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>Tooth powder
A RuckSack primer on
Tooth powder--
a lightweight alternative
to toothpaste
for wilderness trippers
By Michael A. Neiger
Copyright 2006 --
2006-05-13
Last modified of
May 13, 2006
E-mail comments or corrections
to author at mneiger@hotmail.com
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Introduction
For wilderness trippers, especially those who travel in sub-zero temperatures,
tooth powder can be an excellent alternative to traditional toothpaste,
which may freeze, weighs more, and requires water for rinsing.
Tooth powder (or toothpowder) is a dentifrice--a preparation used for
cleaning and polishing teeth--that has been around for centuries. While
seldom used or talked about today, it was widely used by our ancestors.
Some of the earliest known users of tooth powder were the Romans. Their
tooth powder consisted of finely-ground or pounded, sometimes burnt, substances
such as pumice (or pumice stone: a light, spongy, porous type of volcanic
rock, actually glass), horns, bones, hooves, eggshells, and the shells
from mollusks such as the oyster and murex.
Our great-grandparents often relied upon bicarbonate of soda (NaHCO3)--or
baking soda--as a tooth powder. Its antibacterial, cleansing, polishing,
and deodorizing attributes make baking soda "an essential ingredient
of oral health," according to Vincent M. Cali, D.D.S., in The
New, Lower-Cost way to End Gum Trouble Without Surgery (Warner Books,
Inc., 1982).
Many tooth powder concoctions are made from three types of materials:
a mild abrasive, such as very finely-powdered chalk; a detergent or sudser,
such as powdered white castile soap; and a sweetening or flavoring agent,
such as sugar, saccharine, peppermint, wintergreen, spearmint, cinnamon,
clove, etc. Binding agents, coloring agents, and humectants (to prevent
hardening) may also be added. During the early 1900s, wintergreen was
the preferred flavor in the United States; peppermint was popular in Europe,
especially France.
Caution: Many dental care professionals
claim baking soda, salt, and other tooth powder concoctions can be harmful
to your teeth and do irreversible damage to them--especially the thin
layer of protective enamel covering them--since such substances are often
highly abrasive. Before deciding to purchase a tooth powder, mix up your
own tooth powder from scratch, or incorporate the use of a tooth powder
into your daily, oral health regimen, consult your personal doctor, dentist,
pharmacist, or dental hygienist for the latest perspective on this issue.
Vendors of tooth powder
While tooth powder is hard to find, it may be stocked
at--or available by special order through--your local grocery store, health
food store, drug store, or pharmacy. Your personal dentist or dental hygienist
may also know of a source for tooth powder.
Numerous vendors sell tooth powder via the Internet. To locate an Internet
vendor of tooth powder, use one of the comparison shopping search engines--such
as http://www.froogle.com--listed
on the home page of this Web site. If you don't have a specific brand
name to search for, search both the two-word phrase "tooth powder"
as well as the word "toothpowder."
