I can see you're as confused as I am...lol. But it is really working and my gums look healthier than ever.

Just a bit of advice if you are using tooth powder...make sure it doesn't contain silica because that will definitely wear out the enamel of your teeth. Occasional use of baking soda isn't as abrasive and works just as well.

I have been using my Cal Ben Soap bar with a couple of drops of peppermint extract to brush my teeth and they are gleaming (people are noticing!) but I wanted to check around to make sure I wasn't killing myself. To improve the flavor of the bar soap, you can also add Xylitol, a sweetner which somehow has dental benefits (recently is being added to some gums, mints and toothpaste products).

I also wrote to the the Cal Ben Soap Company (probably the most pure soap around) to find out if they had any plans to make a tooth soap and if their Pure Soap bar was safe to brush my teeth with (after I had been using it a month) and here is their answer:

We have no plans on making a tooth paste, you can use the bar soap but it does not taste as good.

Here are more responses from various websites I have been writing to from Debra's List.

From Beeswork...

Although it might not taste that great, a little sweet and "soapy". I don't see a health risk in brushing with our soap but I wouldn't recommend swallowing it. Our soap is really soap (not a detregent) and maybe the unscented would be the most pleasent as it is free of essential oils. The lavender could work for extra cleaning and is also antiseptic. Up to you!

* * *

From Natural Solutions...

I"d probably say that our Brigit True Organics soap would be nice. Its unscented and they often say you can eat it - anything they make that is. I don't know if it would taste so good, but it would be okay.

* * *

From Elysian Dream...

I have heard of people using soap to brush their teeth. I also know that a few customers have used my Supermild liquid soap to brush their teeth. I have had one customer tell me that they tried the Castile liquid soap. It is my understanding that using soap to brush your teeth is safe. You would not want to swallow the soap because I am sure that would make you sick. As for using a bar either a bar or liquid soap would be the same.

* * *

From Get a Guru Handmade Soap Company...

I have no idea about brushing your teeth with bar soap. I have never heard of it. I would use plain or oatmeal or perhaps peppermint soap. I would ask a dentist unless you want to live on the edge and experiment. One thing I know is it will stop you swearing and using bad language.

I asked a registered pharmacist:

If glycerin is bad and causes a sticky hard to rinse off film on the teeth, preventing re-enamelization, don't the coconut, palm, and olive oils and essential oil listed as ingredients in tooth soap have the same effect?

The oils are saponafied. After the saponification the oils are gone, converted to a soluble substance, soap. Glycerin is a totally different chemical.

Larry J. Frieders, R.Ph.
The Compounder

I just wanted to add that I had a conversation with my dentist a while back, about the health and environmental impacts of fluoride, which he didn't know a lot about. However, when we discussed what I was using to brush my teeth, which is natural toothpaste by either Nature's Gate or Tom's of Maine, he said that as long as it contained free calcium then my teeth would still be maintained. I brought this up because I don't think there is much, if any, calcium content in soap. Tooth enamel will absorb some of the calcium present in certain foods, and toothpastes, and help rebuild itself after it has been depleted by the acids that form from eating food, or directly from acidic foods (anything from apples to tomatoes to vinegar). (Mind you, they do both contain glycerin - once again, it's hard to balance all our concerns!)

Hi,
I agree with the baking soda/salt/hydrogen peroxide combination. That is what my dentist prescribed to me when I was diagnosed with receeding gums. I have since started using only the Miessence toothpastes and after 18 months of only using this toothpaste my receeding gums have stopped receeding.

I actually have a microbiology test results for the bacterial innoculation of gram postivite and gram negative bacteria into the Miessence toothpastes. The bacteria is immediately killed after it is innoculated into the toothpaste when tested.

The toothpastes are a combination of baking soda/salt/essential oils and some stevia to make them palatable for the greater number of people.

There are 3 flavors: Mint, Lemon, Anise

Mint is the most popular but I personally like the Anise

Miessence Mint Toothpaste Ingredients
Organic aloe vera (aloe barbadensis) leaf juice, purified water (aqua), sodium bicarbonate, non-gmo xanthan gum, sea salt, organic spearmint (mentha spicata) essential oil, organic peppermint (mentha piperita) essential oil, organic cinnamon (cinnamomum zeylanicum) leaf essential oil, organic clove (syzygium aromatica) bud essential oil, stevia rebaudiana extract. 57% Organic Product. 100% Natural Product.

We also have a Certified Organic coconut bar soap...but I have not thought about using that for brushing my teeth. The great thing is it is certified organic so it meets the food standard meaning you could eat it so perhaps that would be an option also.

Our extra virgin coconut cleansing bars (natural soaps) are hand crafted from organic cold-pressed virgin coconut oil from the Pacific Islands. The process involves waiting for the fully ripe coconuts to fall to the ground where they are collected, grated and cold-pressed within hours of opening the nut. Due to their naturally alkaline pH, bar soaps are unsuitable for use on the face.

We have two types of bar soap: 1) tea tree 2) rose geranium

Here is the ingredients list for the tea tree soap:
Ingredients
Organic saponified coconut (cocos nucifera) oil, organic tea tree (melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil.

If you have questions or need assistance feel free to contact me.

Regards,
Erin

If you are looking for a natural alternative to toothpaste, I'd like to suggest brushing your teeth with salt, specifically "The Original" Himalayan Crystal Salt.

Salt has long been used as a simple dentifrice and used in combination with other natural ingredients to clean teeth, freshen breath, and maintain healthy gums.

