Brushing Up on Dental Care

This week's subject took seed months ago and, finally, I can share results. In previous posts, I've mentioned a few merits of baking soda (e.g. Odour Takes a Powder & Atmospheric Disturbances.) Along with vinegar, lemon and salt, soda is part of my "wonder-products" arsenal – commonly found in most stores, safe for family and environment, marvellously effective for a multitude of household purposes, and, with the occasional exception of lemons, inexpensive. I'm always searching for new uses and applications.

So, last winter, when my sensitive teeth acted up, I began an experiment. The traditional, brand-name toothpaste I had been using made my teeth feel electrified after brushing. Sensitivity toothpaste (also brand-name,) helped lessen the sensation, but my teeth didn't feel clean – the paste coats my mouth in a very unpleasant way. I acknowledge that these effects could have been due, in part, to the hard water here in Cache Creek but, regardless the reasons, the store-bought toothpastes just weren't working well for me. I decided to try a mixture I remembered from childhood, one my mother used whenever toothpaste ran out: baking soda and salt. Back then, I didn't much like it. There was no sweet, minty flavour and no foam. But, with "electric" teeth, I figured anything was worth a try.

Results came quickly. Within a day, all sensitivity was gone. Within a week, my teeth were visibly whiter. Brushing with the mixture left my teeth pearly smooth and, unlike regular toothpastes, didn't stimulate a mucinous response. Okay, I still don't care much for the flavour, but now I actually prefer the lack of foaming action. I wondered, though, what the long term effects of using the mixture would be. Would the soda and/or salt damage tooth enamel? Would plaque build-up quicker? Would breath odours be neutralized?

This week, I went for my first dental cleaning in over six years. Gasp! I know. With no aspersions to the clinic's staff – which is very friendly, attentive, and professional – dental appointments have always caused me serious trepidation. A combination of sensitive teeth and Temporomandibular Joint disorder (or TMJ syndrome) can make even a simple cleaning painful. I've never had strong tooth enamel, either, so check-ups normally resulted in a filling or two.

This check-up was drastically different. First, I had no cavities. None. Nada. Wow! Assessments like that happen so rarely, I can count previous incidents on one hand and still have digits uncounted. I asked, pointedly – after explaining I have been brushing with soda and (powdered) salt for about ten months – if there were signs of damage to tooth enamel, or if plaque build-up was excessive. Before answering, my doctor asked how long it had been since my last check-up. Though her eyebrows shot up when I told her, she withheld any rebuke and said my teeth were in good condition "given the lapse of time." Though they were in need of de-scaling, "plaque was not excessive and tooth enamel appeared unmarred." Surprisingly, she was unconcerned with my choice to brush with a soda-salt mixture. Her only caution was to advise both can affect blood-pressure (mine is high) so I should avoid ingesting the mixture. Not something I'm tempted to do, anyway, so that's not a problem.

Not everyone has sensitive teeth, though. Many are repulsed, either by the salty taste or by using a powder. This mixture (4:1, soda to powdered salt) won't appeal to everyone. But, for those who want a more natural tooth cleaner, one that not only cleans ably and economically, but also reduces (or eliminates) tooth sensitivities and brightens teeth, this mixture has plenty of merit. One unexpected bonus: drinking citrus juice after brushing with it doesn't prompt shuddering.

Oh, and for those who wonder, hubby says my breath smells sweet. Yes, I flashed him my freshly-cleaned smile.

Update: Odour Takes a Powder

Back in January I posted a blog about an easy home-made deodorant. At the end of that post, I mentioned I was working to find a comparable liquid form for summer. After some research and a few test trials, those results are now ready to share.

The first concoction I researched was another simple recipe consisting of one tablespoon of alum dissolved in one cup of warm water and (optionally) scented with a drop or spritz of a favourite perfume or cologne. Ammonium alum is available at most compound pharmacies, and is intended for topical use. Its price was reasonable: $4.49 (Can) for 125 grams, which is enough for eight (nearly nine) preparations, each supplying eight ounces of liquid deodorant. It seemed a great option until I began researching the ammonium alum. This double sulfate, also known as ammonium aluminum sulphate, is made from aluminum hydroxide, sulfuric acid, and ammonium sulfate. Though this chemical is said to be non-toxic, I was concerned when I read the words "aluminum hydroxide." That mineral is used in the production of aluminum chloride, a common ingredient in commercial deodorants and the one which has been linked to Alzheimer's, breast cancer and respiratory problems. I'm certainly no chemist, but I was reluctant to use this fluid for the same reason I avoid commercial brands.

