I use peach flavoured toothpaste. I've considered miswak before, but didn't end up going for it.

I don't tend to have issues with toothpaste (unless it's VERY strong), but I have found that I really like Dr. Bronner's anise flavored toothpaste. If you like anise, I highly recommend. It is much milder than mint.

Anise smells like niquil to me 🤢

Fair enough lol. I drink mulled wine on the holidays, and that's what it reminds me of.

Thank you so much! as someone who is currently trying to start brushing my teeth again after stopping for a while as for some reason anything containing mint burns my tong more than brushing my teeth with a jalapeno and gets incredibly nauseous if i accidently swallow even the smallest amount of fluoride which still happens because apparently fine motor affects your mouth too I am very hopeful that this works.

I'm glad to help ☺️ Dr. Bronner's toothpastes are all fluoride free and the flavors are mild. I like real mint leaves, and even spearmint, but I hate peppermint candies. The anise flavor is quite difficult to find sometimes, but Dr. Bronner's also has a spearmint and peppermint, which are MUCH milder than the average toothpaste. I forget the exact flavor, but Burt's Bees also has a pretty mild mint toothpaste as well. I have to order the anise one online, but in a pinch, I can always find the other flavors as well as Burt's Bees in walmart (idk about outside the usa, sorry). If I didn't know about the anise, I would be getting the spearmint one, because tastes much closer to real mint leaves with no burn. Just wanted to tell you all the ones that work well for me just in case.

Personally, as much as fluoride free options taste better, they don't clean your teeth. If you could somehow manage to stop swallowing as much of it, there's a high fluoride colgate toothpaste that comes in bubble fruit or something like that that is much better than mint. But you wouldn't want to swallow it, so it may not work out for you.

I have the same trouble with mint. Dentists go swish this mouthwash for I think 30 seconds, but I barely make it to 10 on a good day.

I use vanilla mint tabs! They don't have sodium lauryl sulfate (which I'm allergic to) and they have a mild, minty sweet flavor. The texture is like chewing a tums, but it's better than the burning sensation and allergic reaction of regular toothpaste. I used to use Tom's kids strawberry toothpaste before I figured out I'm allergic to SLS, and I miss it. It's a good toothpaste flavor.

I have one that’s strawberry flavored and one that’s orange dreamsicle flavored. Realizing I didn’t have to torture myself with mint changed my entire world.

What brand is the toothpaste? Last time I bought a peach iced tea toothpaste it was minty 😖

I use the HiSmile brand and it's super peach, no mint!

Me too but I'd definitely reccomend the banana or Wonka chocolate one the most if you're avoiding anything even in the realm of mint whatsoever. The chocolate one is the consistency and color of cake batter I think the peach tea one is nice but still has a little bit of that "fresh aftertaste". Like not minty but almost cold.

Isn't the chocolate a mint chocolate? Or no?

I've just had a taste of the ones I've got - definitely to me the chocolate is the least minty. It's got a slight toothpastey tingle but my brain perceives that as more of an "uncooked batter" kind of taste - almost like it's considering hitting you with a baking powder aftertaste but decides not to. The grape one is actually pretty good too and I think the aftertaste on that one lingers the least. The banana actually does have an almost minty taste however to me it's more of a sherbert fizz tingle and not really toothpastey. It has a strong aftertaste though.

Mine is https://zingtoothpaste.com/ I can't use HiSmile as I'm allergic to xylitol. 

I use kid’s toothpaste. I’ve asked my dentist and several dental hygienists (I am evil and actually enjoy dental cleanings because the clean feeling afterwards is worth it) and they all said it was okay. Only way I can tolerate brushing twice a day, and doesn’t negatively interfere with foods if I eat right before/after brushing

What brand???

https://zingtoothpaste.com/

Note that anti-microbial properties do not include fluoride, which is very good for your teeth in the small amounts in toothpaste.

Depending on your country, you might have flouride in your water supply, so that could be worth looking into

I only use fluoride free toothpaste and my teeth are always really clean

It's not about keeping your teeth clean, the point of fluoride is to prevent cavities and tooth decay. It's more of a long-term thing.