Using "The Original" Himalayan Crystal Salt for dental care gives your mouth additional healing over using other types of salt, due to it's unique energetic qualities. Because Himalayan Crystal Salt is hand-mined, hand-selected, hand-crushed, hand-washed, and sun dried, it retains the same bio-energetic qualities it had in the primordial sea 250 million years ago.

Here are some ways you can use the salt for dental care in it's granulated form and mixed with water to make Sole, a new synergistic subtance that has been called "the fluid materialization of sunlight." (Instructions for making Sole).

For Fresh Breath

Bad breath can have its origin in mouth and throat area but also in the stomach or intestines. This and many other complaints in the mouth area have been attributed to an acid mouth environment. Sole can neutralize the pH in the mouth area and restore a healthy mouth flora.

1) Drink 1 teaspoon of Sole each morning mixed into one cup of pure water.
2) Brush your teeth with concentrated Sole.
3) Gargle with concentrated sole 2-3 minutes daily, preferably in the morning (do NOT swallow).
4) Chew salt (see below).

For Inflamation of the Gum

1) Drink 1 teaspoon of Sole each morning with one cup of water.
2) Brush your teeth with concentrated Sole (see below).
3) Rinse your mouth with Sole (see below).
4) Massage your gums with "The Original" Himalayan Crystal Salt Fine Granulated. Dip your finger in water and then into the fine ground salt and massage your gum.

To Brush Your Teeth with Sole

1/2 cup of sole
1/2 cup of water
1 empty glass with lid

Pour water and sole in the empty glass. Dip your toothbrush in this solution and brush your teeth…

Salt Chewing with "The Original" Himalayan Crystal Salt Coarse Granulated
Take one teaspoon of coarse granulated Himalayan Crystal Salt with a bit water and chew on it till the salt dissolved (spit out). This helps to have a healthy

Mouth Rinsing with Sole
Place one tablespoon of concentrated Sole in your mouth. Swish it back and forth in your mouth, and pretend to chew (do not swallow).

okso i'm new to being green and i was reading this about toothpaste being bad and i was doin something else and i found this, could you let me know if it's good ??


TriMedica SilvaFresh Homeopathic Antibacterial Toothpaste is the only toothpaste ever to contain 100% pure homeopathic anti-bacterial silver that effectively helps wash away and eliminate bacteria and food debris that cause tooth decay, gum disease, tartar buildup and bad breath. Plus, SilvaFresh Toothpaste contains other homeopathic as well, giving you a complete oral hygiene program, fewer cavities and minty-fresh breath so you feel super confident every time you smile! Laboratory studies show Trimedica's homeopathic silver effectively eliminated many of the bacteria responsible mouth ailments such as tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, tartar buildup and bad breath.
Directions: Brush thoroughly at least twice a day (especially after meals), or as directed by your dentist or doctor.

Ingredients (Active): Argentum Metallicum (Homeopathic Silver 100ppm) 4x, Calendula 4x, Plantain 4x, Ferrum Phosphate 4x, Belladonna 12x, Strawberry Leaves 4x, Myrrh 4x, Mercurius Vivus 8x.

In a Base of: Aloe Vera Distillate, Peppermint oil, Glycerin USP, Calcium Carbonate, Eucalyptus Oil, Xylitol, Vitamin K, Deionized Water, Guar Gum, Sodium Bicarbonate.

This is all very interesting. I am a natural/cosmetic dentist and have formulated several products that meet my critera. You can read about it at www.TheraSalt.com, but it essentially is based on ocean salt.

Brushing with salt is abrasive and will wear your teeth significantly, so make certain it is dissolved! Never use table salt.

I am developing a line of products that will take you through the entire process as natural as possible and be highly effective:

Floss - unwaxed is best
Brush - use a toothpaste that is natural, as mentioned on this website. Tooth Soap is good but tastes terrible, in my opinion. Toothpastes with glycerin that are natural are not bad, as the glycerin will wear off and then your saliva can remineralize the teeth, as long as you are not rinsing or ingesting acids (watch out for heartburn). So, if you brush, rinse, go to sleep, you will eventually remineralize.
Rinse - use a product like TheraSalt to help remineralize the teeth, nurish the tissue and reduce inflamation. Also, it brings your ph above 6, which is important in the mouth.

Other great products exist but are not yet available in the USA, legally...watch for them on my website soon.

Any questions or comments are welcome. I am developing these products for the consumers because I am sick and tired of drug companies pushing their products on us.

Years of dealing with sensitive teeth forced me to find alternatives to existing toothpastes. We did research and found out about "Good teeth from birth to death". We also use own neem soap with great results. We also incorporated Myrrh essential oil for the value to gum tissue. We have shared it with several others with equally good results.

I must say that I love the comment from Get a Guru...that's great. I would want to do business with a company with a sense of humor.

EXCELLENT TOPIC.

The tooth soap recommended in opening paragraph is awesome. My reference was the Chet Day website, which I believe Debra has referenced on some posts or links.

I use it in combination with the inexpensive products on www.calciumtherapy.com.

I use the Calcium Therapy ( which saved me from gum surgery) tooth brush several times a day /always carry one with me / and use Tooth Soap twice a day at home. I even tried the soap on my grandaughter, who is six and accustomed to all the children's fancy pkg.flavored stuff out there. She loved the tooth soap,and requested many times over a 3 day period with me, if we could please go to brush our teeth again.
Tooth soap lasts forever and leaves a special clean feeling.