Next I checked out a cream deodorant. It involves a little more processing, but it's still a relatively simple recipe using common ingredients. To prepare it, mix equal parts of baking soda, petroleum jelly and talcum powder (I substituted corn starch) in a double-boiler and dissolve the mixture over low heat, stirring frequently until a smooth cream develops. Put the preparation in a container – preferably glass – with a tight-fitting lid. This cream is applied by hand so, to avoid its contamination, I prepared small batches. The cream works effectively; however its greatest drawback was the oily residue it left on clothing. This stain proved resistant to laundering and, for this reason, I don't recommend it. Why ruin clothes with oil stains? There's no frugality in that.

In continuing my research for a home-made liquid deodorant, I performed experiments with water and baking soda. The usual bicarbonate effect happened though, and when the bubbling activity subsided, all that was left was an insoluble mass of soda sunk to the bottom of the water. Subsequently, I tried a mixture of equal parts baking soda and glycerine. This resulted in a loose cream which could be applied by hand but, while it worked effectively, the skin felt too sticky for comfort.

Perhaps one of the most intriguing formula I discovered was a deodorant tea, which works from the inside out. The recipe calls for a mix of equal quantities of sage leaves, parsley, alfalfa, and melilot (also known as sweet clover.) This herbaceous mixture will deteriorate in light and so should be made in small quantities and then stored in an opaque container. To prepare the tea, brew ½ to 2 teaspoons of the mix in ½ cup hot water and steep a few minutes. The instructions did not specify ingesting daily, only "regularly." I presume its use is dependent on one's personal need.

The tea got me thinking, though. If these herbs and plants can have a deodorizing effect, then the reverse must also be true: some foods, drinks and spices must contribute to body odour. From personal experience, I can attest that consuming certain foods – beef, fried foods, alcoholic beverages, and spices and herbs such as curry or garlic – does indeed produce unsavoury body odours. Even the strongest commercial deodorants only mask their (often foul) emanations. So, I have begun to take note of various foods which produce those unpleasant results, and now eat them only occasionally.

Ultimately, I ended up back at the beginning. The original powder formula – equal parts baking soda and corn starch – remains my favourite. And, I needn't have been concerned about "powdery armpits." This deodorant, it turns out, disappears very quickly after application, to become as invisible as any commercial brand. Unlike those store-bought deodorants, however, this powder, if it ends up on clothing, is easily brushed off or laundered out. Its cost – only pennies per bi-weekly batch – also makes it a thrifty choice for budget-conscious households.

So, with all the experimentation behind me, I'm back to using the original powder preparation and am pleased to report my underarms are tank-top friendly.

Have you got a home-preparation I haven't tried? If so, I'd like to hear about it. Please leave a comment to share your formula and observations.

Odour Takes a Powder

A few years ago, concerned about the affects of aluminum compounds in various household products, I got rid of a few old pots and pans, stopped buying soda in cans, and quit using commercial antiperspirants.

Most antiperspirants (as opposed to deodorants) contain ingredients such as: Aluminum chloride; Aluminum zirconium tricholorohydrex glycine; Aluminum chlorohydrate; and Aluminum hydroxybromide ('How Stuff Works' article; May 2, 2001). Given the growing body of evidence linking these ingredients to Alzheimer's, breast cancer and respiratory problems ('Natural Medicine' article) the risks far outweighed – for me – the need to use an antiperspirant.

That set me on a path to discover an effective product that did not include those compounds. Health stores offered crystal and stick deodorants, most expounding the virtues of Aloe Vera, Tea Tree and/or hemp oil. While these additives are believed to be safe and, in some instances, beneficial, they just didn't work for me. Crystals crumbled and cracked, becoming torturous to use, and the fragrant ingredients in stick deodorants simply produced something viler than mere underarm odour alone. One product even resulted in a yeast infection. Not good.

My patience exhausted, I decided to try a home remedy of my own invention. Knowing that baking soda is effective at neutralizing odour and corn starch absorbs moisture – the latter once recommended by our family physician for my child's diaper rash – I combined the two. Applied like a dusting powder, using cosmetic pads (home sewn from scrap cloth; see: Rags to Niches) it can be a little messy so I do this over the bathroom sink.

It's astonishing how well this powder works. Not only does it completely eliminate odour and control perspiration, it's fantastically less expensive. It has an unexpected benefit to, too. Many commercial deodorants leave residue on clothing and some seem to lock odour into synthetic fabrics. This powder has the opposite effect. There is no stain, just a little dusting (at most), and the baking soda actually helps remove lingering odours from fabric.

