As I mentioned in my previous post, I’ve been brushing my teeth with my handmade soaps for a while now.
It all started when I read about Dr. Gerard F. Judd, a professor, chemist and researcher. Dr. Judd is not a fan of fluoride in water or commercial toothpaste. Especially since toothpaste contains addition glycerine and other abrasive additives.
Dr. Judd also states that glycerine does not come off your teeth easily, it leaves a film. With handmade bar soap, there is naturally occurring glycerine and it rinses off clean and easy. If you brush before bedtime, it would allow your teeth to re-enamelize while you are sleeping.
If you search online you will find many tooth soaps in the market. The basic ingredients are the same as handmade soap. Except some companies charge so much for it!
Pictured here is the “tooth savior”. Photo from Olive Barn $18 at 1 oz.
Ingredients: saponified organic extra virgin olive, organic coconut, and organic palm oils, organic aloe, wild white oak bark, french green clay, sea salt, peppermint, spearmint & tea tree essential oils, chlorella, vanilla, stevia.
With the soap shreds, you simply place one little soap shred on the back molars, bite down, and then brush thoroughly. The shred will dissolve while brushing with a wet toothbrush.
“Contains no toxic fluoride, harsh abrasives, added glycerin, petroleum dyes, refined sweeteners, sodium lauryl sulfate, unsafe preservatives, or other harmful ingredients found in most commercial toothpastes that actually damage your teeth, your health, and the health of our planet!” - the makers of tooth savior.
Dr. Bonner’s popular peppermint soap can also be used to brush with, it’s also much cheaper.
Dr. Bonner’s FAQ: “For toothbrushing… many people with sensitive or softer teeth like to use our soap as toothpaste because it lacks abrasives.”
I don’t shred my soaps and have been brushing with a few of my handmade soaps. From the tamarind soap, to peppermint soap. It’s not even bitter or strange, but may have to get use to at first.
All you have to do is wet the bar of soap then swipe your toothbrush on it a few times. Brush normally. Too much and it could be foamy. Then rinse.
One thing I’ve noticed is that my gum bleed less and the tooth sensitivity I’ve had disappeared. The only bad side is that it doesn’t remove tea and coffee stain too well. So once a week, I just brush with baking soda after brushing with the soap. Then rinse with a mixture of 3 % hydrogen peroxide.
I think I want to try making tooth soap soon, just like the one from tooth savior. But would change it up a bit and add the following - French green Clay, Himalayan Rock Salt, peppermint oil, stevia and maybe fresh aloe vera.
9:28 pm on December 28th, 2009
Brushing your teeth with soap?
I have one of those soap that come in a pump bottle and I have a similar pump for a toothpaste. You can guess there this story is going. But when it is dark and you are groggy from just waking up, you don’t pay attention. So I accidentally brush my teeth with a liquid soap just for a few second before I realize it.
Everything we touch seems to be bad for us. There is nothing safe anymore. But with moderation, I think we will be fine. Just to be on the safe side, I will stick with water and tooth brush. Once in a while I will use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.
10:04 pm on December 28th, 2009
Cambree, it does make more sense now after this post, but I think it’s the idea that we grew up with that soap is to clean our other parts of the body and toothpaste is to clean our teeth, sort of name association type of thing. It’d be interesting to see what you come up with, and maybe add something to help remove the coffee and tea stain.
10:15 pm on December 29th, 2009
Dallas - that is a funny story. Are you really just sticking with water and toothbrush?
Everything in moderation is best. But sometimes you have to wonder what exactly is good and what exactly is bad. Some manufacturers don’t really care, as long as they make money.
Nye - I agree, when we think soap, we think it’s for body only. The handmade soap is really becoming the all purpose bar for me.
oh, and thanks for the stain removal idea. I’m thinking clay would be good or baking soda. But will do my research first.
2:23 am on January 3rd, 2010
This is interesting Cambree. Just glancing at your post reminded me of a documentary I saw recently on Dr. Bonner, a very interesting and ‘eccentric’ man. He mentioned brushing your teeth with soap…heck, using his soap for almost anything you can think of just about.
You mentioned using the ‘French green clay,’ that won’t be too hard on the enamel would it? I guess this is like a ‘diatomaceous earth’ substitute.
When I first glance at your previous post, it reminded me of Ralphie in ‘A Christmas Story’ getting his mouth washed out with soap:))
Thanks again for an interesing post.
12:53 am on January 5th, 2010
Hi PaNoy,
I didn’t know Dr. Bonner had a documentary on him. That would be interesting to watch.
At the moment, it seem I’m the only one in the house that brushes with soap. But they are missing out!