BWCA Toothpaste or what? Boundary Waters Listening Point - General Discussion
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Crooked_Paddle
senior member (91)senior membersenior member
  
05/08/2012 07:07AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
At past in BWCA, on my knees I dig a hole, brush my teeth & spit in hole. When done cover it up. Any better way? What about baking soda & spit out anywhere away from camp?
 
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schweady
distinguished member(8070)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
05/08/2012 08:09AM  
I've found that I can LNT if I do some rinsing/diluting of the spittle before depositing it in a depression I've found or made in a bit of soil well away from camp. Spread, cover, rinse a bit more if need be. Using a smaller amount of paste in the first place is always a good thing, too.
 
HikingStick
distinguished member(692)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/08/2012 08:33AM  
In reality, the brushing action in conjunction with water alone is likely more than enough to keep your teeth clean during a week in the wilderness. Unless you are really concerned about bad breath, or have sensitivity and are using a paste designed to help with that, you'll likely be fine.

Brushing daily with toothpaste didn't become part of modern culture until early in the 20th century. I believe it was Pepsident that launched the first successful marketing campaign in an effort to imply that daily brushing was a need. They were successful, and the concepts of that campaign became the foundation of modern marketing (prior to the Internet age).
 
05/08/2012 09:08AM  
I either just swallow it or spit into the trash bag.
 
05/08/2012 09:45AM  
I'm sure someone will have a smart*** comment for the last one.

I spit the toothpaste into coals/ash on the side of the fire in the grate.
 
schells
distinguished member (104)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/08/2012 11:28AM  
learned at NOLS. Dilute and spray away from camp and not into the wind.

here is a link to the same thing from backpacker

spray

 
05/08/2012 11:38AM  
I regularly use Biotene toothpaste. It is low-foaming and therefore even if I do a big ol' glob spit, you can hardly see it. I still do the spray thing, though. And if I see something left behind (esp. after my kids brush as they have a harder time with the spray deal), I rinse it with some water to dilute it.
 
Jackfish
Moderator
  
05/08/2012 11:41AM  
quote fitgers1: "I spit the toothpaste into coals/ash on the side of the fire in the grate."

What Fitgers said.
 
05/08/2012 11:54AM  
i add water and swallow.. makes a mouth fresh!
 
05/08/2012 12:20PM  
quote Canoearoo: "i add water and swallow.. makes a mouth fresh!"


+1
 
Minnesotian
distinguished member(2309)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/08/2012 01:14PM  


Spit into the latrine.
 
schweady
distinguished member(8070)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
05/08/2012 01:15PM  
quote schells: "learned at NOLS. Dilute and spray away from camp and not into the wind.

here is a link to the same thing from backpacker

spray

"

Yeah, seems like I'm always right behind a lot of NOLS disciples who have camped on my site the day before, spewing the foliage white. Very pretty.
 
05/08/2012 01:16PM  
quote HikingStick: "In reality, the brushing action in conjunction with water alone is likely more than enough to keep your teeth clean during a week in the wilderness. Unless you are really concerned about bad breath, or have sensitivity and are using a paste designed to help with that, you'll likely be fine.

Brushing daily with toothpaste didn't become part of modern culture until early in the 20th century. I believe it was Pepsident that launched the first successful marketing campaign in an effort to imply that daily brushing was a need. They were successful, and the concepts of that campaign became the foundation of modern marketing (prior to the Internet age)."

+1, Amen... brush long enough and teeth are smooth and clean without a drop of paste. Save yourself a couple ounces of pack weight!
 
Beaverjack
distinguished member(1655)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/08/2012 03:38PM  
Save it in a Nalgene bottle. Makes a great topping for fry bread or pancakes, and is much lighter than maple syrup. If everyone contributes, there should be plenty for several breakfasts. You'll have to experiment with flavors to see which suits your taste and recipe best. I'm partial to good ol' Pepsident, but my darling bride prefers Colgate wintergreen spittle. Best to experiment at home to find the brand and flavor that works best for your crew of hungry campers.
 
