• Thoroughly mix 3 parts baking soda with part salt and funnel the compound into a short small-mouthed container such as a soda or beer bottle. If you'd like, add a few drops of peppermint or wintergreen oil to the concoction.

Next:

• To each half cup of homemade powder, add 3 teaspoons of glycerin, 10-20 drops of flavoring (peppermint, wintergreen, anise, cinnamon or whatever) and 1 drop of food coloring. Mix the ingredients thoroughly in a bowl and add just enough water to make the concoction "tooth-pastey". Spoon the substance into a small refillable plastic squeeze bottle or any container that dispenses easily and won't leak.