You might’ve heard the big controversy swirling around fluoride these days.
It’s not new.
But it’s heating up lately. A lot.
In fact, Natural News just ran a very impassioned op-ed piece about the dangers of fluoridation in water. Calgary recently voted to stop fluoridating its water supply, while nearly simultaneously, parts of England are now fluoridating their water for the first time ever.
It’s a clusterpekingduck.
I don’t know how you feel about fluoridation, but I’m a little concerned about it. I’m in an extra special situation, because the fluoride levels in Manitou Springs are naturally sky high. They don’t fluoridate artificially here. In fact, they send out letters to expecting parents recommending that children under the age of 9 never ever never drink the water.
It has that much fluoride in it.
And that’s natural, mountain run-off fluoride – not the waste products from the phosphate fertilizer industry in the form of fluorosilicic acid that’s added to most water supplies (and called fluoridation).
While this post is all about homemade toothpaste, I do want to go on record as saying that I don’t ever support mandatory “drugging,” which is how I view fluoridated water.
The scout’s honest truth is, though, I have no idea whether or not artificial fluoridation of water is harmful or helpful, but my gut tells me it’s both.
Which gives this whole controversy all kinds of crazy legs – like a schizophrenic octopus fighting itself with toothbrush-shaped hammers.
That being said, it’s my humble opinion that if we’re going to put fluoride in the water, we don’t need to overdose ourselves with fluoride in the toothpaste. You may disagree. I respect that.
Originally, I had planned on using this opportunity to talk about my very favorite fluoride-free toothpaste: Himalaya Neem and Pomegranate. Instead, I tried making my own.
And, gosh, Himalaya, I’m sorry, but I’ll never buy toothpaste again.
Homemade Toothpaste Recipe – Now With Coconut Oil
Over the last few weeks, I’ve tried several different toothpaste recipes. Some of them made me cry giant tears of nausea, they tasted so icky.
Some of them were tooth powders, which included salt. And I thought, y’know, I probably get plenty of salt in my diet already. I don’t need to fill my mouth with it at the end of every day.
(But if you’re not afraid of too much salt, try this tooth powder – I really did enjoy the taste: 1 Tbsp baking soda, 1/2 Tbsp salt, 1/2 tsp ground cloves.)
Ultimately, my very favorite was this doozy I found at Tammy’s Recipes. I fiddled around with the amounts for a while, and eventually ended up with something that put a smile on everyone’s face. Sweet, smooth, and mintally delicious.
Better yet, it’s SO FREAKING HEALTHY!
Seriously – coconut oil? Incredibly heart-healthy and great for your skin. Baking soda? Some people take baking soda daily to balance their pH levels and swear by its effects. The stevia in it isn’t bad for your teeth at all, but you could use xylitol (sold in the sweetener aisles at most health food stores) for extra added tooth decay prevention.
What I love most about it is that there’s nothing I’m putting in my mouth that I don’t know how to pronounce with said mouth. It all makes sense. And it all makes sense … without fluoride.
So, first. Here’s what it looks like while mixing it up:
And here’s my fiddled-with recipe.
Homemade Coconut Oil Toothpaste
- 3 Tbsp coconut oil
- 3 Tbsp baking soda
- 25 drops peppermint essential oil
- 1 packet stevia
- 2 tsp vegetable glycerin (optional)
Put the coconut oil and baking soda in a bowl and mash up with a fork until blended. Add the peppermint essential oil, stevia and optional vegetable glycerin and continue to mash and stir until you’ve reached toothpaste consistency.
And reach toothpaste consistency, you will. The original recipe (before adding more oil and glycerin) was a little lumpy and TOTALLY doable, but I wanted something that felt like toothpaste, or else the boys wouldn’t touch it.
Adding the extra glycerin gave it a very realistic toothpaste feel, plus it bumps up the sweetness factor a bit, leaving everyone smiling when they’re done polishing the choppers.
Here’s what it looks like, finished and dipped onto a toothbrush:
Does Homemade Toothpaste Work?
Well, if by “work,” you mean, “clean your teeth” the answer is: HECK YEAH. It’s minty fresh and super cleansing, and my teeth feel and look sparkly after using it.
One thing to keep in mind: The coconut oil (especially if made without the glycerin) might solidify pretty well if temperatures are nice and cool, but if things get hot, the coconut oil will melt a bit. I put mine in a small wide-mouth jar with a lid, and I just dip my toothbrush in when it’s time to brush.