Calcium Therapy is a miracle unto itself. I recommend everyone read the info on website. Dr. Manhart has a rinse, Oral Cal as well, which, in combination with the brush,gives teeth a whiteness/shine and very clean feeling, while strengthening teeth and gums. He also carries a skin liquid which over time smooths out facial lines, which he does not list as a benefit. Honestly ! It is recommended for hands.

peace,
joyfulsun

I just wanted to let you know that you can find tooth soap at drbenkim.com/toothsoap.htm

List of Ingredients

Specially formulated soap made from saponified coconut, palm, and olive oils and essential oil. NO added glycerin, sweeteners, silicates (sand), fluoride, dyes, stabilizers or other materials that can damage teeth.

Saponified oils are oils mixed with a sodium or potassium hydroxide solution. The resulting reaction produces soap. Most soaps DO contain some residual oil as they are specifically formulated to contain approximately 5% superfat which means all the sodium or potassium hydroxide has been reacted and 5% of the oils remain. This is considered a 'safe" percentage so as not to cause any irritation from excess unreacted sodium or potassium hydroxide. Also, ALL soaps made in this fashion contain glycerine, which is a natural byproduct of the saponification reaction. So, if you are using a properly-made bar of soap to brush your teeth, you are also brushing with glycerine. Glycerine, by the way, is both water and fat soluable.

Apparently, glycerine can be extracted from the soap and sold, the result being a drying bar devoid of this emollient.

Patricia Kostyk
Registered Dental Hygienist and Soapmaker

I had heard about the no-glycerin idea for tooth cleaning, and I had some Dr. Bronner's Baby Mild (unscented) liquid soap on hand and I started using it. I can't say I noticed anything different in my teeth over about a two-month period. On testing with a pH strip after brushing my saliva was definitely alkaline. However, I then also tested after using Tom's of Maine and Xyliwhite toothpastes (both of which list glycerin as an ingredient), and my mouth tested just as alkaline.

The ingredient list on the Bronner's soap does mention saponified oils, but it also specifically says "with retained glycerin".

So would this be equivalent to Tooth Soap or not?

The best prices I've found on tooth soap (2-month supply for 2 people for $9 + S&H (best pricing was for 3.....came with Priority Mail for the same price as 3 in regular mail + S&H came to 6.10)...total was $33.10 and that should be enough for 1 person for 1 year.....was at www.roseofsharonacres.com. This is different from the other tooth soaps and, while having the same essential ingredients, also adds flavors like tea tree, cinnamon, spearment, peppermint, orange, etc. Reviews on the site also sounded great.
I just ordered mine....

Oh, and there's more I forgot to post in my last posting. When you use tooth soap, you also need to use an abrasive "tooth powder" to get plaque off the teeth (tooth soap is very mild and doesn't do that...it gets the germs, but not the plaque).

You can make your own in 1 minute with the right ingredients:
3 parts baking soda
1 part himalayan crystal salt
1 part xylitol

Mix together in a small glass jar....just put a little on a damp toothbrush and brush your teeth as usual after you've brushed with your tooth soap. You won't believe how great your teeth will look in a day or two if you're not doing this now. It will even help whiten your teeth over time.....

Xylitol you can usually find at a health food store or online. Same with Himalayan Crystal Salt. The salt is expensive....about $10/lb, and xylitol is usually $4-7/lb. However, this stuff will last for years and years and years if you're just using it for tooth powder. If you've never used xylitol for baking, it's the perfect substitute for sugar--tastes great and is GREAT for your teeth. Himalayan Crystal Salt is filled with hard-to-get trace minerals and is the best-tasting salt you've ever tried--you'll probably never want to go back to what you've been using. You also need less of it than regular salt. I bought a 1 kilo (2.2 lbs) of crystal salt about a year ago....I use it for my teeth AND cooking, and it's not quite gone yet!

By the way, I'm an organic raw foodist but discovered that the sugar in the fruits, agave and honey that I was eating was quickly destroying my teeth when I switched to it a few years ago (prior to that I had eaten no sugar in years). While I have not given them up entirely...raw honey has some great health benefits, and the berries that I eat are not that loaded with sugar....I make an exception to the raw food by using xylitol instead of dates, agave, raw sugar, etc. in recipes because the stuff is just so much better for the teeth and is totally non-glycemic. Since it comes in granular form only but works better powdered in raw recipes, I simply put it in a high-speed blender and convert it to powdered xylitol.

Oh, and lastly, for those on a budget (and I think this might have been mentioned above), Dr. Bonner's Castile Soap is a great alternative to tooth soap. Ingredients are pretty much identical:
Water, Saponified Coconut-Hemp-Olive Oils (with retained Glycerin, Olive Fatty Acids, Natural Bitter Almond Fragrance, Vitamin E).....probably better without the glycerine, but since I had some in the house I'm going to use it until my tooth soap arrives. The taste isn't bad and for those on a budget I would think that a 1 lb bottle for $4 would last for years! Just dip the brush in and it probably doesn't use more than 2-3 drops for a good brushing!

My daughter is twelve. Her permanent teeth came in a shade of yellow! I wonder if it was the soy i fed her for the first 10 years of her life. Anyway, she's pretty unhappy with her teeth. I have yet to find an answer to why they came in this color (her baby teeth were a lovely white) Any ideas? Is there hope to remineralize them and that they will lighten up?