Active White Toothpowder
Vendor: http://www.crystalenergy.co.uk/dental_care/activewhite.html
All Natural Tooth Powder & Whitener
Vendor: http://www.msm-hgh.com/microbrite.html
Baar Salt 'N Soda Toothpowder
Vendor: http://www.baar.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=797&affil=frg
Black Tooth Powder
Vendor: http://www.indiaplaza.com/beautycare/pd.aspx?sku=301658
Clearspring Dentie Toothpowder
Vendor: http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-local/frameset/detail/804210.html
Colgate Toothpowder
Manufacturer: http://www.colgate.co.in/app/Colgate/IN/OralCare/Toothpowder/Toothpowder.cvsp
Compete50 Toothpowder
Vendor: http://www.healthstores.com/store/stores/healthstores/Browse_Item_Details.asp?Item_ID=4099
Country Gent Tooth Powder
Vendor: http://heavenlyharvestinc.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=28
Dabur Red Tooth Powder (Indian)
Vendor: http://www.smallflower.com
Dr. Christopher's Herbal Tooth Powder
Vendor: http://www.lifesvigor.com/prod/49354/
Vendor: http://www.ihealthtree.com/toothpowder.html
Manufacturer: http://www.drchristopher.com/
Dr. Don's Antioxidant Tooth Powder
Vendor: http://shopping.netsuite.com/s.nl/c.471963/sc.2/category.4/it.A/id.202/.f
Eco-Dent Toothpowders
Vendor: http://www.steviasmart.com/annato.html
Vendor: http://www.pacwestserv.com/oralcare09_Tooth-Powders.htm
Vendor: http://www.ihealthtree.com/toothpowder.html
Vendor: http://www.shamanshop.net/store/prodpage5.cfm/CategoryID/23000.0/SubCatID/5455.0/file.htm
Vendor: http://www.mothernature.com/shop/sections/index.cfm/s/98691
Vendor: http://www.smallflower.com
Vendor: http://store.foodfightgrocery.com/ectopo.html
Manufacturer: http://www.eco-dent.com
Emperor's Kitchen Dentie Tooth Powder
Vendor: http://www.discountnaturalfoods.com/shopnew/pages/425001.html
Eucryl Toothpowder
Vendor: http://www.britsuperstore.com/acatalog/Eucryl_Toothpowder.html
Herbal Tooth Powder
Vendor: http://www.herbalfitness.com/tooth.shtml
Ipsab Tooth Powder
Vendor: http://www.lifesvigor.com/prod/4573/
Vendor: http://www.caycecures.com/Holiday/catalog/toothpowder.htm
Vendor: http://www.ihealthtree.com/toothpowder.html
Vendor: http://www.mothernature.com/shop/sections/index.cfm/s/98691
Manufacturer: http://www.edgarcayce.com/
Kukident Toothpowder (German)
Vendor: http://www.smallflower.com
MicroBrite Tooth Powder
Vendor: http://www.thewolfeclinic.com/microbrite.html
Vendor: https://www.royal-health.com/microbrite.htm
Vendor: http://www.cocoonnutrition.org/catalog/page_microbrite.php
Mitoku Dentie Toothpowder (Japanese)
Vendor: http://www.smallflower.com
Monkey Brand Toothpowder (Indian)
Vendor: http://www.smallflower.com
Neem Bark Tooth Powder
Vendor: http://www.neemtreefarms.com/product_info.php?products_id=15
Vendor: http://www.ayurbalance.com
Oregano Spearmint Tooth Powder
Vendor: http://www.naturalhealthsupply.com/products/tooth-powder.html
Pasca-Dent Bentonite Tooth Powder
Vendor: http://www.herbalremedies.com/pascdent20.html
Peelu Dental Fibers Toothpowder
Vendor: http://www.ihealthtree.com/toothpowder.html
Vendor: http://www.shamanshop.net
Vendor: http://www.smallflower.com
Vendor: http://vitanetonline.com/description/PU0006/vitamins/Peelu-Tooth-Powder-Unflavored/
Probiotic Toothpowder
Vendor: http://www.centerforantiaging.com/Toothpowder_and_Mouthwash.htm
Red Toothpowder
Vendor: http://indianherbcare.com/product_info.php?products_id=3384
Spirit Bear All Natural Tooth Powder
Vendor: http://www.eco-natural.com/tootcar.html
Tanoral Plant Tannin Toothpowder
Vendor: http://www.intensivenutrition.com/Tanoral.htm
TartarGuard Tartar Control Formula-Fresh
Mint
Vendor: http://www.steviasmart.com/tatacofomi.html
Vendor: http://www.mothernature.com/shop/sections/index.cfm/s/98691
Uncle Harry's Tooth Powder
Vendor: http://www.greenfeet.com/02110020.html
Manufacturer: http://www.uncleharrys.com/
Vicco Vajradanti Powder
Vendor: http://www.mehndiskinart.com/vicco.htm
Vendor: http://indianherbcare.com/product_info.php?products_id=3389
Viset Niyom Herbal Toothpowder (Thai)
Vendor: http://grocerythai.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/34/products_id/636
Whitening Orange Peel Tooth Powder
Vendor: http://www.alphaskincare.com/whorpetopo.html
Formulas for toothpowder
Since tooth powder is not commonly available in most
retail outlets, some people opt to make their own. Once you select a formula
you may be able to purchase the ingredients from your local grocery store,
natural or health food store, nutritional shop, drug store, or pharmacy.