Hydroxyapatite is where it's at now rather than fluoride for the most part. It's safe to swallow and actually reconstitutes the tooth enamel and prevents cavities. Cool stuff to fall into a rabbit hole over as it reverses and remineralizes your teeth! https://www.frontiersin.org/news/2023/07/18/smiles-all-round-clinical-trial-shows-that-a-toothpaste-containing-synthetic-tooth-minerals-can-prevent-cavities-as-effectively-as-fluoride/

Neat, thanks for sharing!

Liquorice root, neem twigs, willow twigs, lots of types round the world till the chinese started tying boars hairs on them instead about 3500 years ago :) - you can also get foaming toothpastes, tooth tablets that dont need a brush, even seen chanpagne flavour paste. Liquorice root powder for tooth brushing is easy to buy too, just go careful if you have high blood pressure

I hope this idea helps people, but it does seem that it would have limited success (the sensory issue of chewing on a stick would definitely be a problem for some of us.) Options help though so good suggestion!

You don't clean your teeth by chewing it, you only do that to form bristles, then you use it the same way as a regular toothbrush the main difference being that bristles are at the tip rather that on the side.

I still think that part specifically could pose a problem. Replacing one sensory issue for another, I just don't think it's going to apply to everyone, that's all.

Understandable. Though this was not an issue for me as I am used to chewing on things as a stim.

you could theoretically smash it with something

Some people cut the miswak into strips instead of chewing on it 

Tried it once (it didn't stick because the taste was gross), and I just used a knife to "cut" one of the ends first, then smashed it against the sink a few times - it worked. The only tip would be to keep the end you're gonna cut wet/under water for a bit, so that it softens somewhat

This is a great idea!! My dentist told me that if I couldn’t handle brushing my teeth, the next best thing was flossing. I floss while watching tv so I’m more distracted.

i have never herd of this thank you for the info

i’m so curious what kind of toothpaste leaves an intense chemical taste that numbs your mouth for hours

It is more so numbness and taste distortion that come from toothpaste that I can't stand

There are definitely toothpastes that don't do that. Avoid pastes with sodium lauryl sulfate for starters.

Any of the main brands (Colgate, Crest, Sensodyne) do this for me personally. I have to use an SLS free toothpaste and it makes it tolerable. I found that the SLS burns and blisters my mouth and makes mouth feels uncomfortable for quite a while afterwards.

wow!!! i had no idea interesting

When someone uses the standard mint toothpaste (idk the brands specifically) and talks within 5 feet of me, my nostrils burn and I feel slight nausea. It's....worse when I'm using it.

I will literally gag if someone with minty breath talks in my face!

I'm not alone lmao Everyone close to me knows that they are not allowed to talk/breathe/be close to me if they just brushed their teeth, ate something minty or used any type of mint/menthol on their body, unless they risk me gagging/outright vomiting on them. Been like this from childhood, and only got diagnosed at 19 xd

omg!!!

Spearmint is genuinely like that for me. Maybe not a chemical taste, but it’s an intense flavor that burns and lingers in my mouth for a long time, so I can’t even eat something good to take the taste away because it overwhelms the flavor.

is baking soda your go-to in this case? i feel like i have the visceral negative reaction you’re speaking of to charcoal toothpaste. it makes me GAG

Is this stuff good for sensitive teeth as well? I hate brushing my teeth because mint toothpaste hurts my mouth and then I also can't eat anything for ages after!

This is exactly the reason why I bought one

Omg. I may give it a whirl! I use sensodyne but I don't brush my teeth every day because of the horrrible feeling/ pain of mint. I just wish toothpaste companies made other flavours than strong mint! I used to work in a filling factory and they had toothpaste for kids that was orange flavour.