Bwoods
distinguished member (246)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/08/2012 03:57PM  
I only use a dab of paste and then I take a swig of water to dilute before spraying it away from my campsite. The next mornings dew or a light sprinkle will eliminate what little evidence may be left after it dries up.

I believe in most of the LNT principles but I have my limits, a tiny amount of diluted toothpaste spread out is not going to have a neagative impact on future visitors or the environment. Those that say otherwise are being overly dramatic and unreasonable.
 
05/08/2012 04:34PM  
+1, Bwoods.

Very funny, Beaverjack. Loved it.
 
05/08/2012 04:47PM  
+2 Bwoods
 
05/08/2012 05:07PM  
IMHO digging a hole is more of an impact than a little toothpaste on the ground.
 
realandrea
distinguished member (278)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/08/2012 06:05PM  
Wow, I was eating dinner when I read this thread. Then I started vomiting profusely and now need to go brush my teeth!
 
05/08/2012 06:49PM  
I spit it neatly on a rock, making sure to preserve a round glob. The next day I use the dried toothpaste as and after dinner mint. Tasty!
OK, I use baking soda and spit in the fire.
 
05/08/2012 07:06PM  
I dont brush on canoe trips, really not a big deal.
 
schweady
distinguished member(8070)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
05/08/2012 07:51PM  
Okay, you found me out... I actually rip out a huge hunk of 1,000 year old moss and leave my big, white goobers under there.
 
RaisedByBears99
distinguished member (497)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/08/2012 08:58PM  
Toothbrush and water.
 
05/08/2012 09:12PM  
quote Wetlander: "IMHO digging a hole is more of an impact than a little toothpaste on the ground."

+1
 
05/08/2012 09:36PM  
Brush? What brush?
 
05/08/2012 09:37PM  
Seriously, I usually rinse and spit it out back in the woods.
 
schweady
distinguished member(8070)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
05/08/2012 10:21PM  
quote Wetlander: "IMHO digging a hole is more of an impact than a little toothpaste on the ground."

Mine are no more than 3-4 feet deep. What's the big deal?
 
TeamTuna06
distinguished member(1167)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/08/2012 11:12PM  
I just use sand.
 
MeatHunter
distinguished member (424)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/13/2012 07:28PM  
The LNT thing can get a bit out of hand at times. We are part of nature, not a foreign entity within it. Spitting in the woods, peeing on the portage, using a mild soap for a sponge bath within the woods will not hurt a thing. The sheer fact that there is an IRON firegrate and latrine at the campsite pretty much detracts from the whole LNT practice. I prefer to call it, "minimize your presence", which is pretty much all one can do.

Leave the place cleaner than when you arrived and you've done your part. The only way to leave to trace is by not going at all.
Rant over, we now resume our regularly scheduled broadcasting lol
 
05/13/2012 10:31PM  
quote Bwoods: "I only use a dab of paste and then I take a swig of water to dilute before spraying it away from my campsite. The next mornings dew or a light sprinkle will eliminate what little evidence may be left after it dries up.


I believe in most of the LNT principles but I have my limits, a tiny amount of diluted toothpaste spread out is not going to have a neagative impact on future visitors or the environment. Those that say otherwise are being overly dramatic and unreasonable.
"

+3
 
05/13/2012 10:58PM  
Never thought about this one. I have just spit into the woods.
 
05/15/2012 07:48AM  
quote schweady: "
quote Wetlander: "IMHO digging a hole is more of an impact than a little toothpaste on the ground."

Mine are no more than 3-4 feet deep. What's the big deal?
"


May your toothpaste rest in peace!
 
HowardSprague
distinguished member(3419)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/15/2012 07:51AM  
Wow, when I started reading this thread I thought it was a LNT thread parody.

What Bwoods said.
What Meathunter said.

What's next - capturing expelled anal gas in a ziplock and packing it out?
 
05/15/2012 11:53AM  
LOL Howie! What's next, bagging our exhaled CO2 and hauling that out?
 
schweady
distinguished member(8070)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
05/15/2012 12:56PM  
This weekend, one especially gassy fishing partner pondered (after an episode of incredibly powerful output), "If I could just bottle those..." to which the other two of us pleaded, in unison, "Please do!"
 
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