The actual process of making tooth powder--namely the pulverizing, powdering,
and mixing--can often be expedited by using either an old-fashioned mortar
and pestle or a modern-day device such as a mixer, blender, food processor,
or perhaps even a coffee grinder. Once mixed up, tooth powder should be
stored in a small, tightly-sealing (airtight), sterile, properly-labeled
container to protect it from moisture and preserve its freshness.
Caution: Before
you embark on an attempt to mix up your own tooth powder and incorporate
it into your daily, oral-hygiene regimen, check with your personal doctor,
dentist, pharmacist, or dental hygienist to make sure the ingredients
you intend to use as a tooth powder are safe and healthy for you. The
tooth powder formulas listed below represent a sampling of what has appeared
in print and on the Internet. Many of these concoctions are very, very
dated--upwards of 100 years to 200 years old--and may contain harmful
ingredients (such as opium), typographic errors, or other mistakes. None
of the formulations have been reviewed by a doctor, dentist, pharmacist,
or dental hygienist prior to their inclusion here to assure their appropriateness
or safety for incorporation into a daily, oral-hygiene regimen. Even if
an ingredient, or mixture of ingredients, is considered safe for a healthy
individual, certain ingredients, or mixtures of ingredients, may not be
suitable or safe for individuals suffering from certain medical conditions:
always consult your personal physician, dentist, or pharmacist before
using any tooth powder formulation.
American Tooth Powder
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Ammoniated Tooth Powder
Source: The Formula Manual, 4th Edition, by Stark Research Associates
(Andrews & McMeel, Inc., 1974)
Antiscobbutic Tooth Powder
- 2 ounces prepared charcoal
- 0.5 ounces extract of rhatany (root of South American shrub)
- 0.5 ounces cinnamon
- 0.5 ounces cloves
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Antiseptic Tooth Powder
- 2 ounces prepared or precipitated chalk
- 10 grains dry chloride of lime
- 5 drops oil of cassia or oil of cloves
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Options: color with a little levigated bole
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Aromatic Tooth Powder
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Asiatic Tooth Powder
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Asiatic Tooth Powder
- 3 parts bole
- 2 parts chalk
- 1 part ochre
- 1 part pumice
- Scent with musk
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Cadet's, or Dr. Coombe's, Tooth Powder
- 1 ounce sugar
- 1 ounce charcoal
- 0.5 ounces Peruvian bark
- 1.5 drams cream of tartar
- 24 grains cinnamon
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Calcium/Magnesium/Vitamin C Tooth Powder
- 3 parts baking soda
- 3 parts calcium-magnesium-vitamin c powder
- 3 parts finely ground prickly ash bark
- 1 part sea salt
- 1 part Echinacea powder
- 1/2 part goldenseal powder
Directions: mix together thoroughly
Option: Flavor with peppermint essential oil
Source: http://www.mizar5.com/homemade.html
Camphorated Chalk Tooth Powder
- 3 ounces prepared or precipitated chalk
- 1 ounce camphor (pulverized by the aid of a few drops of spirit)
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Camphorated Chalk Tooth Powder
- 7 parts chalk
-
1 part camphor
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Carabelli's Tooth Powder
- 1.5 ounces cuttle-fish bone
- 1.5 ounces prepared shells
- 3 drams cinnamon
- 3 drams orris
- 3 drams lime-tree charcoal
- 10 grains vanilla
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Cartwright's Dentifrice
- 7 ounces prepared chalk
- 1 ounce orris
- 0.5 drams Castile soap
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Chalk-Magnesium Tooth Powder
Options: flavor as desired with a sweet oil such as cinnamon, peppermint,
wintergreen, spearmint, or clove.
