In the spirit of Old Git...

From Mother Earth News issue #31, 1975, page 60 :

"Pennywise Tooth Cleansers"

"[3] MAKE YER OWN TOOTH POWDER Thoroughly mix 3 parts baking soda with 1 part salt & funnel the compound into a short small-mouthed container such as a pop or beer bottle. You'll find that the creation has a satisfying, different taste & leaves your mouth feeling very fresh & soothed. If you'd like, add a few drops of peppermint or wintergreen oil to the concoction - or mix the home brew half-and-half with a commercial tooth powder - to give the dentifrice a more pleasant flavor"

"[4] MAKE YER OWN TOOTHPASTE This formula is simply an extension of the tooth powder recipe: To eachhalf cup of homemade powder, add 3 teaspoons of glycerin10-20 drops of flavoring (peppermint, wintergreen, anise, cinnamon, or whatever) & 1 drop of food coloring. Mix the ingredients thoroughly in a bowl & add just enough water to make the concoction 'tooth-pastey'. Spoon the substance into a small refillable plastic squeeze bottle or any container that dispenses easily & won't leak. Voila`! Toothpaste!"

Now go brush your teeth! Don't forget to floss!

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), May 15, 1999

Answers

Thanks Bingo

I just love all these homemade recipes. Printing this one too...

-- shellie (shellie01@hotmail.com), May 15, 1999.

And when away from home ... chew on a mint leaf.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), May 15, 1999.

Or chew on parsley. Just don't get any parsley juice in your eye. Talk about painful...

mb in NC

-- mb (mdbutler@coastalnet.com), May 15, 1999.

I heard that you can use plain old soap. I know it does not sound tasty and I have not tried it myself. Some people have gone this route out of fear of the ill effects of flouride

-- Joe O (ozarkjoe@yahoo.com), May 16, 1999.