You could also reuse a toothpaste tube by piping your homemade goodies straight back in.
The big question you might be asking is whether or not coconut oil is actually good for your teeth.
It’s antibacterial, so it’ll kill a fair amount of germs. But the one thing that interested me most in this particular recipe is its close relationship with a little known Ayurveda practice called oil pulling (which I tried, briefly, two years ago and lost patience for).
We won’t get into oil pulling details here right now, but basically the way you do it is, instead of brushing your teeth, you fill your mouth with oil and then slowly pull the oil in and out through your teeth for a long period of time. The claimed benefits include ridding your body of toxins and treating any number of ailments. (You can read a bunch more about it here.)
Now, that’s not to say that using coconut oil is the same as using the oil pulling method. But it’s something.
Want to Talk Toothpaste? Or Fluoride?
You guys are a smart, savvy bunch. I’d really love to hear your opinions on fluoride – in toothpastes or in our water supply.
Tell me what you think.
And tell me how you feel about brushing your teeth with coconut oil.
Pretty weird, huh?
But totally worth it.
SMILE!
Very cool! My only worry is does it fight cavities?
I suppose you just have to think about what causes cavities…bacteria. Fluoride and other components that are added into toothpaste to help kill bacteria also “fight” cavities. Bacteria lies in the plaque that gets stuck to your teeth and if you don’t get that plaque removed properly, then that is when cavities can form. If you are getting rid of that plaque, the substrate in which bacteria loves to grow, then yeah it this toothpaste probably does help to fight cavities. Another great way to help get ride of plaque? Floss! Also…maybe a fun recipe for a mouthwash may appear in the future…please?
don’t know if you’ll consider this fun, but it’s very easy and takes me just a few minutes to make:
-1/2 cup water
-1/2 teaspoon baking soda
-2 drops peppermint essential oil
-2 drop tea tree oil
instructions: put in bottle. shake well. presto – instant mouthwash (I also shake it before poring some out)
oiy, pouring, not poring…
Actually, this is really a farce. Cavities don’t happen because of bacteria. It happens because of poor diet and gut health. If you aren’t getting enough minerals and nutrients in your diet your body will deteriorate, it will leach the minerals needed for other body functions out of your bones/teeth and other tissues, so to at least keep your heart and blood pumping…Yes our body needs minerals not only to grow teeth but also for muscle function, cellular growth, brain function etc… So then when you eat foods like sugars it’s not the sugar ON your teeth that do damage, it’s when it’s in your gut that it does the damage. It robs your body of oxygen, creating an anaerobic environment in which yeasts and fungus and opportunistic bacteria thrive, taking over the gut environment and taking up those vital nutrients…where as an optimal functioning gut is in balance with healthy gut flora and ample essential nutrients and it is able to actually ABSORB those nutrients.
So then with poor dietary habits = poor gut health and poor nutrient uptake, the body suffers and starts to decay. Teeth are just one of the more visible “symptoms” of this. Brushing teeth will make you feel good but it won’t “cure/heal” your teeth. Yes it’s still important and keeping plaque/tartar out of the gums is important too, but again is not the only answer.
Also killing “all the flora/bacteria” in your mouth, just like your gut is not healthy either. You still need healthy bacteria in your mouth. That is why after you brush with these “bacteria” killers your mouth gets nasty after a bit and you have to do it again. Why is that? Our bodies should not be “sterile” we must have healthy flora/bacteria on and in our body at all times….same with our skin, there are numerous studies showing the dangers antibacterial products are having on our environment and the growth of super bugs etc… A healthy mouth SHOULD have a healthy flora! SUPPORT it, don’t sterilize it..yes try to keep the sugars and starches at bay, in your mouth and in your gut but like I said it’s not simply the topical aspect we need to focus on. teeth are bones, living parts of our body. NOURISH your body, nourish your teeth and bones! Get MINERALS, all of them not just “calcium” that’s another huge misconception.
http://www.suite101.com/content/schuessler-cell-salts-a88821
I’m a dental assistant and Fluoride doesn’t actually fight cavities, it just makes your teeth harder so it’s slightly more difficult for a cavity to form. The downside of this is that it makes the teeth dense but brittle, and it’s easy to get fluorisis which can include white spots or bands, or even brown spots in severe cases. Clearly the better option is xylitol which is actually anti-cariogenic (kills the bacteria that causes cavities) Stevia is non-cariogenic (meaning it doesn’t cause cavities) so this too is a good option. I haven’t used fluoride toothpaste for 5 years and I haven’t gotten a cavity yet.