Source: The Home Book of Money-Saving Formulas, by Paul Doring
(Blakiston Company, 1946)
Chalk-Magnesium Tooth Powder
Options: flavor as desired with a sweet oil such as cinnamon, peppermint,
wintergreen, spearmint, or clove.
Source: The Home Book of Money-Saving Formulas, by Paul Doring
(Blakiston Company, 1946)
Chalk-Tricalcium Tooth Powder
Options: flavor as desired with a sweet oil such as cinnamon, peppermint,
wintergreen, spearmint, or clove.
Source: The Home Book of Money-Saving Formulas, by Paul Doring
(Blakiston Company, 1946)
Charcoal-Honey Tooth Powder
Source: Henley's Twentieth Century Book of Formulas, Processes,
and Trade Secrets, edited by Gardner D. Hiscox (Norman W. Henley
Publishing Company, 1942)
Charcoal-Kino Tooth Powder
Source: Henley's Twentieth Century Book of Formulas, Processes,
and Trade Secrets, edited by Gardner D. Hiscox (Norman W. Henley
Publishing Company, 1942)
Charcoal Tooth Powder (French)
- 1 ounce prepared charcoal
- 1 ounce sugar
- 3 drops oil of cloves
Directions: Charcoal is prepared--reduced to an impalpable powder and
kept from the air--in iron cylinders from the willow or lime tree, the
areca nut, or the shells of cocoa nuts. Thoroughly mix ingredients.
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Charcoal Tooth Powder (Gray)
- 3 ounces powdered chalk
- 1 ounce prepared charcoal
Directions: Charcoal is prepared--reduced to an impalpable powder and
kept from the air--in iron cylinders from the willow or lime tree, the
areca nut, or the shells of cocoa nuts. Thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Charcoal with Bark Tooth Powder
- 1 ounce charcoal
- 1 ounce red cinchona
- 1ounce powdered sugar
- A few drops of some essential oil
Note: See also Righini's Charcoal below
Directions: Charcoal is prepared--reduced to an impalpable powder and
kept from the air--in iron cylinders from the willow or lime tree, the
areca nut, or the shells of cocoa nuts. Thoroughly mix ingredients.
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Charcoal with Bark Tooth Powder (French)
- 1 ounce charcoal
- 0.5 ounces Peruvian bark
- 30 drops essence of ambergris
- 2 drops oil of cinnamon, mint, or other oil
Directions: Charcoal is prepared--reduced to an impalpable powder and
kept from the air--in iron cylinders from the willow or lime tree, the
areca nut, or the shells of cocoa nuts. Thoroughly mix ingredients.
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Charcoal-Quinine Tooth Powder
Source: Henley's Twentieth Century Book of Formulas, Processes,
and Trade Secrets, edited by Gardner D. Hiscox (Norman W. Henley
Publishing Company, 1942)
Charcoal with Quinine Tooth Powder
- 1 ounce charcoal
- 4 to 8 grains magnesia
- 2 to 4 grains sulphate of quinine
- 2 drops otto of rose (or other perfume)
Directions: Charcoal is prepared--reduced to an impalpable powder and
kept from the air--in iron cylinders from the willow or lime tree, the
areca nut, or the shells of cocoa nuts. Thoroughly mix ingredients.
