The Many Uses of Toothpaste

Toothpaste is an item that I can almost guarantee every household in America has on hand at all times. There are many kinds of toothpaste: various minty flavors; gels and pastes; kid -friendly varieties; special pastes for sensitive teeth; toothpaste with baking soda and/or peroxide; toothpaste with fluoride; toothpaste to whiten your teeth.

I am certain that you know we need to use some sort of toothpaste to help ensure proper tooth and gum health. But are you aware of the many other uses of this amazing, inexpensive household product? Here are just a few additional ways that you can use toothpaste in your home:

- Toothpaste can be used to help remove pen and other markings from walls and other hard surfaces. Just rub a little paste and water over the surface with a damp cloth or sponge for a safe, non-toxic way to remove unwanted markings.

- Toothpaste can be used to shine tarnished silverware. Apply a small amount of paste to your silverware and rub with a clean, soft cloth to bring back the shine.

- Toothpaste can be used to help diminish acne on the skin. Dab a small amount of toothpaste onto individual zits and let sit overnight; redness and underlying infection will be visibly reduced by morning.

- Toothpaste can also be used to clean jewelry. Mix a small amount of toothpaste in with some warm water. Dip an old toothbrush into the water solution and use to gently clean your jewelry.

For the above alternate uses of toothpaste, I highly recommend using a white paste (not a gel) that contains baking soda. My personal favorite alternate use for toothpaste is to help clear up acne. It seems to be one acne solution that works well with just about everyone, whereas medications and other acne specific facial creams and cleansers seem to be met with mixed results.

As common a household item as toothpaste is, though, it is important to keep it out of reach of small children. Most varieties of toothpaste still contain ingredients that could be harmful in larger doses; therefore children should always be monitored when using toothpaste, even for the traditional, daily brushing of their teeth. There are a few non-toxic brands of toothpaste on the market, including the certified-organic toothpaste "Miessence" created by Hallgold.

So, the next time you are out shopping and your favorite toothpaste goes on sale, feel free to stock up and enjoy the many uses of toothpaste beyond keeping your pearly whites pearly white!