Your daughter's yellow teeth might be caused by exposure to certain medications. Tetracycline stains teeth (and probably bones too) permanently yellow; it happened to me during my childhood. The only way to get them white is professional bleaching by a dentist. No over the counter product will work; i've tried them, save your money. If you decide to use bleach gel in dental trays instead of office laser bleaching don't stop using them until you reach the desired color result. It sounds simple but may be tough to follow because the teeth will become very sensitive to hot/cold/sweet/salt/metal, etc. when getting home bleached. I think the bleaching gel works progressively and gains momentum, once there is a break between treatments the gel looses "oomphf" and it's almost like having to start all over again. Sensitization of teeth stops after a few weeks once bleaching is finished. However, all of this might have changed with the new products on the market. Periodic quick and easy touch-ups are recommended because common foods such as tea, coffee, colas, fruits, wine, cigarettes, etc. continue to stain the outer enamel of teeth; however, this is different than medication that stains _bone_. BTW, I am not a dentist, all of this is from my own personal experience. It was frustrating growing up because I did not have any bad dental habits yet had yellow teeth. People assumed I was a smoker and in embarassment I kept my lips shut. Bleaching my teeth was one of the best things I've ever done for myself, it made me feel better about smiling.

www.mizar5.com has good info on natural tooth care. He recommends unscented neutrogena glycerine barsoap as a dentrifice in combination with baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, sea salt, and ocassional gargling with unsweetened cranberry juice. I recently tested Weleda Salt Toothpaste and recommend it wholeheartedly. However, I find the $7 for 3.3oz price at my local health food store prohibitive, although it might be cheaper on www.drugstore.com. I am getting into soapmaking and will attempt to make my own toothsoap as well; will post again "for sale ad" when successful. Hope this helps. (ML from SanFrancisco)

Hello all I too have been making the transition to all natural and organics. I am a 50 yr old afro american, we are prone to more plaque build up and darker gums...

Well I grew up using Colgate toothpaste, I have pink healthy gums,no hard plaque build up but I do get occasion bleeding of the gums...I only had 2 cavities in my life

But I have not brushed for at leaset 2 min....oops!

After learning that toothpaste is bad and abrasive over time, I decided to try tooth oils, which are a blend of essential oils......they do work well, takes some getting use to and you have to watch the cost of it, some sale for $59 for 1 mil bottl....

Now recently I just found a tooth soap in the web....www.awildsoapbar.com....it looks like worms...I am waiting for it to come in the mail...,the only thing I want to keep under control is gingivitis, bleeding of gums,plaque, and I dont want to develop receeding gums. So I guess I will use the oils and the soapand see what happens when I go to dentist next yr. I haven't gone to the dentist in 2007 at all.

alkaline based soap for toothpaste is better then neutral.

It is more degreasser properties and is antibacertial naturally as neutral sodium laureth sulfate usually is added citric acid and mold develops without enough perservative in it.

Ph 9-10 is exellent, once in conatct with skin it goes down to pH9 level and after three months it's pH goes down.

I was inspired to chime in on the initial question of brushing with soap, specifically Tooth Soap. I've brushed with Tooth Soap for years and wrote a very l-o-n-g :) post on my experience with it, my dental routine and how to get the most out of the product. You can read about it at www.dawnofanewday.com/healthy-body/perfect-prescription-tooth-soap/. I know, the address is long too! Sorry.

As I read the comments further on in this post it just got better! Wow, I never knew there were so many resources or other options out there. I learned something! Thank you all

As far as getting SAIBERCISCO's daughter's teeth whiter, I learned about a product called the Myo which is a jaw exerciser. You can see it at www.teethperfect.com. Exercising the jaw in this manner has the added benefit of making the teeth whiter in addition to solving many dental problems and making the teeth and jaws stronger. (We need that considering how much soft food our country eats, huh?) It also has been used as an alternative to braces. I'm going to get one for myself and my daughter since her adult teeth are coming in a little crowded. (She's 7 and got her first adult tooth about 5 months before the baby tooth fell out! Ah!)

I personally would never use anything with glycerin or fluoride at this point in my life. I'd rather just scrape at my teeth with a toothpick. Not too much with stick to teeth after that month period of rubbing off the glycerin if you don't eat sugar. ^^ I stand by Uncle Harry's toothpastes (and powders) on this one. I personally wouldn't want to use soap either; as glycerin is a byproduct of soap-making - and sometimes is even added back in relatively large quantities. I switched my friend over to the same toothpaste I use a while back, too. The result is that his teeth are no longer sensitive and are now even whiter (he consistently brushed.)

www.uncleharrys.com

You can find super affordable tooth soap at www.cheekymaidensoap.com

Only $2.99/bar!

Be very careful about a jaw exercisor. My jaw muscles are HUGE due to grinding and clenching. I just started TMJ remediation and found out I have a malformed upper jaw and he is expanding it so my teeth and jaw will finally find a position to rest. Find yourself a functional dentist and nip any teeth/jaw problems in the bud before they get as bad as mine are. There is a phamplet in my dentists office that shows the appliance ( ALF Advanced Lightwire device )they put in a child's mouth to help make room for all your childs teeth and helps the teeth grow in straight and strong. Don't automatically go for the braces route either. My dentist told me that, yes, the braces straightened my teeth to look pretty but ended up making my bite worse so that I eventually wore my teeth down so far from the grinding that they will have to artificially build my teeth back up to the correct height.

PS I have been using tooth soap from www.toothsoap.com and have been very happy. I chipped a tooth and was worried about pain but I am wondering if the tooth is remineralizing itself as it feels a lot smoother than it did a month ago when it happened. I also do oil pulling.

I used the Perfect Prescription tooth soap for a while and did notice that my dental hygenist was having to do less work during my semi-annual cleanings. However, to save money, I bought the unscented olive oil soap and used a carrot scraper on it to make my own tooth soap shreds. My teeth becam stained for whatever reason from using it. The stain was removed at my semi-annual cleanings but returned again. I am back to using Tom's toothpaste and am waiting to see if my teeth need more cleaning at my next check-up. If so, I'll be using the Perfect Prescription tooth soap again.