I don’t know enough about fluoride to make a really educated decision one way or the other BUT I think that something that has a poison control label on it shouldnt be used in my kids’ mouths ever. Thank you so much for your recipes and tips. I have tried your homemade washing detergent and your lip balm and loved them. Next up I will be making the homemade deodorant and this toothpaste. I’ll let you know how it goes! Thanks again!
Yay! Hope you love the deodorant – don’t forget to give it a while before you abandon it. I still use it – and only it – to this day. Can’t even imagine going back! Do keep me updated on how it goes, k?
Using the deodorant but really miss antiperspirant (sp?)… any thoughts on this? I do get the healthly part behind sweating but not always socially acceptable…
Best deodorant ever: mix coconut oil with baking soda and corn starch (or arrowroot powder). I started with equal amounts baking soda and corn starch, but found I liked it better with more corn starch. Just mix it with enough oil to make a spreadable paste. I LOVE IT! Never any odor, and so easy. The only “drawback” is it’ll be liquidy in high heat and a little more solid in winter. But it doesn’t change it, I put it on in summer and either soften it in my hand or under hot want for a min or two in winter. You could microwave it too.
You could also ditch the coconut oil and use the powder as a deodorant. Spread it around (some will fall, so do it somewhere you can clean easily afterwards), but it’ll work for most of a day. No worrying about it being to liquidy or hard, and no chance of grease stains on your clothing.
cocunt oil…thats my deoderant
Hi-
I use Young Living toothpaste Ultra Dentarome with Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils. It’s fluoride free and all natural too.
However, me and my family still get fluoride treatments at the dentist twice a year. I think it’s still important to do so but not to ingest fluoride daily.
OMG thank you for this! I’ve been looking for a good homemade toothpaste recipe and this sounds great! Just had my daughter’s 2-year check up, and we found out that apparently water in our county is NOT fluoridated (yay!), but because of that, they want her to take a fluoride supplement?? I’m a little scared of that. However, they want her to continue to use non-fluoride toothpaste. Super confused and not sure if I should get this pills for her or not…..
It’s nice that your water isn’t fluoridated, lucky! But as far as fluoride supplements, I’d ask a couple of other health professionals (mainly, say, a naturopath and a more open-minded doctor) what they think of it. I’ve no clue, of course, but I’d want more opinions than just one doctor (and from a wider “health” standpoint) before I took the risk.
Still, lucky you! No fluoridation.
Oh my goodness, is there anything coconut oil can’t do? I am definitely going to give this a try!! I’ve been doing some research on holistic treatments for gum disease, as (despite meticulous oral hygiene and general good health) I have problems with gingivitis and receding gums. Some of the most frequently recommended are turmeric, cloves and tea tree oil so I think I’ll try to incorporate those into the recipe (it might not taste so good, but I can live with that!). I’m going to start playing around with a mouth rinse, too – planning on trying a strong sage tea with some tea tree oil and hydrogen peroxide to start out with and see how that goes.
Haha. Just so you know your little comment “is there anything it can’t do” totally inspired my next (and taking forever) post. As I’ve been fiddling around with different toothpaste/powder recipes, I tried to work one out that used sage and bay leaves, but kept ending up with sage and bay stuck in my teeth. Let me know if you figure out a way to keep the green stuff from sticking in your teeth!
sage and bay essential oils?
I would definitely like to try this. The store-bought pastes are often so over-minted that I can’t wait to spit them out. I kinda think that goes against the point of thorough brushing. How long does it keep? Do you need to refrigerate it?
Nope. No need to refrigerate, and I would imagine it keeps for a very, very long time. There’s nothing in the recipe that spoils easily, and I wouldn’t see any reason why it wouldn’t last as long as coconut oil itself lasts (which is years).
However, I wouldn’t make more than one batch up at a time (which you’d probably go through in a month or two anyway).
And that’s the best part about this – you can adjust the “minty-ness” to YOUR preference (the recipe is actually pretty minty, at the request of Fiance). Start with 15 drops of peppermint and adjust up from there.