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Charcoal-Sage Tooth Powder
- 1 part charcoal (scraped from burnt toast &
pulverized)
- 1 part dried sage leaves (powdered)
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: Down Home Ways, by Jerry M. Johnson (Times Books,
1978)
Charcoal-Sugar Tooth Powder
Source: Henley's Twentieth Century Book of Formulas, Processes,
and Trade Secrets, edited by Gardner D. Hiscox (Norman W. Henley
Publishing Company, 1942)
Charcoal-Tartar Tooth Powder
Source: Henley's Twentieth Century Book of Formulas, Processes,
and Trade Secrets, edited by Gardner D. Hiscox (Norman W. Henley
Publishing Company, 1942)
Cinnamon-Mint Tooth Powder
- 13 tablespoons of calcium carbonate
- 4 tablespoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 25 drops peppermint oil
- 12 drops cinnamon oil
Directions: see pharmacist for calcium carbonate; thoroughly mix
ingredients in blender or food processor; makes 10 ounces
Source: Home Made -- Best Made, by Reader's Digest (Reader's
Digest Association, Inc., 1998)
Compound Camphorated Tooth Powder
- 1 ounce camphor
- 2 ounces precipitated chalk
- 0.5 ounces cuttle-fish bone
- 2 drams myrrh
- 2 drams borax
- 1 dram lake or rose pink 1 dr., or q. s.
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Coral Dentifrice Tooth Powder (Poudre Dentifrice
of the French Pharmacopoeia)
- 4.5 ounces cream of tartar
- 3 ounces red coral
- 3 ounces bole
- 3 ounces cuttle-fish bone
- 1.5 ounces dragon's blood
- 6 drams cinnamon
- 3 drams cochineal
- 1 dram cloves
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Coral Tooth Powder
Source: Henley's Twentieth Century Book of Formulas, Processes,
and Trade Secrets, edited by Gardner D. Hiscox (Norman W. Henley
Publishing Company, 1942)
Crystal's Tooth Powder
Deluxe Tooth Powder
- 1 pound baking soda
- 0.5 cups salt
- Flavor to taste as noted below
Directions: Pulverize salt and baking soda to a very fine powder
in a blender.
Option: Contributor suggests flavoring with an essential oil such
as anise, coriander, fennel, sage, citrus, rosemary, or tea tree.
Other flavorings include myrrh powder, cinnamon, ginger, and clove.
Contributor writes: "Anise and fennel are the best bet all around.
Very safe and taste nice.
Source: http://www.recipegoldmine.com/health/health44.html
Deschamp's Acid Dentifrice
- 4 ounces Venetian tale
- 1 ounce cream of tartar
- 4 or 5 grains carmine 4 or 5 gr
- Oil as the last
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Deschamp's Alkaline Dentifrice
- 4 ounces Venetian talc
- 1ounce bicarbonate of soda
- 4 or 5 grains carmine
- 15 drops oil of mint (or other perfume)
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Desforges' Carbonic Dentifrice
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Detergent Tooth Powder
- 1 ounce bicarbonate of soda
- 0.5 ounces powdered Castile soap
- 0.5 ounces sulphate of potash
- 0.5 ounces sugar of milk
- 4 ounces orris root
- 4 drops oil of bitter almonds
- Color as desired
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Dr. Coombe's, or Cadet's, Tooth Powder
- 1 ounce sugar
- 1 ounce charcoal
- 0.5 ounces Peruvian bark
- 1.5 drams cream of tartar
- 24 grains cinnamon
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Dr. Halifax's Circassian Dentifrice
- 8 ounces cuttle-fish bone
- 4 ounces orris
- 2 ounces prepared hartshorn
- 2 ounces sulphate of potash
- 1 ounce yellow sandal wood
- 3 ounces rose-pink
- 30 drops oil of rhodium
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Dr. Schoepe's Tooth Powder (against
mercurial salivation)
Elephant's (Mrs.) Tooth Powder
- 1 ounce bole
- 0.5 ounces myrrh
- 0.5 ounces bark
- 0.5 ounces orris
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Florentine Dentifrice
- 14 drams prepared shells
- 6 drams orris
- 3 drams cream of tartar
- Lake to color
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Fozembas' Tooth Powder
- 2 leaves of gold
- 2 leaves of silver
- 3 drams alum
- 3 drams coral
- 3 drams Peruvian bark
- 1.5 drams salt
- 1.5 drams white sugar
- 15 grains pepper
- 5 grains opium
Directions: Grind the gold and silver with the salt and alum before
thoroughly mixing in other ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
French Tooth Powder
- 1 part Peruvian bark
- 1 part burnt crust of bread
- 1 part sugar
Note: See also Coral Tooth Powder, Galvanic's Dentifrice, and Deschamp's
tooth powders
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Galvanic Dentifrice
- 2 leaves of gold-leaf
- 3 leaves of silver-leaf
- 1 ounce prepared hartshorn
- 2 drams sulphate of potash
- 2 drams white sugar
- 1 dram alum
- 1 dram common salt
- 0.5 drams pellitory of Spain
- 10 grains sulphate of quinine
- Color with finest smalts (powder blue), rose, pink, or lake.