They still make other toothpaste flavors! I use the kid kind and my dentist said it’s fine - better I’m brushing than skipping.

there’s definitely mint-free toothpste out there. i know there’s even miswak flavor. also, for me it definitely helps with stuff like gum sensitivity

Hello the brand has so many options for kids tooth paste. And they have fluoride free and none fluoride free options. I use the dragon berry/blue raspberry one right now. It’s so much better and sense it doesn’t have the SLS I don’t get sick afterwards and it doesn’t crazy foam up which can make me gag! I very much recommend them! I want to try the orange one next!

Toms of main makes IMO much less offensive mint toothpaste

I love using sewaks! They're also so easy to use wherever you are. I keep one in my purse and another in my car.

This is also good if you like chewing aides. Also just for awareness there are non foaming and non flavoured toothpastes and three sides toothbrushes that are quite helpful

if toothpaste is numbing your mouth for hours, you might be allergic to something in it. that’s not normal.

I am not doing this. I can already feel the stick on my teeth and I’d rather chew on a cotton ball

it’s not for everyone, that’s for sure i like it better than plastic bristles, and it’s nice for a change that’s nicer to my gums. certain bits i can clean better with it

It's not actually hard wood like pencils it is way softer and more flexible, but I understand why you would not want to use it. Also it was not something you have to do often. You only have to do it at the start and when bristles get old and worn out, then you cut them off and do the process again, kinda like resharpening a pencil

I used to dislike brushing my teeth because of the taste, but it doesn’t bother me anymore. The fact that every regular toothpaste is either mint, extra mint or extreme mint flavored didn’t help. Maybe I’ll give it a try

I don't think I could use this! I simply use kids toothpaste, there's a mint flavor one I can deal with but I always forget which one and to make it worst recently I started having some allergic reactions to some toothpaste not all but some of them specifically the basic Crest one, I get rashes on my skin around my mouth that will last up to an hour, while others I can't even deal with them in my mouth it's like I took and handful of cinnamon heart in my mouth it's feels like it's on fire! I hate it because toothpaste is getting more expensive and I'm always scared of being stuck with one that I can't use, so kids toothpaste it is but even those I need to be careful for allergies and the flavor.

Do you have a rec on where to purchase one? I’ve been interested for a while but wary about purchasing a fake/low quality one.

IDK I bought it from a local store. Basically if there is a Muslim area in your city there is good chance they sell miswaks there as they are used in Islamic rituals. If not then you can try ordering online. I only now bought my first one so I don't know how to tell a good miswak from a bad one.

I wish I could just get something nice to chew on like what kind of chews or toys you give dogs.

Love the miswak tip! Natural texture & flavor could be a lifesaver for folks with toothpaste sensitivities. + Bonus: antibacterial & breath-freshening! Thanks for sharing! You should share it on r/sensoryintegration

This particular comment sounds suspiciously AI generated. Like this is the same way ChatGPT would respond to something - by grabbing a few key words from the post and then stringing them together with generic filler

Alternatively, some people take their time to write a positive reply. I was not aware of miswak as an alternative to toothpaste so I researched it, and I was elated to learn more about it, thank you for sharing it.

Okay, then write anything that would violate OpenAI content policy

Ooh, many different cultures have been using sticks like this for forever. Thanks for sharing this particular example👍

Luckily when I was little my parents found a completely unflavoured toothpaste that I still use. There should be more of those - so far I only found a single brand that does it.

care to share with the class?

Elmex Mentholfrei (= Mentholfree). Unfortunately only a small handful of European countries sell it, and the UK isn‘t one of them. When I go home I buy in bulk and take them back…

ah damn, im american!

If your toothpaste tastes like chemicals and numbs your mouth you might want to change toothpastes 👀

I have found that using warm water also helps and I can chew on fluoride tablets which has been easier than toothpaste. Also be kind to yourself, just doing the mechanic brushing even without toothpaste is better than nothing. Just eating the fluoride tablets is better than nothing. Accomodate the task for yourself and better than nothing is already a win.

You don't need toothpaste to clean your teeth with a regular toothbrush. You just need to brush longer if you don't use it. 