Hi everyone, you can also look up solay smile natural tooth powder with Himalayan salt, xylitol, baking soda and essential oils in 5 flavors, $6.50 for a 2 oz, will last very long, all hand made in small batches using xylitol made in the usa and fair trade imported Himalayan salt.

The comments on this thread are very informative...it has been a while since I wrote and I thought it would be important to give everyone some quick information regarding your teeth and why they are sensitive and how they decay.

Every product, regardless if it is organic or a mix of chemicals, cna be good or bad for your teeth. It all comes down to one thing:

Decay is not caused by bacteria
Decay is not caused by not brushing
Decay is not caused by eating candy

Decay is caused by ACID. That is it. Nothing else. Period. So, anything that causes you to have SENSITIVE teeth is acidic. If it is acidic then it is slowly dissolving your teeth, making their surface more like sandpaper than pearl soft.

Bacteria release acid.
Sugar feeds bacteria.
Not brushing allows bacteria to feed and live longer on your teeth.

If you understand this then you have the opportunity to avoid thousands of dollars in dentistry, as well as sensitive teeth.

The reason I tell people to avoid mouthwashes, abrasive toothpastes and chemicals is for the above reasons. It is not the one time large exposure to acid that does the damage to the teeth, but rather the continuous exposure to small amounts - like Chinese water torture. This post could go on forever, but I don't want to waste everyones time. You can write me with questions if your like, I love to talk about this. It is a matter of diet and what products you use!
Dr. Hahn - chahn [at] idealdentistry.com

There is a neat site for Organic-Without-Chemicals soaps, personal and cleaning products, including organic Olive Oil TOOTH SOAP...

www.FromTheMeadows.com

I orginally posted that glycerine is water and fat soluble. Apparently it is water and alcohol soluble.

I use an ionic tooth brush and love it! Has anyone ever tried this? How do you like it?

We found a tooth soap formula from .. www.roseofsharonacres.com ... that contains XYLITOL which fights the acids that cause tooth decay. We are especially pleased that the xylitol makes it palitable for the children - their prices are reasonable, the product lasts well and they are extremely helpful.

If people want a nice tasting, truly safe organic Tooth & Gum Soap in an easy to use dispenser they should look at the 3 flavors on

www.FromTheMeadows.com

They have no dangerous chemicals in them they and are lower in price than most others ($8.99 for a 2-3 months size bottle).

Children can use the bottle and they don't have to put a shred of soap on their teeth - or try to use a fragile eye-dropper.

First time buyers can enter the code

Welcome10%

to get 10% off their first order!

Xylitol is a great product and I am glad to see it appear now in many new products! Just for clarification purposes, Xylitol works by tricking the bacteria, not fighting acids. The bacteria think it is a sugar they can feed on, digest and then release acid which causes the decay (see my post above). Xylitol can not be digested by the bacteria so they starve. That is the mechanism and it works wonderfully!

Enjoy.

Chrisian Hahn

I've been using tooth soap now for about 4 months. I actually make soap myself and got a custom order for it. I thought it sounded weird and gross at first, but after my very first brushing I noticed a difference. I think it's so much better for you than regular flouride laden toothpaste and cleans your teeth great! My husband who I'd never imagine wanting to use tooth soap likes it too, which is a bonus for me.

You can make your own teethsoap by either the hot or cold process soap making methods. I use only olive oil (making it a castile soap) essential oils of mint, anise and citrus along with extracts of the same. I only use a small amount of the oils and extracts and adjust it to my own personal taste.

You can use any handmade soap to clean your teeth with, it doesn't have to be something that you buy at a health food store and it doesn't have to cost a fortune just because it's a 'novelty' item.

I like to offer people a sample, for basically the price of shipping because I think it's important for people to try it out. I don't think it's for everyone especially if you love a big burst of mint while you brush. It does lather up very nicely and once you get used to it you don't really even miss the toothpaste.

Another thing is that I've put it into lip balm tubes, it makes it so much easier and cleaner to use. And again, if you've got an empty one lying around just clean it out and 'stamp' some handmade soap into it. It works wonderfully and saves on packaging materials.

I hope this helps you and I really believe that once you've tried using a handmade soap to clean your teeth you'll be hooked for life.

All my best!

I'm glad that some of you have found our Tooth Savior Soap for Teeth helpful. It's gotten tons of favorable reviews that you can read on our website. In addition to xylitol which fights cavities, our tooth soap is made with aloe (instead of plain water) and it also contains wild white oak bark which is great for strengthening the gums and stevia which improves the taste. Some have commented here that tooth soap tastes bad, but I'd reserve judgement until you try ours. I find it very pleasant and clean tasting and I could never go back to using commercial toothpastes (even the so called "natural" ones.)

Here is some info about soap for teeth:

DENTAL HEALTH
Letter from Gerard F. Judd, Ph.D., Chemist, Researcher for 18 years and
Professor of Chemistry for 33 yrs.
April 2002

Dear Government Executive and Employee:

We can all stop spending billions for American dental work and research. Let me tell you why:

I have learned the real causes of dental cavities and gum
Infection. People, including you, will now be able to take care of their own dentistry with insignificant cost, and end with perfect teeth. Cavities and gum infections are ended!

A great amount of REPUTABLE DENTAL RESEARCH proves the following:

1. Tooth cavities will be ended simply by rinsing acids off the teeth. ACIDS ALONE EAT THE ENAMEL. THERE WOULD BE NO CAVITIES IN THE WORLD if all people rinsed acids from their teeth promptly. Just sip water, milk or other liquid while eating. Water reacts with acids.

2. Foods and drinks, other than those containing acids, have no action on tooth enamel. SUGARS HAVE NO ACTION ON THE ENAMEL.

