[pct-l] Toothpaste

[Trekker4 at aol.com]

It only takes a swallow or two of water to  brush your teeth. Where is it 
written that one has to rinse and spit  several times to do so? The bits of 
food that you brushed loose, you intended to  swallow anyhow; by the time you 
finish brushing, most of what's in your mouth is  saliva anyhow; so, even 
though many consider toothbrushing waste somehow toxic,  it's not. 
    Just swallow it all! Rinse your mouth a time or two  and swallow. Rinse 
your brush several times with saliva; suck the excess  moisture out of the 
brush; and swallow all of it. It's quite simple, and  there's no trace of 
toothpaste odors on the ground within ten of mile of your  campsite.
    To put it another way (Pay attention Reinhold.)  most of you think 
nothing about sticking your tongue in someone else's mouth. Is  your mouth so 
toxic that they shouldn't return the favor? Your mouth is not  toxic to your 
body.
    M & Ms off the trail, dirt from your hands from  eating while hiking, 
etc are more toxic than your toothbrushing residue.  What may be toxic is the 
chemical most toothpastes are made from. Buy Tom's or  use baking soda.
 
Bob  "Trekker"
Big Bend Desert Denizen, and...
Naturalized Citizen - Republic  of Texas

"Government cripples you, then hands you a crutch and says,  'See, if it 
wasn't for us, you couldn't walk.' " -- Harry Browne

"If you  think health care is exensive now, wait until you see what it 
costs when its  free." -- P J O'Rourke



In a message dated 2/23/2010 3:11:39 P.M. Central Standard Time,  
erik at eriktheblack.com writes:

I use a  travel toothbrush but no toothpaste. I find that brushing with  
water
provides enough abrasion and lubrication to remove plaque and keep my  teeth
clean. The thing I don't like about toothpaste is it takes so much  extra
water to rinse.


Happy trails,
Erik the  Black

-------------------------------------
Pacific Crest Trail  Atlas 2nd  Edition
http://www.pacificcresttrailmaps.com
-------------------------------------

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