One study found that tooth powder can cause bleeding, gum loss, and damage to your enamel (tooth surface). 4 Another study showed that tooth loss was higher in people who brushed with red tooth powder due to its high abrasiveness and chemical composition. 5 Pros and Cons of Toothpowder The quality and convenience of teeth cleaning products moved forward significantly during the early 19th century, as the addition of glycerin helped turn the powders into a paste that was easier on teeth and easier to use. By 1873, toothpaste was mass produced and sold in jars on drugstore shelves. In 1892, Dr. Washington Sheffield of Connecticut became the first to put toothpaste into a collapsible tube; his company later became Colgate. After World War II, toothpaste technology continued to develop: One of the most significant advancements was the addition of fluoride to toothpaste to strengthen tooth enamel and help prevent tooth decay. Baking soda had been considered a popular tooth powder because of its cleaning and whitening abilities -- not to mention its low cost. However, modern dentists caution that it's too abrasive for daily use. Khan et al. “ Extrinsic Stain Removal with a Toothpowder: A Randomized Controlled Trial .” International Journal of Health Sciences, Qassim University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2014. However, another study from 2018 compared traditional oral hygiene methods to toothpaste users. This study showed contrasting evidence to the other studies. It found that traditional methods, including tooth powder, were inferior in plaque control compared to toothpaste. 5

Essential oils — Some essential oils have antiseptic properties that can help reduce bacteria in the mouth Tooth powder should be used the same as toothpaste. The only difference is that it needs moisture to spread over the surfaces of your teeth. The findings are mixed regarding tooth powder's effectiveness at removing plaque. Some studies say toothpaste remains more effective, while others say results are comparable to toothbrush and paste. 1,2,3,6 What is Tooth Powder? Whitening tooth powder focuses on ingredients that whiten teeth. They may contain abrasive ingredients that gently whiten teeth and remove surface stains. Natural Tooth Powder One study has shown that tooth powder efficiently removes extrinsic (surface) stains from your teeth. 5 This study noted that the whitening effects of the tooth powder were greater than that of the toothpaste. However, the toothpaste was just a regular toothpaste, not a whitening toothpaste.There is limited research that has compared toothpaste to powder. However, those published show mixed results on tooth powder's overall effects on oral health. 1,2,3,4,5,6 Toothpowder has not been studied as extensively as toothpaste. However, there have been a few studies that have examined the effectiveness of toothpowder. Tooth powder is likely an effective whitening agent due to its abrasive properties. But again, more research is needed to determine the effectiveness of tooth powder in removing stains from your teeth. Are There any Negative Effects of Tooth Powder? These mixed results show that more evidence is needed to prove whether tooth powder is as effective as toothpaste at reducing plaque. Controlling Gingivitis Long before the days of Cleopatra, Egyptians were using tooth powders or pastes to clean their teeth, as did the ancient Greeks and Romans. The Egyptians used a formula combining a powder of ox hooves' ashes and burnt eggshells mixed with pumice. The Greeks and Romans preferred a grittier powder, so they used crushed bones and oyster shells. Romans added powdered charcoal and bark, hoping to help with bad breath. The Chinese added ginseng, herbs and salt to help improve taste and cleaning properties.

The main concerns regarding tooth powder are its abrasiveness and effectiveness at removing dental plaque . A buildup of plaque can lead to cavities and tooth decay. You can also find recipes to make your own tooth powder. Fortunately, instead of hoof ashes and eggshells, these concoctions rely on relatively easy-to-find ingredients like chalk, powdered sugar, baking soda, borax, charcoal, honey and peppermint oil. Bentonite clay — Bentonite clay is added to natural tooth powder to improve its overall texture, giving it a smooth consistency In the 1800s, it was common for people to use baking soda, chalk, or salt to remove mouth odor and polish teeth. Today, we call them tooth powder.Natural tooth powders are an innovative, zero waste, eco friendly way of brushing teeth without the need for a plastic toothpaste tub. This is environmentally friendly because many commercial toothpaste tubes are made up of different layers of plastic and metal. This makes it very hard to recycle and, in most cases, ends up in general waste and sitting in landfill. Making the simple, eco switch to a natural tooth powder that is plastic-free will help reduce waste, plastic pollution, and encourage and support more sustainable, zero waste manufacturing processes. However, studies are concerned about its ability to cause gum bleeding, gum recession, enamel damage, and tooth loss. More studies are needed to prove claims for or against tooth powder.