Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

buy white clay and a steam distilled (food grade) essence like eucalyptus, mint, lemon, sage, etc. Mix all with little water and you are done.

Srila Prabhupada had a recipe for toothpaste. Does anyone know it?

I found this:

"You will know that I was collecting nim. But now it is impossible. That also I have manufactured my own toothpaste. I purchase only the brush and I made my toothpaste at home. I never used any toothpaste. Even in my young days. I never used. You have seen it practically. Not only that now I have become sannyasi. When I was grhastha I never used. When I was grhastha I was using that nim datun(?) regularly. And I can give you the paste. So if you cannot use nim datun, you can use this paste."

Room Conversation '97 September 5, 1976, Vrndavana

"For your toothache trouble, you can brush your teeth with the following mixture; common salt, 1 part, and pure mustard oil, quite sufficient to make it a suitable paste. With this paste brush your teeth, especially the painful part, very nicely. Gargle in hot water, and keep always some cloves in your mouth. I think that will cure your troubles. It doesnt require to extract any teeth."

Letter to: Kirtanananda '97 Los Angeles 14 February, 1969

The full recipe seems to be a bit longer:

"Everyone smiled in admiration. Prabhupada seems to know nearly everything. He was referring to his own toothpaste recipe: a combination of ground mustard seed, salt, calcium carbonate, eucalyptus oil, camphor, menthol, and oil of
wintergreen. Many devotees are now eagerly making it for themselves, and Prabhupada asked if they like it."
(Hari Sauri Das, Transcendental Diary 1.4, December 23rd, 1975)

But...

Text PAMHO:5653316 (33 lines)
From: Kailasavasini (dd) HKS (New Radhakunda - S)
Date: 10-Jun-02 20:40 (22:40 +0200)
To: Free Forum (Announcements) [5680]
Subject: Srila Prabhupadas toothpaste
------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Devotees,

I just got some interesting letter from one friend telling me about his
experience with Prabhupadas toothpaste. Here his message I wanted to share
with you as well:

"There are some who have been using for many years the toothpaste
developed by Srila Prabhupada. It has become unfortunately apparent that all
is not well with using it. Here is some information that would be good to
share if you know someone who is using it now, or to follow if you are using
it yourself.
In the short term, the toothpaste does indeed stop the production of
cavities as Prabhupada said it would. However, within a year or two there is
a noticeable problem of receding gums. HH Tamal Krsna Gosvami stopped using
this toothpaste after a few years as he could detect his gums were receding
rapidly. Those who have used it far longer have had severe cases of receding
gums so much so that there is little contact of the gums with the teeth.
Further, there are other serious problems. The abrasive nature of the salt
and other ingredients in the toothpaste cause the enamel on the top and
sides of the teeth to be rubbed gradually away. This creates weak teeth,
corroded fillings, and such a thinning of the enamel surface that the
dentine shows through. The effect of this is that the teeth become sensitive
to acids, such as fruit, the eating of which will cause pain. Further, any
hard substance, even a mustard seed, when entering the thin area can cause
great pain. The teeth can become gouged due to the abrasion. These effects
are very rare in ordinary people who do not use such kinds of toothpaste.
It is not good to use any kind of abrasive on the teeth. Those who have
long term experience with this toothpaste recommend that no one use it for
any length of time as the deteriorating effects of this toothpaste begin
with the first use. There are other softer toothpastes, such as the Indian
Vicco, which are good, but one can simply use water and get basically the
same effect. If one wishes to disinfect the mouth, diluted food grade
H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) will do it much better."
(Text PAMHO:5653316) ---------------------------------------

Prabhupadas recipe has salt in it so it may be shocking to some of you when you try it for the first time.
We are used to that freshy, bitter taste but this one is very salty!

3 more reasons to manufacture your own toothpaste:
http://www.vedanews.com/out.php?title=Counterfeit_Toothpaste_Dangerous
http://www.vedanews.com/out.php?title=New_warning_issued_for_Indian_toothpaste
http://www.vedanews.com/out.php?title=Chinese_Toothpaste_Scare_Spreads_to_Canada

Dear Kailasavasini prabhu,

THank you very much for giving this info on the side effects of Prabhupadas tooth paste recipe. I used to make this tooth paste as a brahmacari in the 70s, and it was very austere to use since we all grew up with the dugary stuff

I really cant understand why SP would give such a recipe since he was a chemist and there seems to be so many harmful effects from it

It just doesnt make sense

Ys
Gaura das

Most probably m. Kailasavasini isnt reading this forum.

Found something about the recipes background: http://kuruvinda.com/Myths.aspx#b4

I settled on Promise toothpaste plus baking soda. Natural and cheap.

[quote][cite] meme:[/cite]Gargle in hot water, and keep always some cloves in your mouth. I think that will cure your troubles. It doesnt require to extract any teeth."

Letter to: Kirtanananda '97 Los Angeles 14 February, 1969[/quote]

Does anyone know anything more about what kind of cloves are meant here? Fresh, dry ...?[br][br]

Other than that, fresh ginger (just cut it into a slice and lick/suck it) is good against infections in the mouth. Helps against cough quite well.

[quote][cite] VEDA:[/cite]
"There are some who have been using for many years the toothpaste
developed by Srila Prabhupada. It has become unfortunately apparent that all
is not well with using it. Here is some information that would be good to
share if you know someone who is using it now, or to follow if you are using
it yourself.
In the short term, the toothpaste does indeed stop the production of
cavities as Prabhupada said it would. However, within a year or two there is
a noticeable problem of receding gums.[/quote]

Interesting. My gums are receding too. I have tried different toothpastes, I have no inflammations, but the gums are receding. My dentist doesnt know why.