Let me know what you think!
I know this query comes late in the game, but I’m confused as to when and how you can use essential oil of something like peppermint or cinnamon leaf in a toothpaste (i.e., something you ingest). How do I know what essential oils I can ingest? When I went to Mountain Rose Herbs, there warning info was a bit overwhelming. I considered using Peppermint extract but didn’t know if that would make the paste spoil. I also considered cinnamon powder, which would be good for taste and health, but it would probably be kind of a pain to rinse.
Thanks for the help.
well, in my opinion, essential oils are made out of plants/ foods that you can eat (i.e Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Pepperment) so the oils, are 100% and just Rosemary “juice” or mint “juice” (lol). I don’t know if that helped but that’s how I think of it.
Wow. I could cry tears of joy. You always know the perfect times to post things. Generally speaking, how expensive is coconut oil?
Generally speaking … it’s really not that expensive, in the long run. Often, the Nutiva brand (a good brand to go with) will do specials on Amazon and other places where you can get two jars for under $15.
Just be sure to ONLY use virgin, organic coconut oil. Anything else is going to be tampered with too much.
The brand I have in the picture there – Tropical Traditions – kicks some major butt, but the oil is a tiny bit pricey. Good news, though: Keep an eye out on their site (and sign up for their sales newsletter). They’re ALWAYS having the best sales, and not just on coconut oil.
http://www.tropicaltraditions.com
I’d love to hear if you crack one of the mysterious (to me) so called tooth soap recipes (example here – http://www.etsy.com/listing/54864998/toothpaste-soap-natural-soap-for-teeth)!
Ooooh. You got my brain churning, lady. It took a lot of willpower not to start putzing around with some of those ingredients right away. However, I have such a ridiculous overabundance of different homemade toothpastes now, I’m gonna have to wait a bit.
Tooth soap – just the name alone – has always piqued my curiosity. Talk about conjuring up some weird taste-ideas. Ha!
Heehee! This is a FANTASTICALLY-timed article . . . I’m from Calgary and am trying to figure out how to get ENOUGH flouride now!
That said, I’m seriously happy that we did away with it. Drugging the water is so unethical.
Hallee – coconut oil runs cheaper than olive oil, in these parts. I spend about $18 for 3L of it, and even though I use it as an all-over moisturizer, in my bath, in my food, in homemade deodorant and hair shiner, and as a leather polisher (melted in and then rehardened with beeswax), it usually takes me about 2 months to go through the whole tub. And when you compare that to the price of deodorant, moisturizer, bath oil, hair product, cooking oil and leather polisher . . . well, it’s SOOOOO worth it!
I have absolutely NO idea if this link will help, but they seem to have so many different articles on fluoride: http://www.fluoridealert.org/
Maybe they’ll have recommendations somewhere on how to get the needed fluoride?
When you think about it, though, it’s not just fluoride that we need. So many other vital (natural) minerals are stripped from our water supply and leeched out of the ground from over-harvesting of crops. I wonder if there’s maybe not a really good mineral supplement that contains “good” fluoride and other vital minerals you could use to replace.
If I come across one, I’ll let you know. Do the same for me, yeah?
Sprouts are a great natural source of fluoride and many other minerals.
I put spirulina into our smoothies and my children’s teeth always look better when when we do it. Very mineral packed! I might try it in toothpaste 😉
Did you ever come across a mineral supplement for your toothpaste?
Wow thanks for this! Awesome article! Anitra said she’s going to make some for us to try out! =)
Is there a difference in the cold pressed, and virgin coconut oil? And what is it?
Gonna try this recipe, thanx!!!
Here, lady. I’m not sure I absolutely understand the intricacies of extracting coconut oil. I just know that you want to stay away from oils that are expressed using high heat, and oils that are refined (using high heat and other adulterating processes).
Tropical Traditions has a lot of information on how they get their coconut oil (and from what I can tell, they’re pretty much the standard by which you can measure “good” coconut oil).
Hope this helps: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/expeller-pressed_coconut_oil.htm
Ooh, I can help here…
Cold pressed, expeller pressed, and virgin are all touching on similar things, but aren’t all exactly the same thing. Cold pressed is like expeller pressed, but it is defining the fact that low temperatures were used in the pressing process. Virgin also means that whatever means was used to extract the oil was low temperature and did not use solvents. Different oils will have different definitions of virgin depending on what organization is overseeing the labels. So these are describing how the oil was extracted.