Directions: after triturating leaves of gold and silver, potash,
and alum, thoroughly mix in remaining ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
German Tooth Powder
Grovenor's Tooth Powder
- 12 ounces prepared shells
- 12 ounces prepared coral
- 2 ounces orris root
- 6 drops oil of rhodium
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Hemet's Dentifrice
- 16 ounces orris
- 16 ounces sugar of milk
- 8 ounces pumice-stone
- 8 ounces cuttle-fish bone
- 6 ounces cuttle-fish bone
- 4 ounces magnesia
- 4 ounces sulphate of quinine
- 1 ounce cascarilla
- 1 ounce oil of mint
- 1 ounce cream of tartar
- 0.5 ounces orris
- 2 drams oil of cinnamon
- 1 dram oil of neroli
- 1 dram essence of ambergris
Directions: Mix cuttle-fish bone, cream of tartar, and orris before
other ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Herb Tooth Powder
Herb Tooth Powder
- 2 tablespoons dried peel of lemon or orange (organically grown!)
- 50 grains soda
- 2 teaspoons salt
Directions: Blend to a fine powder. Flavor or season with herbs or
essential oils of choice. Source says that "Cinnamon is cool,
both as a dried herb and as an EO [essential oil], in tooth powder,"
according to author. "If you like the taste of anise you might
appreciate aniseed, or fennel seed, or eucalyptus EO, or various other
anise herbs and/or EOs. I like thyme and parsley, so I use those."
Source: http://www.henriettesherbal.com/blog/?p=92
Honey Tooth Powder
Source: Henley's Twentieth Century Book of Formulas, Processes,
and Trade Secrets, edited by Gardner D. Hiscox (Norman W. Henley
Publishing Company, 1942)
Kemmerer's Tooth Powder
- 1.5 ounces wood soot
- 0.5 ounces strawberry root
- Few drops of eau de Cologne
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Lardner's Tooth Powder
- 3 ounces powdered chalk
- 1 ounce prepared charcoal
Directions: Charcoal is prepared--reduced to an impalpable powder and
kept from the air--in iron cylinders from the willow or lime tree, the
areca nut, or the shells of cocoa nuts. Thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Laurel Tooth Powder
- 2 oz chalk
- 1 oz cuttlefish powder
- 1/2 oz bicarbonate of soda
- 2-10 drops bay laurel or oil of peppermint
Directions: mix together thoroughly
Source: Herbs & Things (Jeanne Rose's Herbal), by Jeanne
Rose (Grosset & Dunlap, 1977) http://64.233.161.104/
Lavender Tooth Powder
- 6 ounces precipitated chalk
- 2 ounces cuttle-fish bone
- 0.5 ounces bicarbonate of soda
- 1 dram crimson lake
- Scruple of Chinese blue (or Turnbull's blue)
- 8 drops oil of lavender
Directions: mix lake and blue before adding remainder of ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Lefoulon's Tooth Powder
- 1 part scurvy grass
- 1 part horse radish
- 1 part guaiacum
- 1 part cinchona
- 1 part mint
- 1 part pellitory root
- 1 part calamus
- 1 part rhatany
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Option: add a little calcined magnesia
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Little Tree Toothpowder
Maury's Carbonic Tooth Powder
- 8 ounces charcoal
- 8 ounces sugar
- 4 ounces cinchona
- 0.5 ounces oil of mint
- 0.5 ounces oil of cinnamon
- 0.5 drams tincture of ambergris
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Menthol Tooth Powder
Source: Henley's Twentieth Century Book of Formulas, Processes,