To make your own, simply combine equal parts of baking soda and corn starch. I make small batches (one tablespoon of each ingredient) and change cosmetic pads daily to lessen the possibility of contaminating the powder. This two tablespoon batch lasts approximately two weeks, at which time I clean the container and make a fresh batch. The cosmetic pads are laundered in small-garment bags with regular loads.

For more than two months I've used this home-made product and, impressed with its effectiveness, cost, and bonus feature, doubt I'll ever buy commercial brands again. However, I am working on a liquid form for summer, when sleeveless tops will expose powdery armpits.

Atmospheric Disturbances

Winter stinks. Literally. Cooking aromas, body odours, and laundry pong have nowhere to go so they just hang around. Often times the weather is just too foul to open windows and doors to get fresh air introduced and moving through the home. In colder climes, houseplants would be risked!

There are numerous brands of air fresheners on the market but, for me, their cloying scent is overwhelming. If the intense and artificial fragrance weren't choking enough, most leave an airborne slick of chemicals that, if you have the misfortune to inhale, leaves a bitter taste that lasts hours. Most are worse, even, than the winter reek they're meant to cover up. So, how to keep the home smelling fresh in those closed-home months? There are a few common household products that not only work well, they're thrifty to use, too.

First on my list are houseplants. Depending on the type of plant and its size, they scrub the home's air through the process of photosynthesis (Wikipedia: Photosynthesis.) Plants consume water and carbon dioxide (CO₂) and produce oxygen as waste. Their waste is our gain. Not only is the home cleaned of excessive carbon dioxide – which results from merely breathing – they convert that gas into clean air. The more plants you have, the more square footage of household atmosphere they'll clean. Dispersing plants around the home ensures odours have no hiding places.

Lingering food aromas can be the worst offenders. Rather than mask cabbage or fish smells with spray bursts of chemical lavender or citrus, consider using vinegar. Simmering a few ounces of vinegar on the stovetop for 20-30 minutes will clear the air. If you have a piece of cookware (stainless steel or brushed aluminum) which is blue-stained from cooking alkaline foods, you can serve two purposes by using it to simmer the vinegar. The pot will sparkle, and so will the air quality! After a party, a few small bowls of vinegar, strategically placed, will neutralize any funky remains.

Carpets and rugs tend to absorb odours and, when people tread on them, they're released back into the air. An easy solution is to sprinkle carpets and rugs, liberally, with baking soda and let stand for a half hour before vacuuming thoroughly.

Soda is also great for cleaning and refreshing the refrigerator. A tablespoon or two of this common kitchen ingredient in the wash water and fridge odours disappear. Then, leave the remainder of the box open in the fridge to collect odours until the next cleaning. If objectionable smells happen between cleaning, try adding a teaspoon of vanilla extract to couple tablespoons of water, in a small bowl, and put that in the fridge overnight.

For many years, my mother used charcoal to keep her refrigerator smelling sweet. In my opinion, it worked even better than soda. That type of charcoal (small chunk) is hard to find. Some Garden centers or Nurseries may sell it. If you are lucky enough to find this charcoal – I, so far, haven't been – you'll need about a cup of it in a mason jar with a perforated lid. When it no longer cleans the fridge air (usually about twice a year,) spread the charcoal on a baking sheet and heat it in a low oven (approximately 200 F degrees,) for about half an hour or until odours were purged. Then, cool the charcoal, replaced in its jar and back into the fridge. Used, heated, and re-used, time and again, this fridge freshener lasts years.

There are a number of ways to sweeten the air in closets and drawers, as well. I like to store fragrant guest soaps in with clothing to lend them a fresh scent. Cedar chips, balls, and bars, can be used in closets, and won't add intrusive odours to the garments. Homemade sachets, using common herbs and spices, are another easy way to freshen closed spaces. I buy these spices in bulk for much less cost that pre-packaged brands.

If you wish to create ambiance with scent, try simmering your favourite whole spice (most herbs will not work as well in this application,) combined with a cup of water, in a small pot on the stovetop, and simmer off and on throughout the day, adding water as needed. My favourite combination is cinnamon bark and whole clove, which lends a very nice holiday fragrance to the home. At other times, I use fennel seed, whole cardamom, bay leaves, or star anise. Use your imagination. The aromas you'll create will smell – and taste – so much sweeter than any chemical spray. It's a bonus they're thrifty as well!