Baking Soda Toothpaste

I tend to be very fastidious about my teeth.  I brush my teeth usually at least four times a day (often up to six times a day) and I will usually floss at least twice a day. 

I am NOT fastidious about my teeth because I am so concerned with having some sort of "Hollywood" smile..... that was never a possibility.... and hell, with my mustache and beard, it is not all that often that my teeth show... even when I smile only a small amount of teeth show. 

I am fastidious about my teeth because..... a) I hate going to the dentist and hate having folks paw around in my mouth, b) I have always worried about tooth loss and had/have anxiety about losing teeth and/or getting dentures, c) because I have TMJ (temporomandibular jaw syndrome) where I grind my teeth and clench my teeth and put excessive stress on the teeth in this fashion, and d) because when I was smoking a pipe.... I wanted to avoid having the dentist commenting on my pipe smoking hobby and being negative.

So, for my age and my long term TMJ, I have reasonably healthy teeth and gums.   I do have two lower molar teeth with crowns, unfortunately.  Each crown I received had me feel a profound sense of failure.... my thought being that I was not careful enough or fastidious enough to adequately protect the teeth I was given.  I even expressed this to my dentist once a few months ago... and he actually laughed and told me that I was doing a damn good job and my teeth were great for my age and TMJ status.  I am still not sure if I believe that.   But it does make me feel a bit better. 

But.... in the image above.... I show my favorite toothpaste.   I do not always get it as my wife buys whatever is on sale.... but Arm & Hammer Baking Soda toothpaste is my absolute favorite.  I like/enjoy the gritty texture of the baking soda.... I like the flavor of the baking soda.... and for me, my mouth always feels best after brushing with that toothpaste.