and Trade Secrets, edited by Gardner D. Hiscox (Norman W. Henley
Publishing Company, 1942)
Metges' Tooth Powder
- 3.5 pounds prepared chalk
- 2 pounds orris
- 1 pound lake or rose-pink
- 12 ounces cream of tartar
- 9 ounces sugar
- 1 ounce levigated pumice
- 1 dram oil of cloves
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Mialhe's Rational Dentifrice
- 3 ounces sugar of milk
- 3 drams pure tannin
- 1 dram lake
- 8 drops oil of mint
- 8 drops oil of aniseed
- 4 drops neroli
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Myrrh Dentifrice
- 4 ounces cuttle-fish bone
- 3 ounces orris
- 1 ounce myrrh
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Nichol's Tooth Powder
- 1 ounce cuttle-fish bone
- 1 ounce prepared chalk
- 1 ounce orris
- 0.5 ounces cassia
- 0.5 ounces myrrh
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Old Fashioned Tooth Powder
Orris-Myrrh Tooth Powder
- 1 ounce powdered myrrh
- 1 ounce powdered orris root
- 1 ounce powdered chalk
- 0.25 to 0.5 ounces powdered cuttlefish
- 1 pinch powdered camphor
Directions: mix together thoroughly
Source: Herbs & Things (Jeanne Rose's Herbal), by Jeanne
Rose (Grosset & Dunlap, 1977) http://64.233.161.104/
Palmer's Tooth Powder
- 1 pound prepared chalk
- 1 pound orris
- 4 ounces cuttle-fish bone
- 1 ounce camphor
- 1 ounce rose pink
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Pearl Dentifrice
- 16 ounces precipitated chalk
- 8 ounces talc
- 0.5 ounces finest smalts or q. s., to give it a slight tint.
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Peiletier's Quinine Dentifrice
- 1 ounce prepared red coral
- 4 grains sulphate of quinine
- Scruple of myrrh
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Option: 2 drams of levigated bole and 6 drams of precipitated milk
may be substituted for the coral
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Pink Rose-Flavored Tooth Powder (popular
New York dentifrice, circa 1940)
Source: Henley's Twentieth Century Book of Formulas, Processes,
and Trade Secrets, edited by Gardner D. Hiscox (Norman W. Henley
Publishing Company, 1942)
Regnaud's Dentifrice
- 0.5 ounces calcined magnesia
- 8 grains sulphate of quinine
- 0.5 drams carmine (or cochineal)
- 3 drops oil of peppermint
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Rhatany Tooth Powder
- 2 ounces rhatany root
- 4 ounces cuttle-fish bone
- 8 ounces prepared chalk
- 1 dram borax
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Righini's Charcoal and Bark Tooth Powder
- 4 parts charcoal
- 1 part yellow bark
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Rose Dentifrice
- 6 ounces precipitated chalk
- 2 ounces orris
- 2 ounces cuttle-fish bone
- 2 drams myrrh
- 2 drams bicarbonate of soda
- 0.5 drams lake
- 16 drops otto of roses (or color with rose pink to any desired shade)
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Rosemary Tooth Powder
- 2 ounce powdered charcoal
- 1 ounce powdered orris root (char rosemary in dry frying pan)
- 1 ounce powdered Peruvian bark (cinchona)
- 0.5 ounces powdered chalk
- 20 drops lavender or peppermint
Directions: mix together thoroughly
Source: Herbs & Things (Jeanne Rose's Herbal), by Jeanne
Rose (Grosset & Dunlap, 1977) http://64.233.161.104/
Ruspini's Dentifrice