Refining is describing what is done to oils after they have been extracted. As for refined oils, they are sometimes RBD, or refined, bleached, and deodorized. Refining happens when the oil that is extracted has things that we want removed from it. I have the most experience with soybean oil (gasp!), and what is removed things mostly like phospholipids and the things that make this crude oil “gummy”. Believe me, if you were to purchase soybean oil in its crude state the way it is normally extracted, you definitely wouldn’t want to put any of it into your food or body. It isn’t that it is harmful, it is just thick and stinky; not the way we normally think of cooking oils. Bleaching is the method of removing mainly the dark coloration of oils. This is normally accomplished with clays; these clays are actually pretty much exactly the same as many of the clays that are mentioned here for beauty products (bentonite and whatnot). The deodorization step uses high temperatures to remove volatiles from the oil. This usually makes the oil smell much better, but can remove some other things that are good too like tocopherols. It doesn’t remove all of them, though, just some.
This is just the basics. Any one want more details? Let me know!!
http://www.xylitol.org/dental-benefits-of-xylitol
I think there is a distinctive advantage on the xylitol as sweetner.
Wow! Talk about timing! Just went to my conventional dentist this morning. Have been using a non-flouride toothpaste from Trader Joe’s for about 3 months – good report from dentist! I do have have concerns about flouride in the water supply – many issues and I don’t think this is the best and/or most ethical delivery method. Too hard to control levels and adjust for individual needs. I believe for now I am in the group that agrees with flouride in some capacity but not in my water supply. We’re moving soon to well water – hooray!
I may have to give this recipe a try. My husband and family have pretty much stopped reacting to my homemade recipes (many I got from Crunchy Betty) so I am sure this won’t even raise eyebrows!! :o)
Yay well water! That, my dear, is VERY crunchy.
I just ordered a Berkey water filter (with the fluoride removing filters, too). It’ll be here on Monday.
Every glass of water I drink until then seems sooooo wrong.
hehe
we do the Brita water filter pitchers with well water and we love it…especially no water bill! Lol
I don’t know why I haven’t been using coconut oil in our toothpaste! I have been using baking soda with essential oils dry as a powder and it cleans the bath too. Adding the xylitol will be a tremendous improvement both in taste and in protection. I also make a mouth wash that is sweetened with xylitol and the same essential oils, (thieves’ oil blend equal parts of 5 oils; cinnamon, eucalyptus, lemon, clove, rosemary) and comfrey leaf tea and tincture. Comfrey has amazing healing properties and will knit the worst mouth ulcers over in record time.
Ooh. Thanks for the comfrey info. I have a big bag o’ comfrey leaves that I haven’t ever done anything with at all. I also happen to have a chipped tooth that keeps irritating the side of my cheek. Now I know what to try when it starts making me crazy.
Of all the recipes I tried, I had to use something sweet (I have yet to buy xylitol, but it’s on my next shopping list). Never can get used to the taste of baking soda without a little sweetening going on.
Fluoride shouldn’t be added to our water. It’s bad for the bones. We bought a special water filter that removes fluoride. However, I do use toothpaste w/fluoride (Tom’s of Maine Whole Care.) My thinking is that using it right where it’s needed (locally, to fill in little gaps on the tooth’s surface that could lead to a cavity) is totally different from drinking it. This is my philosophy regarding many things related to health: Treat locally rather than systemically whenever possible.
One of the most curious claims about fluoridated water is that it calcifies the pineal gland. I haven’t done NEARLY enough research to make a decision on whether or not that’s true … but if there’s one gland I don’t want calcified, it’s that one.
Who really knows whether fluoride is safe or not. We’ll never really get the truth about it. We have fluoridated water. I’m not happy about it, but it’s tough to go against the contingent that believes because it helps out teeth it’s ok to ingest. Ranger, I agree with Voce – toothpaste is ok because its localized.
But, I say that and I’m totally going to track down some coconut oil this weekend and mix us up a batch!!
Y’know, I hadn’t even thought of this until I read your comment, but if you’re keen on the idea of fluoridating your toothpaste, I bet there are TONS of natural, organic fluoride supplements you could add to the toothpaste recipe.
