Telos BeeKeeping · Dexter, Oregon

Smiling
Sweetly?

An honest tooth powder born from the hive and rooted in the science of your oral microbiome. Raw bee propolis. Bovine bone. Pearls. Ancient botanicals.

Shop — From $22 Our origin story

40g · 2–3 Month Supply

The Discovery

From the Hive to Your Mouth

I'm a beekeeper — and apparently, a tooth fairy.

Somewhere along the way of keeping bees, I learned that propolis is the immune system of the hive — a natural antimicrobial, nature's own protectant for everything inside the colony.

Around that same time, I went to the dentist. They told me I had gingivitis. I thought — what, no way. I have great teeth, no cavities — but gingivitis can still silently weaken them over time. And I wasn't alone — most people over 35 have some form of it and don't even know it. I thought: what? Wow.

"Who better to sell you tooth powder than the guy who sells honey?"

So I started researching. I thought there had to be a way to help myself. And lo and behold, I started discovering the amazing properties propolis has on the human mouth. Eating it made my gums and teeth feel noticeably cleaner throughout the day. My gums felt great. I pride myself on a good smile — there is so much psychology behind a genuine, healthy smile.

I went looking for a tooth powder that would give me propolis alongside ingredients that weren't overly refined — things I appreciated in their raw, whole form. I couldn't find one. So I thought — I'll just make one.

The apiary in the Willamette Valley forest

The Research

Your Mouth. Your Brain. Your Body.

Bees use propolis to mummify intruders and maintain a nearly bacteria-free hive. Studies have found remarkably low levels of pathogenic bacteria inside healthy hives — an extraordinary feat for a colony of 60,000 living organisms. Propolis is why. Studied for its antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral properties, research spans decades and thousands of studies. We put it on your toothbrush.

The Oral Gateway

Sublingual tissue is the fastest absorptive pathway in the body — substances enter the bloodstream in seconds, bypassing the liver's initial filter. When gingival tissue is inflamed, that doorway stays open. Supporting a clean, balanced oral environment benefits your mouth and everything connected to it.

The Deep Systemic Link

Recent breakthroughs have revealed a direct pipeline between the oral microbiome and long-term cognitive health. Corrosive oral bacteria can actually cross into the bloodstream, releasing toxic enzymes that threaten delicate neural pathways and impact whole-body vitality. Your mouth isn't isolated — it is the gateway to your systemic health.

The Propolis Defense

Propolis has one job in the hive. It has the same job here — targeting sticky bacterial biofilms at the gumline, strengthening your mouth's natural defenses, and maintaining a clean, resilient oral barrier, keeping those opportunistic organisms from migrating down the systemic highway.

Enamel Remineralization

Enamel doesn't grow back — but it can be replenished. Given the right minerals in the right environment — give your teeth what they're made of.

pH Balance & Alkalinity

Your oral environment is chemistry. pH determines whether your enamel is rebuilding or breaking down. The whole formula is built around creating those conditions.

Enzymatic Cleaning

Your mouth is already trying to clean itself. Saliva, enzymes, your own microbiome — they're all working. This formula works with that biology.

Instructions

How to Use Tooth Powder

Wet Your Brush

Wet your toothbrush and have a little water in your mouth before you begin. This helps the powder bind and spread evenly across your teeth and gumline.

Dip & Brush

Dip the damp brush into the powder and brush as you normally would — working the minerals into the gumline and between teeth where biofilm accumulates.

Let It Sit — 30 to 60 Seconds

Allow the minerals to rest in your mouth before rinsing. This is the window when remineralization and antimicrobial action are most active.

Why Not Paste?

Oil-based pastes coat the teeth and block mineral absorption. Glycerin-based pastes harbor bacteria when wet. Powder works with your oral biology — no synthetic foamers, no coating agents, nothing between your enamel and the minerals it needs.

Formulation

Every Ingredient Has a Purpose

Ingredient	Function	Why It's Here
Bee Propolis	Broad-spectrum botanical	Dismantles sticky buildup at the gum line to maintain a clean, balanced oral environment. The heart of this formula.
Myrrh Gum & Goldenseal Root	Mucosal tonic / botanical astringent	Berberine-rich alkaloids soothe and comfort tender gum tissue and strengthen the tight junctions of gum tissue — supporting whole-body wellness from the oral threshold.
Bovine Bone Meal (BSE-free)	Mineral matrix for enamel support	Whole bovine bone naturally contains hydroxyapatite, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium — the same mineral building blocks as your enamel. BSE-free certified, sourced as food-grade powder.
Pearl Powder	Mineral whitening	Calcium-rich and naturally brightening without abrasive stripping. Gentle enough for daily use, effective enough to matter.
Bentonite Clay	Toxin binder & pH alkalizer	Adsorbs heavy metals and toxins while shifting oral pH into the alkaline range — creating an environment that supports a clean, balanced oral microbiome.
Calcium Carbonate	Gentle polishing base	Creates a high-alkaline oral environment (pH 7.0+), neutralizing acid conditions and providing the raw mineral building blocks that support enamel strength and surface smoothness.
Papain Enzyme	Proteolytic film remover	Digestion begins in the mouth. This green papaya enzyme dissolves the protein pellicle — the sticky film that traps bacteria and debris against enamel.
Ground Clove & Peppermint	Numbing, anti-inflammatory, flavor	Eugenol in clove numbs nerves and reduces the localized inflammation causing tooth sensitivity. Peppermint delivers clean flavor alongside real antimicrobial action.
Himalayan Sea Salt	Saliva trigger & trace minerals	Promotes healthy salivary flow — your body's own remineralization mechanism — while delivering trace minerals directly to oral tissue.
Monk Fruit	Non-cariogenic sweetener	Antioxidant-rich with astringent tannins that support gum integrity. Doesn't feed decay bacteria. Pet-safe.
Carob Powder	Natural carrier	Natural carrier for propolis — rich in tannins and used to deliver the propolis evenly throughout the formula.

The Spirit Behind It All

Telos

She is the beekeeper.

She's brown like a bear and sweet as the honey she loves to eat. She settles beside the hives to often nap with the kind of peace you can't teach.

Her name means purpose. Telos — an ancient Greek word for ultimate aim.

She has always been at my side — my companion, my friend, and a great teacher. She leads with purpose, peace, and love — and that is what this whole thing is really about. She reminded me what it looks like to live with purpose. I'm just trying to keep up.

Truly she is the beekeeper. I'm just a worker bee.

— Johani & Telos

Why It Matters

Supporting the Living World

−70%

In some regions, insect biomass has declined by up to 70% over the last three decades. Honeybees aren't just honey producers — they are the infrastructure of our food system, responsible for pollinating roughly one-third of everything we eat. Telos BeeKeeping maintains active hives in the Willamette Valley and provides free swarm extractions across the community, ensuring bee populations are relocated safely rather than exterminated. When you buy a jar of tooth powder, you're part of that.

Order

Sliding Scale Pricing

Two options, honest prices. A single jar or two — that's it. Need a lower price? Just ask — we work on a sliding scale for those who need it. Want to contribute a little extra? At checkout you can pay it forward for someone who needs it, or simply support the mission. Always optional, always appreciated.