- 8 ounces cuttle-fish bone
- 2 ounces prepared hartshorn
- 2 ounces cream of tartar
- 1 ounce alum
- 1 ounce orris
- 6 drops oil of rhodium
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Russian Tooth Powder
- 2 ounces Peruvian bark
- 1 ounce orris root
- 0.5 ounces Sal ammoniac
- 6 drams catechu
- 6 drams myrrh
- 6 or 8 drops oil of cloves
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Salt-Soda Tooth Powder
- 0.75 cups salt
- 0.25 cups baking soda
- 2 tablespoons magnesium carbonate
- 1 tablespoon sodium perborate
- 15 drops peppermint oil
Directions: add peppermint oil after thoroughly mixing ingredients
Source: The Formula Manual, 4th Edition, by Stark Research
Associates (Andrews & McMeel, Inc., 1974
Saunders' Dentifrice
- 2 ounces prepared chalk
- 1 ounce cuttle fish bone
- 1 ounce orris
- 10 grains sulphate of Quinine
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Simple Tooth Powder
Soda-and-Spice Tooth Powder
Soda-Salt Tooth Powder
- 3 parts baking soda
- 1 part salt
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Options: flavor with several drops of oil of wintergreen or peppermint
Source: Down Home Ways, by Jerry M. Johnson (Times Books,
1978); http://www.mizar5.com/toothpst.htm;
"Pennywise Tooth Cleansers" by Thomas W. King, The
Mother Earth News, January/February, 1975
Soda-Salt Tooth Powder
- 1 part baking soda
- 1 part salt
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Options: use kelp in place of the salt; flavor or scent with powdered
herbs or essential oils (after adding one drop per ounce of tooth
powder and letting mixture set, press through a strainer) such as
myrrh oil, cinnamon oil, wintergreen, birch, rosemary, or basil.
Source: The Natural Formula Book for Home and Yard, edited
by Dan Wallace (Rodale Press, 1982); Herbs & Things (Jeanne
Rose's Herbal), by Jeanne Rose (Grosset & Dunlap, 1977)
Sugar Tooth Powder
Source: Henley's Twentieth Century Book of Formulas, Processes,
and Trade Secrets, edited by Gardner D. Hiscox (Norman W. Henley
Publishing Company, 1942)
Superwhite Tooth Powder
Source: Cheaper & Better: Homemade Alternatives to Storebought
Goods, by Nancy Birnes (Harper & Row, Publishers, 1987)
Sweet-Soda Tooth Powder
Violet Tooth Powder
Source: Henley's Twentieth Century Book of Formulas, Processes,
and Trade Secrets, edited by Gardner D. Hiscox (Norman W. Henley
Publishing Company, 1942)
Violet Tooth Powder
- 12 ounces precipitated chalk
- 4 ounces cuttle-fish bone
- 2 ounces Orris root
- 0.5 ounces bicarbonate of soda
- 1 dram essence of violets
- Color to pale violet with pure percyanide of iron and crimson lake,
or rose pink
Directions: thoroughly mix ingredients
Source: http://www.herbdatanz.com/dentifrice.htm,
from Henry Beasley's 1872 Druggist's General Receipt Book
Vodka-Soda Tooth Powder
White Wintergreen Tooth Powder (most popular
dentifrice, circa 1940)
Source: Henley's Twentieth Century Book of Formulas, Processes,
and Trade Secrets, edited by Gardner D. Hiscox (Norman W. Henley
Publishing Company, 1942)
_________________________
For additional tooth powder formulas, consult:
- Henley's Twentieth Century Book of Formulas, Processes, and Trade
Secrets, edited by Gardner D. Hiscox (Norman W. Henley Publishing
Company, 1942)
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