The added bonus there is knowing that you’re using 100% fluoride, you know EXACTLY what’s going into your toothpaste in terms of other ingredients, and you have (pretty much) absolute control. As long as you totally trust the people you’re getting your ingredients from.
Great recipes! I use lots of homemade beauty/health supplies and I’m considered weird but, oh well! Katie, could you share your recipe for hair shiner with coconut oil? I have tried some things with it for my hair but non have worked to my liking. thanks y’all! This southern girl loves all this stuff!
I’m no Katie, but I’ll tell you two things I do on a regular basis for my hair using coconut oil.
The first thing, I actually did today.
1. Use it as a deep conditioning mask before you shower. Just slather plain old coconut oil through your hair. You can either wrap it in a warm towel or just leave it be. Let it soak into your hair for an hour or two. In the shower, just shampoo. You might even need to shampoo twice to get it all out. Don’t condition (you probably won’t need to at all). Style normally. My hair’s always SO soft and moisturized after I do this.
2. When I have flyaways (with my straight hair), I’ll just take a teeny tiny itty bitty dab of coconut oil and warm it up in the palms of my hands. Then smooth it over my hair. The key is – it has to be a TINY amount (like, less than 1/8th of a teaspoon) or your hair may end up looking greasy.
Try it. Let me know what you think!
I have a mint-hating family (which is a benefit to me sometimes, I can make/buy treats that won’t get snapped up before I even get ONE!), can you recommend any other flavors?
I’ve been using your homemade deodorant recipe since a little after Christmas. You know what’s funny? For a while, it was working okay. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked as well as most deodorants and without any side effects, no itching or anything, so I thought, well, I’m going to stick with it. At about the six week mark, suddenly, it was like a miracle of no smelling at all. It was crazy, like one day it was just okay and the next, it was like sunshine outta my pits 🙂
You were probably experiencing very mild detox. Sweating is one of the top ways our bodies expel waste and this is especially concentrated in the underarm due to the proximity of lymph nodes there.
I’d bet your that your body had been expelling years of built up waste after you stopped using commercial deodorant, and when it was done detoxing is when you had sunshine coming out of your pits. 😀
*nod nod* I would have thought that, too, but I haven’t used commercial deodorant for many years, I switched from a crystal, which I’d been happy with for a long time, but then it started giving me a rash (ow). Could still be detox, but not from commercial products.
I know this is a year later, but I found the same thing with the crystal YEARS ago, it gave me a painful rash as well…
Cinnamon essential should also do the trick as should tea tree if you like that flavor. I also wouldn’t hesitate to try lavender since it’s in the mint family. Or blends of these oils along with other oils that have antibacterial or antimicrobial properties (rosemary, etc) to taste. You have a lot of options!
Use cinnamon oil instead of mint….delish!
would this be ok for braces? as i cant use whitening products and im scared the baking soda is going to rust them..
Of course I would ask your orthodontist, but I don’t see why baking soda would rust braces. Whitening products usually contain peroxides which can oxidize metal (what metal are your braces made out of?). Rust is iron oxide, usually from exposed iron in contact with water or oxygen. But like I said, check with your orthodontist first!
I use baking soda to clean my jewelry and it’s also recommended to use for polishing silver so I can say with confidence that it will NOT rust your braces.
Oooh intrigue. I’ve been giving making my own toothpaste some serious thought lately and now you’ve given me the extra oomph that I needed.
I made half a batch yesterday in case I did not like it, but it was wonderful. I used Tangerine essential oil, SweetLeaf stevia (1 packet), and melted the coconut oil briefly in the microwave to make it easier to stir.
Then I went further and looked at the informaton on Oil Pulling. On 3/28/2008, Molly from San Francisco, says that the acids in oil melt plaque. So it just goes to show you that this little gem of a toothpaste is what the whole world needs to get better checkups at the dentist! Forget fluoride….
Thanks for the legwork in putting this recipe together.
I tried it the same way, but used orange essential oil. I didn’t think it was too bad. Different taste, for sure, but once I was finished brushing, my mouth felt very fresh. I like it!
I just have one question. I live in a fairly cool environment, so once I stored my toothpaste in its little plastic container, it got solid rather quickly. I did not use the vegetable glycerin.
If I were to use this in Puerto Rico or Hawaii where it is much warmer, this time of year, would I need to refrigerate it? Would it store safer in a sterilized glass jar?
Your comments are most appreciated!
