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Alternative to Toothpaste Dots

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Dec 16, 2013 at 8:20 pm #1311092

Adrien Baker
Member

@adrienbaker
Locale: Kern County

My wife stumbled upon these for me at a cosmetic store called "Lush."

http://www.lushusa.com/Toothy-Tabs/toothy-tabs,en_US,sc.html

Lush is very generous when it comes to giving out samples for almost all of their products. So if you have one near by you can probably score a weekend's worth in a little sample container.

Adrien

Dec 16, 2013 at 11:13 pm #2055074

Anonymous
Inactive

I've read from multiple sources that brushing teeth without toothpaste is just as effective as using toothpaste, or baking soda for that matter. Is there any reason to bring along anything at all? It may sound disgusting to brush with nothing, but its effectively a .5 to 1oz weight that serves no purpose, if what I hear is true. Furthermore, there is reason to believe its fragrance could attract unwanted animals.

Dec 17, 2013 at 5:14 am #2055104

Peter S
BPL Member

@prse
Locale: Denmark

Adrien, thank you for mentioning this. I've been looking for an alternative to Archtek Toothpaste Tablets, which i can't find in Europe.

Dec 17, 2013 at 6:00 am #2055109

Inaki Diaz de Etura
BPL Member

@inaki-1
Locale: Iberia highlands

toothpaste is no magic stuff. It adds some abrasion factor to the brushing but it is the brushing that does the job. Toothpaste is not strictly needed.

Dec 17, 2013 at 11:49 am #2055217

Adrien Baker
Member

@adrienbaker
Locale: Kern County

I've read and heard the same about toothpaste. I've also brushed my teeth with and without toothpaste and I prefer with. It just feels more refreshing to me. I guess you could justify toothpaste as a morale item?

Adrien

Dec 17, 2013 at 12:39 pm #2055240

Ryan Smith
BPL Member

@violentgreen
Locale: East TN

I think over months & years using toothpaste is the wisest option given it has flouride to kill bacteria and abrasives to clean teeth more thoroughly. Toothbrush only for a few days in the woods shouldn't hurt anything. Warning: I am not a dentist.

Ryan

Dec 17, 2013 at 3:57 pm #2055321

Paul McLaughlin
BPL Member

@paul-1

I asked my dentist about it, he said toothpaste makes very little difference, and for a week or two, not needed. I stopped carrying toothpaste some while back. No wondering where to spit it out, no worries about tubes bursting in the pack.

Dec 17, 2013 at 9:36 pm #2055426

Dale Crandall
BPL Member

@dlcrandall
Locale: North Cascades

Dr. Bronners liquid does teeth, hands, face, pot.

Dec 17, 2013 at 9:53 pm #2055433

Daniel Pittman
Spectator

@pitsy
Locale: Central Texas

Just floss and rinse with water. Get your teeth cleaned when you get back from a long walk. But floss GOOD!

Dec 17, 2013 at 10:55 pm #2055448

MW
BPL Member

@mewe

I may be wrong, but I don't think the fluoride in toothpaste has any anti bacterial properties..

Dec 17, 2013 at 11:19 pm #2055456

David Thomas
BPL Member

@davidinkenai
Locale: North Woods. Far North.

You're right, Megan. The fluoride in toothpaste (and many drinking water supplies) is to strengthen teeth, not to kill bacteria.

We've had a dentist post on the forum that toothpaste isn't necessary in the short term (a few weeks) for dental care – it's the brushing action that removes the food particles and plaque build up.

Dec 18, 2013 at 4:09 am #2055475

Charles Grier
BPL Member

@rincon
Locale: Desert Southwest

Within my memory, most people used tooth powder rather than tooth paste. A lot of folks just used salt or baking soda and got by just fine. One can still get tooth powder, Google Eco DenT for one brand. A small zip-lock with a couple of grams of tooth powder will last two weeks and it leaves your mouth fresher than just using a brush and floss.

Dec 18, 2013 at 6:32 am #2055491

Brian Lewis
Member

@brianle
Locale: Pacific NW

I've used tooth powder on multi-month backpacking trips, works fine. While it saves a little weight, the great thing is that repackaging it in a sort of microbottle that I bought somewhere like here ? (BPL), just a small and light quantity lasts me for months. So no resupply problems.

I admit that after using it for months at a time it feels like kind of a treat to use "real" toothpaste when the opportunity arises, but a pretty minor treat, not a big deal.

Dec 18, 2013 at 7:05 am #2055495

Ian
BPL Member

@10-7

Thanks Adrian for posting this. Looks like a viable alternative.

I tried using Dr. B's peppermint soap. Brushing my teeth with it is fine but I can't stand the aftertaste. I've started using unscented soap for backpacking due to bear concerns but haven't tried that as toothpaste substitute yet. TBC.

I have some tooth powder that works and is minty. Same bear concerns as above though.

Dec 18, 2013 at 3:10 pm #2055690

Inaki Diaz de Etura
BPL Member

@inaki-1
Locale: Iberia highlands

I've gone multi-month with nothing but the brush and nothing happened. I believe the hiking keeps your body as healthy as it can get, in general. Surely teeth get some benefit too. At home, I still use paste because of the refreshing effect and because it is there but I wouldn't miss it.

Nowadays I usually take an inter-dental brush when backpacking, much better than a toothpick and I like it better than floss.
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