3. Bacteria cannot damage the enamel (calcium hydroxy phosphate). There is no such thing as decay of the enamel since bacteria require carbon and hydrogen to live. Billions of human and animal remains show teeth and bones are resistant to
Earth-bound organisms.

4. Teeth reenamalize when clean. TO MAKE TEETH CLEAN ONE BRUSHES WITH ANY BAR SOAP. Soap washes off in just 2 rinses. What about toothpastes? Glycerine in all tooth pastes is so sticky that it takes 27 washes to get it off. Teeth brushed with any toothpaste are coated with a film and CANNOT PROPERLY
REENAMELIZE.

5. Taking calcium and phosphate in the diet results in reenamelization of the teeth, but only when they are clean. Bar soap does a perfect job in cleaning the surface. The enamel thickens and becomes less sensitive. Adenosine diphosphatase
Furnishes phosphate to teeth.

6. Gums are disinfected by brushing with any bar soap. Not only bacteria and viruses are destroyed promptly by small amounts of soap in water, but also white flies and aphids. Gardeners: Spray 1 tsp of dishwashing soap in 1 gallon of water to kill white flies and aphids.

7. Plaque, a poorly formed crystal stuck to the bottom of the enamel, is prevented and eventually removed by brushing with bar soap. Dental procedures to get the badly formed crystals off dig holes through the enamel. These cavities catch food and cause gum infection.

8. Prevention of plaque retards gum pockets. GUM POCKETS are formed as the plaque pushes the gums away from the teeth. GUM POCKETS, from 1 to 8 mm deep, ARE ALSO FORMED BY FLUORIDE, WHICH SEVERS THE PROTEIN MOLECULES ADHERING THE GUMS TO THE TEETH. SOAP PREVENTS GINGIVITIS caused by bacteria which is lodged in the gum pockets.

9. VITAMIN C AND PHOSPHATE help knit the gums back to the teeth. Pressing against the gums with fingers forces adhesive materials from the gums onto the teeth, which helps the process. Abscesses can be offset by holding Cepacol (14%
Alcohol) in the mouth 5 minutes.

10. Receding gum surgery will end when the GUM POCKETS cease. The very mention of the procedure, which involves transferring flesh from the roof of the mouth to the excised area of the gums, is a heinous and useless procedure which ought to pass into oblivion.

11. REMOVAL OF FLUORIDE FROM DRINKING WATER, PASTES OR GELS SAVES THE ENZYME ADENOSINE DIPHOSPHATASE so it can deliver phosphate to calcium at the tooth surface, RESULTING IN A BEAUTIFUL, SEMI-FLEXIBLE ENAMEL.

12. As stated above, THE GUMS CAN BE RECONNECTED TO THE TEETH BY TAKING VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID) (1 tsp) with Arm and Hammer baking soda (1/2 tsp) in 1 inch of water, letting it fizz and then diluting to 1/2 to 1 cup with water, then drinking. The resulting SODIUM ASCORBATE is non-acid, very pure and a thousand
Times more soluble than vitamin C. SODIUM ASCORBATE IS MORE REACTIVE THAN ASCORBIC ACID (c) in building connective tissue and antibody structures and more effective in killing some viruses and bacteria.

13. Receding gums and plaque are ended when soap is used for brushing and VITAMIN C IS TAKEN DAILY AS DESCRIBED IN #12.

14. 30% of American youths ages 8-10 have no cavities. 100% of Ugandan youths Ages 6-10 have no cavities. What does this tell us?

15. THE REASON UGANDAN YOUTHS HAVE 3 TIMES BETTER TEETH THAN AMERICAN YOUTHS IS BECAUSE they do not consume as many acid foods, have no fluoride in their drinking water, have regular meals rather than sipping acid drinks all day, have
more calcium and phosphate in their diet, and have fewer dentists to WORK ON their teeth.

16. DENTAL LITERATURE says 42% OF AMERICANS OVER 65 HAVE NO NATURAL TEETH while 25% OF THOSE OVER 43 HAVE NONE.

17. Dental literature says AMERICANS AGE 43 AVERAGE 32 CAVITIES, those AGE 17 HAVE 13 CAVITIES, blacks and poverty stricken (without calcium and phosphate)ave twice this and the Native Americans have four times this amount. The NATIVE
AMERICAN PLIGHT CAN BE BLAMED ON THEIR POOR NUTRITION, EXCESSIVE FLUORIDATION AND FREE BUT IMPROPER DENTAL CARE.

18. IF FLUORIDATION WERE EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING CAVITIES, NATIVE AMERICANS WOULD HAVE THE LEAST CAVITIES? THEY HAVE HAD FORCED FLORIDATION FOR APPROXIMATELY 62 YEARS.

20. FLUORIDE in water at I part per million INCREASED TOOTH CAVITIES in four large reliable studies 7.22.45 and 10% (average 21 %). The reason far these increases has to do with the fact that adenosine diphosphatase is destroyed by
fluoride and CALCIUM FLUORIDE which slips into the enamel, IS ALIEN TO THE TOOTH COMPOSITE AND MAKES THE ENAMEL WEAK, BRITTLE AND DISCOLORED.

21. THE HEALTH OF AMERICAN TEETH WILL INCREASE TO BE VERY NEARLY PERFECT if the regimen of WATER RINSING, SOAP BRUSHING AND TAKING CALCIUM, PHOSPHATE AND VITAMIN C IN THE DIET is implemented.

