire with baking soda is an old wives tail (no offense to old wives).
Ask a fireman. Really.Oh, and I also pointed out the fact that I wouldn't use Dr Bronner's for oral hygiene, despite the fact that I enjoy showering with it daily. Guess you missed that part, too.
Hey, so it wasn't ground breaking info… maybe it will save someone's home if they ever have a KITCHEN grease fire.
If you find it useful, by all means, be my guest. I'm not trying to tell you how to hike. Suck up all the bad odors in the forest!
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