Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor or a dentist. This is not dental advice. I’m simply sharing my journey as I learn, experiment and find what works for me.
Homemade toothpaste was one of the first personal care products I began making at home. Listening to the Wellness Mama podcast episodes on “How to Improve Your Oral Health” and “Can Cavities Remineralize” sparked my interest in making a simple homemade toothpaste for our family.
Store bought toothpastes include several ingredients that are controversial and often contradictory to oral health. They contain sweeteners, glycerin, fluoride, and surfactants to name a few. Natural brands can cut out a lot of these ingredients but even those often contain glycerin which can inhibit remineralization.
I make most of my own personal care products in an effort to better regulate what chemicals we put into our mouths and onto our bodies. It is also cheaper overall to make your own personal care products. The ingredients last for a long time so you can make many batches. It cuts down on packaging waste as well. Creating less waste is something our family is mindful of.
Simple 5 Ingredient Toothpaste
I tried a few homemade remineralizing toothpaste recipes from Wellness Mama and one from Weed ’em and Reap. Over time I wound up combining the ingredients I liked into a recipe that works for my family.
What You Will Need:
- 3 tbsp calcium carbonate
- 3 tbsp calcium bentonite clay
- 2 tbsp baking soda
- 3 tbsp coconut oil (I use organic)
- 15 drops of trace minerals
I measure out my dry ingredients into a half pint mason jar and mix them together. Then I add my melted coconut oil over the top and stir to combine. Once it has a creamy smooth consistency I add my trace mineral drops and mix again. We use a tiny spatula to scoop a dime size amount onto our toothbrushes.
This recipe lasts us about 3 weeks brushing morning and night.
Calcium carbonate, bentonite clay, and baking soda all contain minerals to support oral health. Baking soda and calcium carbonate also remove stains and help whiten teeth. Bentonite clay can absorb toxins and heavy metals. Coconut oil is naturally antimicrobial and helps bind the dry ingredients together. Trace minerals add a boost of extra minerals to the toothpaste.
Notes:
When I first started making homemade toothpaste some recipes called for more baking soda and it was too abrasive for me. If you find homemade toothpastes irritate your mouth in the beginning you can always use less baking soda. I have seen recipes that call for diatomaceous earth as well but I think that might be harsher.
Some people use essential oils in their toothpaste. Peppermint, cinnamon, and clove are all popular choices. I haven’t tried this yet because I get nervous about using essential oils internally. I have also seen recipes that add stevia or xylitol to the toothpaste for a touch of sweetness but we haven’t minded it without.
Other parts of my oral health routine:
- I brush with activated charcoal at least once a week.
- I make a basic homemade mouthwash too that I use nightly after flossing.
- After reading a few books on Ayurveda, I’ve added tongue scrapping to my morning oral care routine as well and I want to start oil pulling soon.
Other Recipes I Use These Ingredients For:
- Coconut oil is the base for my basic moisturizer and the beard balm I make for my husband.
- Baking soda and coconut oil are two of the three ingredients in my homemade deodorant.
- I use baking soda in my 3 ingredient dish soap and diy shampoo recipe. I also add a quarter teaspoon of baking soda to my water kefir ferment every few batches to help mineralize the grains.
Resources:
- Wellness Mama blog and podcast
- Weed ’em & Reap blog
- Cure Tooth Decay by Ramiel Nagel
- 6 Reasons to Make Your Own Personal Care and Cleaning Products
Have you made your own personal care products? Share which ones in the comments below.