22. Fortunately, we now know the current teeth perfecting protocol of dentistry with fluoridation is flawed. IF THE EARLY ESTIMATES OF 80% TOOTH IMPROVEMENT IN CHILDRENS TEETH BY AGE 13 WERE TRUE, EACH AMERICAN WOULD NOW HAVE LESS THAN ONE
CAVITY. That is far from true. The teeth in America are in a sorry state, AND AT THE PRESENT TIME ARE GETTING WORSE.

23. Numerous top scientists over the past 60 years have discarded the theory that fluoride helps teeth, or is a nutrient helpful to man

24. TO AVOID FLUORIDE IS TO PREVENT MORE THAN 114 AILMENTS listed with references in a book Good Teeth Birth to Death by Gerard F. Judd, Ph.D.. These 114 MEDICAL SIDE EFFECTS extend all the way from cancer down to headaches CAUSED BY 1 PPM FLUORIDE IN THE WATER. Thirteen of these side effects are proved by a double blind study on 60 patients by 12 physicians,
1 pharmacist and 1 attorney.

25. The mechanism for destruction of enzymes by fluoride has been proven by x-ray studies. Hydrogen bonds are broken by fluoride.

26. Fluoride is the smallest negative particle on the face of the earth. Since the FLUORIDE PARTICLES ARE SO SMALL and so intensely negative, THEY CONNECT WITH THE HYDROGEN BONDS HOLDING THE ENZYME COILS IN PLACE and ruin every enzyme
molecule at very low concentration, around 1-3 ppm. These enzymes are often 3,000 or more times the small size of the fluoride. The effect is ruinous.

27. To avoid fluoride is to prevent the destruction of 83 enzymes listed with references in Good Teeth, Birth to Death, by Gerard F. Judd, Ph.D.. FLUORIDE IS A SEVERE BIOLOGICAL POISON. Being intensely negative, it unlatches positive
hydrogen bonds in enzymes AND proteins.

28. It is fortunate we have learned fluoride is a nerve poison. FLUORIDE CAUSES CAVITIES. There is not the slightest doubt.
29. Methylmercury formed from amalgams in the body is deadly. It causes brain disease. Fillings made of quartzite and epoxy are a safe substitute.

30. Fluoride harms the economy by MAKING PEOPLE PURCHASE OTHER THAN CITY WATER to avoid it. It also harms the economy by making people dependent an undependable professions that know nothing about it. Ignorance about fluoride and what it does is worldwide.

31. Keep the teeth moist. Teeth that are dry crack. If you chew ice, teeth may crumble. Teeth do have a breaking strength.

Respectfully yours,

Gerard F. Judd, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, Chemistry

PARTIAL CREDENTIALS OF DR JUDD-October 24, 2002 -- 6615 W
Lupine, Glendale AZ 85304
1. Ph.D. from Purdue University.
2. Researcher in industry: 18 yrs.
3. Prof of chemistry: 33 yrs; retired professor emeritus.
4. Fluoride laboratory studies: Linde, Purdue, Wright Field and Phoenix College,
13 yrs.
5. Author, revised: Good Teeth Birth to Death, 117 pp. July 1997.
6. Author, revised: Chemistry, Its Uses In Everyday Life, 305 pp. July 1997.
7. Author, Workbook, Self Quizzes and Laboratory Assignments for Chemistry, Its
Uses In Everyday Life, July 16, 1997.
8. Author, Chemical Hygiene Plan, 89 pp,
4-23-1998.
9. Speaker, writer, radio host, bookseller, age 79, continuing October 24, 2002.

10. Fighter for truth in practical uses of chemistry.

We also make a product 'Tooth Chips - Soap for Teeth' that is a natural alternative to commercial toothpastes. We have formulated it with xylitol and it comes in several flavors - wintermint being the most popular. (clove is in the 'curing' zone right now).

Our chips have been well received by customers looking for a healthy tooth brushing experience and are far less expensive than the perfect prescription brand. We also use Grapefruit Seed Extract in our products as a natural preservative and bacteria fighter.

We have also formulated an Herbal Tooth Powder containing white oak bark, gum resien, anise and some other herbs to use in conjunction with the chips for some abrasive action. I use it personally 4 times a week.

The sensitivity that plagued me for so many years is gone and we've had lots of testimonies of people whose teeth are being restored.

We are using organic oils and essential oils for flavoring - although you can never totally remove the fact that this is 'soap' the taste is palitable and leaves your mouth refreshed.

For first time buyers, we will offer a 10% discount for oral care products for this list....use coupon code 'Debra' at checkout.

Very thorough post...I agree with much of it, but sometimes it seems that we are taking this to extremes...if you know what I mean. As a dentist I must say that there is quite some validity to science, even if it does not apply to everyone all the time. Dentistry needs to be individualized for each person and their unique human situation. Knowledge is power, but just like any real power, it can intoxicate the mind and result in somewhat of a jadet opinion. I recommend you take everything you read with a grain of salt, no pun intended! A top quality dentist can save your teeth, especially if you are young and willing to listen and learn. Great site and great feedback!

I have read all the posts of dental soap and was thinking it was a good idea. Years ago I tried a tooth and gum cleaner made by Garden of Life, Clenzology.com. It is not a SOAP but A SOLUTION.

* Pure, all-natural tooth, gum and breath freshener

* Contains the oils of peppermint, clove and myrrh

* Contains no fluoride, sugar, chalk, detergents, flavorings, harsh chemicals or abrasives

* Clenzology Tooth and Gum Solution freshens your teeth, gums and breath without sugar, fluoride, chalk, detergents, flavorings, harsh chemicals or abrasives.



INGREDIENTS: Coconut Oil, Peppermint Oil, Spearmint Oil, Thyme Oil, Sweet Marjoram Oil, Myrrh Oil, Clove Oil.