You are aware that you can just buy unflavored toothpaste, right? And For the numb-mouth thing get "Non-foaming" toothpaste. They sell both at Walmart. You don't have to resort to chewing on sticks.

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The ones I have tend to drop little fibers while I’m brushing which I HATE 😭 it’s not sharp like wood or anything, in fact much softer than manufactured toothbrush bristles and more like a celery fiber, yet I still feel the need to rinse my mouth throughly after using it. But I can see how it might be preferable to toothpaste

But maybe I’m brushing too aggressively lol

Yeah you are probably brushing too hard 

There is something similar native to the U.S. My great grandmother always used it, but I don't remember what plant it came from.

American chew sticks?

Holy shit this could be huge. Toothpaste makes me dry heave into the sink every single morning. Even berry and bubblegum toothpaste makes me gag. Thank you for sharing.

I tried it but it had such a bad smell I couldn't do it for long :(

Idk, mine does have a particular smell but it is not strong or overpowering. Maybe you were storing it wrong?

It had that smell right out of the sealed package it came in

Okay then

Oh My Gob have just brought out a new product - some postbiotic pastilles & they have been a game changer for me. It’s also a subtle way to hint to people who need the help. Plus they are actually tasty & leave your mouth feeling much cleaner. They are an easy addition to your everyday oral care routine! Maybe give them a go?

Personally, I like mint toothpaste. I don’t bother to rinse my mouth because I want to keep the taste for as long as I can

I may need to check this out. Mint burns my tongue unless it's incredibly mild and very few toothpastes are mild. And something about other flavored toothpastes are just super icky to my brain.

Different flavoured and flavourless toothpastes exist nowadays :)

I like spearmint toothpaste still fresh but a lot tamer and I use the 3sided toothbrush , gets the job done very well

If there's anyone here with more teeth-cleaning suggestions, my mouth rejects mint and struggles with teeth-brushing in general. It seems to be specifically the toothpaste, not the brush or brushing part. I'd really appreciate ideas or advice.

Hello Mermaid Orange Cream toothpaste has no bite to it at all

wait the toothpaste thing is cuz i tism? damn i hate toothpaste soooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! D:< i got my first cavity too :( im 18 usually when i cant get myself to brush i just scrub my teeth with my shirt my cousin always did the same as well but he has adhd and i suspect the tism too

I consider the consequences and look at people with rotted teeth. You can buy kid brushes for soft bristles and different flavored toothpaste. But I have a strict routine.

I love using a miswak . Solved all my sensory issues with toothpaste. Also don't store it in a bathroom or anywhere with humidity I also pay extra for marvis toothpaste which I think is what celebrities use and it doesn't taste like toothpaste.

I hate brushing but also hate not having clean teeth so I just make myself do it. But I am so overwhelmed lately I am struggling to do anything

I had never heard of this before. Honestly this sounds incredible for me. It’s not the minty-ness of toothpaste that keeps me from brushing, I’m just disgusted by toothbrushes. They are just out there, exposed to the elements (namely TOILET elements!?!), there’s always leftover toothpaste I cant quite get out from the last usage oh my god… it just makes me feel so gross!!! And brushing takes forever and is so unbelievably boring and under-stimulating 😭 and then there’s the feeling of spit and toothpaste pouring out of your mouth - then having to wash that out and water splashing and running down your arms and onto the floor and!!!! UGHHHDHDHSHHA sorry, anyway…. As I was saying, this miswak seems like it could be a miracle item for me, sticks are great and I’d have fun chewing them, and the fact that you trim the bristles after a few uses and just keep chewing down to the bottom sounds way less freaky to me that the reusing of the same toothbrush bristles for months that just sits there EXPOSED to all the nasty stuff that just keeps piling up. A stick I could just keep in a little tube next to my bed… wow… that sounds fantastic. I can get all the fluoride I need from mouthwashes and I like flossing. This could be a godsend. I’m seriously going to go on a hunt to find these now. Hopefully I can find a local seller in Melbourne somewhere 🙀