My next door neighbors rub ashes on their teeth instead of brushing with paste. Why?

They also, by the way, have the most perfect teeth I%26#039;ve ever seen. When did people start doing this and why?

My next door neighbors rub ashes on their teeth instead of brushing with paste. Why?
Many of our early ancestors cleaned their teeth by rubbing the ashes off of a charred stick on their teeth.





Many tribal people in remote areas still do the same type of thing, and the natural ash and charcoal will clean their teeth very well.





I am sure that your neighbors are using a similar technique.
Reply:...you answer is right next door... go ask them ! ( I like Ipana)
Reply:Lots of toothpastes contain %26quot;pumice%26quot; which is volcanic ash. It is an abrasive material tha works well scrubbing enamel on teeth. Maybe they are trying a %26quot;generic%26quot; replacement?
Reply:When you find out let us all know.
Reply:Abrasives in the ash, and many ashes have lye in them, which is a good soap.
Reply:That is a known way of cleaning teeth but if it%26#039;s done too much or the teeth are scrubbed too hard, the materials in the ashes can wear away tooth enamel.
Reply:Your neighbor%26#039;s use of wood ash for teeth-cleaning has some element of scientific basis. Ash in small quantities is used as fertilizer. How so? Ash contains Potash or potasium oxide---which acts like your familiar baking Soda. Ash also contains Lye, otherwise known as Sodium Hydroxide in chemical terms. You are familiar with the use of Sodium Hydroxide for production of soap detergents. Sodium Hydroxide readily breaks down to Sodium ions and hydroxide ions. Does the cleansing effect of Peroxides ring a bell?





Your neighbor might be doing a smart home chemistry, as long as the avoid swallowing the ash, or letting some it get into their lungs.
Reply:ash is very abrasive, in course of time all their teeth will wear out %26amp; get sensitive.



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