It basically has the same ingredients that many of the tooth soaps have but minus the glycerin and xylitol (which I want to stay away from).

I loved the above product...made my mouth feel so clean and much better than any toothpaste.
MY QUES: Would this be equivalent to using the tooth soap since it's the same ingredients or is there something else about soap per se that is better?

THANKS SO MUCH FOR ANY ADVICE.
CLAUDIA

Hi Claudia,

While it does have some of the same ingredients, what you used was a completely different product than tooth soap and I can't imagine that it would have the same effect. Tooth soap cleans just like any soap does. Your product was basically just a vegetable oil with some essential oils. Wash with vegetable oil and then wash with soap and see which one feels cleaner to you. I do know people that use oil to cleanse their skin though, so if this worked for you... then go for it!

Maggie Hanus, soapbartender

I response to Debra about the Uncle Harry's Tooth Paste:

There actually are many different varieties of tooth pastes and powders made by this company. I am suspecting that the first one you came across was an older version with soap (but I think they still make it an option today.) When I had began using it, it was partly because on the label that said "Improved Formula" and "No Glycerine." I was sure to spell it the same way they did even. :D

The ingredients in the one I used the most for many years are as follows:
Utah clay, sea salt, colloidal silver water, over 70 ionic minerals, spearmint, peppermint, clove, thyme, oregano oils.

However, lately, I've been using tooth powders of different sorts. Either way, these methods for cleaning my teeth have worked at least 3 or 4 years and are of the more traditional type with history to back them. And they accompany my all natural tooth brush very well. ^_^

On another note relating to the original post, I barely use soap in general. If I need a replacement, I go with something in the nature of shikakai or soapwort. I figure I don't like it on my skin, I wouldn't much better in my mouth (so dehydrating and sticky.)

Man, this response came late compared to the original post! *laughs* Inaccurate or incomplete information will just follow my mind until its fixed. Glad to have it out of my mind and I hope this info is of some use to someone.

Hi Everyone!

After years of having to brush with Sensodyne (at my dentist's recommendation), due to weakened enamel and horrible sensitivity, I came across A Wild Soap Bar's Tooth Savior Soap for Teeth. A year and a half later, my dentist is truly amazed at the results!

My sensitivity has been so greatly reduced I can now eat almost anything I want. My teeth and gums have never looked or felt better. In fact, when I travel, if I forget to take my Tooth Savior along and have to use regular toothpaste, I can feel the difference almost immediately. I am a Tooth Savior user for life!

The ONLY drawback we've found is that when you use any kind of tooth soap, it will indeed taste like soap. But you get used to it quickly, and Tooth Savior has some wonderful added ingredients (chlorella, xylitol, spearmint, peppermint, tea tree, and vanilla) that really make this product taste "not so bad" (which is the best you can hope for from a tooth soap!) and add to its beneficial properties.

I asked my dentist about the whole "soap for teeth" idea, and surprisingly, he said that yes, natural soap is actually good for teeth, he just never recommends it because so many people can't stand the soapy taste in their mouth.

As it turns out, I am the owner of a natural products website, which blossomed from a desire to share some of the best products that I actually use, so we now sell Tooth Savior, and it is one of our best-selling products! As a huge fan of Tooth Savior myself, it has been easy to promote the product- because I love it! Even if you don't buy it from us, I strongly suggest you try this product! I believe that Whole Foods is carrying it now, so see if you can buy it locally first.

You can check out our website for more information here:

www.thegreatergreen.com/naturalbeauty/dental/toothsoap.html

Feel free to contact me with any specific questions you might have as well!

Hope that helps!

Peace and happiness!

I brush with Dr. Bronner's liquid castile soap (peppermint). It tastes like soap, but I've gotten used to it. Every few days, I'll use baking soda for something more abrasive. It seems to have worked well for me!

Uncle Harrys !

I will second the "Uncle Harrys" *toothpaste. He has powders too but I use the paste, it is relatively new. I have been using that and a Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda combo when needed. I also brush longer with a softer bristle, this helps a lot not to hurry.

I carry Baking Soda in my car so if I eat something at least I can do an alkalizing rinse.

*I would like to know more about the Calcium and Phosphate how, where to get/use it and does it actually cure an already decaying part of the tooth ? My dentist wants to veneer my two front teeth, I want to cure them.
hopeful.

Catherine

Dear Catherine,

To help you address your comment about veneering your front two teeth, you need to take a few things into consideration. You can "cure" small decalcifications in the outer layer, or enamel, of your tooth. Once the decay gets into the second layer, or dentin, then nothing can "cure" it anymore. A veneer is a pretty extensive form of treatment. Most dentists will treat decay on front teeth with fillings (composite) or a crown/cap. Before getting any treatment done make sure you understand all your options, the why's, and possibly get a second opinion. You only get 1 chance to make this decision :)

With regards to this blog and brushing your teeth with soap, I would like to update some information I posted a while back as well as offer a system to get out of the "dental cyle of breakdown and decay".

You are solely responsible for your health, and most of you are here because you know this! Here is the regimen that I recommend. You can find it again on my website in more detail, www.xylosalt.com.

1. Make your own toothpaste:
Baking Soda (3 parts)
XyloSalt (1 part)
Colloidal Silver, a few drops to create paste
OR Hydrogen Peroxide (only if you do not have silver mercury
fillings)
2. Brush gently (super soft toothbrush) with the above
3. Use a Rubber Tip
4. Floss
5. Use a Water Irrigator
6. Rinse with XyloSalt Mouthwash

This combination works wonders on your oral health.

Christian Hahn