Zero Waste Dental Hygiene

I'm a big fan of one ingredient solutions, so of course I make barely nothing. I just use baking soda with xylitol, a bar of soap, and Brush With Bamboo toothbrush from Vegan Mania. I promise I've never had a cavity and my dental routine is pretty much unchanged since childhood (baking soda is a buffering agent so it reduces decay-causing acid in the mouth- see the comments below about ways to remineralize without fluoride, or see my Instagram highlights for more details on the abrasivity of baking soda vs. conventional toothpaste). I did want braces to get rid of my dog teeth back in the day, but no dentist would let me. One told my mother, "She just wants that Hollywood smile- don't waste your money." If I'd known selfies were going to be such a big deal, I would've insisted.

In France I think a lot of people don't floss. Brush with Bamboo is working on a sustainable one; until then, some recommend swiss chard fiber instead, or human / horse hair gathered during grooming, then cleaned. I tried radish green fiber and it's tough enough to work, but I don't know if it leaves too much sugar between my teeth. Others unravel thread from silk (Bea from Zero Waste Home does this), which you could do with secondhand silk. For siwak, separate the bristles before using them exactly like floss between your teeth, scrubbing back and forth in a C formation along the teeth and gums. I imagine you can use a neem stick, which freshens breath, the same way, although you're really supposed to chew them for hours. My dentist recommends a water pik in conjunction with some type of floss or interdental brush. Radius or EcoDent floss are popular options- my grandparents always washed and reused dental floss. Goodwell sells disposable flossers marketed as biodegradable, but am I stupid because I can't figure out what they're made of or if they actually decompose in a timely manner? I have crowded teeth, so siwak works for me.

Wasteland Rebel brought out a great point- despite being vegan, she chose plastic free silk Vomel floss from a refillable glass container after seeing images of marine life choking or being half-decapitated by plastic floss :( 

I use aleppo soap once a day for brushing (baking soda in the morning, aleppo at night) and my dentist is happy. My grandma started using soap once a day, too. She used to have sensitive teeth and enamel, which were destroyed by Sensodyne. She's brushed with baking soda for decades with no problems- her teeth and gums are actually stronger now! Day by Day sells unpackaged minty tooth tablets, and other companies, such as Lush or Fat and the Moon, offer dentrifice unpackaged or in glass, made from ingredients like trace minerals and kaolin clay. Some zero wasters report yellowing teeth after quitting conventional toothpaste. Coconut oil, turmeric, or activated charcoal are effective whiteners. Neem and siwak have whitening properties, but you really need to chew the sticks several times a day, for a long time.

In Korea, they use broth made from pine cones to heal dental problems, such as infected teeth. I personally know people who've had amazing results, but if you try this- 5 green pine cones, or 5 fallen pine cones, boiled three times in a liter of water- you need to stop drinking alcohol for it to work (drinking matcha will actually help). Baking soda and / or seas salt is also recommended for gum health in Korea, but only once a day, because too much can be overly harsh. White sesame seeds, neem, fennel, clove, cinnamon, cardamom, and licorice root can remedy tooth and gum problems and improve oral hygiene in general. Chew ingredients and brush with water after.

Previously, my mouthwash recipe was 500 mL boiled water, cooled to room temperature. Add 30 drops peppermint essential oil and 15 drops clove essential oil; shake well. Store in pharmaceutical grade amber glass (mine's an old Aesop bottle), and swish using small glass beakers. We used to be able to buy essential oil in our own containers from a copper still at Marché Bio Raspail (I haven't bought them in over a year because of my cats). Boiling clove, peppermint, cinnamon, and / or licorice in water still works. Stuff as many spices as possible in 500 mL water, boil three times, boil again in fresh water for tea, then compost :) My friends recommend oil pulling, not for all the hipster mumbo jumbo, but because it freshens breath like nothing else. Several studies found it reduced certain forms of bacteria, including those associated with halitosis. Seems like a viable alternative to alcohol-containing mouthwash or plastic gums. I tried it for a week and my teeth were noticeably whiter, and my grandma said it made plaque completely disappear after only a few days. By the way, does anybody brush their cats' teeth? I heard I have to brush them once a week. Is this real?