Ah, my childhood. A place filled with paper airplanes, paper airplanes, paper airplanes.... okay, I was obsessed, I admit it.

But somewhere before we all assembled in my grandmother's balcony to pelt the neighbouring compounds with our aeronautically exquisite creations (gnats, darts, flat gliders, helicopters, plain vanilla concordes) we had to brush our teeth.

Children need to do that, else they will get no sweets.

Adults need to do that, else they will get no Sweeties.

Brushing your teeth in India is a tradition that is far, far older than when Proctor and Gamble decided to open a branch in the colonies. Indians, being slightly off in the head, would get up every day at the crack of dawn to chew on loose bits of the azadiracta indica tree, which we call neem. Azadiractin, by the by, is one of the most potent natural anti-microbial agents known to man.

Yes.

Even post-paste there are people who still chew on the stuff, and while civilized folk will ooh and aah about their minty fresh gels and "herbal" based toothpastes, nothing says "Hello, Gorgeous, you're teeth are clean!" like washing a black powder from your gums.

Yes, it is a black powder.

No, it doesn't stain.

Yes, it's minty fresh.

No, I don't think it contains monkeys.

I don't think...

Vishal