Thank you.
I’ve been brushing my teeth with just 2-3 drops of essential oil on my toothbrush, and nothing else. My mouth and teeth have never felt cleaner! I use the essential oil blend called Deliverance by Butterfly Express, which is the equivalent of Thieves by Young Living. But my kids won’t do this so perhaps I will try this recipe for them to have something more toothpaste-like for them to try. Spending $4-plus per tube of Tom’s is getting too pricey!! Thanks for the awesome resource. Love your site!
Would adding more coconut oil instead of the glycerin affect the efficiency or anything at all?
You might want to give some more thought to adding glycerin to your toothpaste. It coats your teeth- which means your teeth can’t re-mineralize. Your teeth will heal and fill cavities back in if you give them the minerals they need, and you don’t put any barrier up. Last year I switch from toothpaste that has glycerin, to one without, and (in addition to some dietary changes- making sure my body got enough nutrients) I was able to actually heal a cavity. From cavity- to check up 6 months later- no cavity.
Would love to hear more about what minerals you made use of to help heal your teeth. I’m currantly working on doing that for my teenage daughter – whose small cavity was discovered about a week ago. Already knew about the glycerin issue – thanks to Granny Goodfood on Facebook. You may want to check out her posts there sometime.
Thankyou!
Deborah
I was just telling my fiance that I haven’t found a good homemade toothpaste yet, and voila! Here’s your blog! Thank you, Universe! Also, I’ve been ‘poo free for about a week, and my hair LOVES me for it! I found that idea on another website, but I’m totally trying a few things from here, toothpaste included!
My toothpaste seems salty and unpleasant. This seems to be from the baking soda.
Did I get anything wrong (I used 1.5 Tablespoons of coconut oil, 1.5 Tablespoons of baking soda, 12 drops of mint essential oil and 1 teaspoon of Xelitol)?
Hmmm. I made mine the other day without sweetener (because I didn’t have any). I would describe mine the same, salty and unpleasant.
Of course, the texture is awkward, it now being cold, hardened coconut oil.
I can’t even think of asking the kids to try this batch, though I’m getting used to it.
What can be done to improve the taste, and the texture?
I’m trying the recipe with less baking soda. I cut it to a third (1 Tablespoon to 3 Tablespoons of coconut oil above). It tastes better.
I think it’s better to have a healthy toothpaste than delicious one.
Hi Marcin, In this case, I don’t think the saltier one is healthier, because I’m worried it’s too abrasive and can hurt the enamel of the teeth. Miri
Miri, i also use one part sodium bicarb to two parts coconut oil and found it better. i think the salt is more irritating to the gums rather than abrasive to the teeth. Commercial pastes have sand and chalk to do that job! What a crime. the layering of the oil should be a good barrier to bad damage. Like all of this, i am sure we will all learn and evolve as we go.
I’ve been using a homemade deo made from coconut oil, baking soda and cornstarch. It works perfectly for me as a deo, surprisingly, I just needed to get used to sweating after using anti perspirant since I started using anything.
I’ve been using Tom’s of maine toothpaste for almost a year then all of a sudden 2 weeks ago my healthy teeth (just had a check up!) started being sensitive to cold. Out of nowhere. All of them! What happened? It sucks when I go to chomp into a chilled watermelon or a cold lemonade! So now I am trying the coconut oil toothpaste recipe in hopes that maybe it’s just the toothpaste I was using. I’m using cinnamon oil as my flavoring. We will see!
Thank you for the toothpaste recipe..i have wanted a good recipe for awhile now..i have tried to limit as well as avoid several unhealthy chemicals and additives in what i consume..two main ones i try to totally avoid is chlorine and fluoride…my top reason for doing so is that on a spiritual level those two chemicals above all others will cause a persons pineal gland to calcify which will cause many problems for the body, mind, and spirit.
I stumbled upon this after reading a blog about mouthwash. Got me to thinking about what I put in my mouth (and my son’s) to clean it. Then reading this got me paranoid, and logically thinking…I bet Colorado Springs’s water is heavily fluoridated too. My main concern. I have super, super sensitive teeth. So as you imagine I am forking out a ton for Sensodyne…which definitely helps. I can’t deny its helping factor. Even if it is chemical laden. So I guess my big question is…going totally natural on the toothpaste front…will it help or make worse? I guess trial and error is the only way. But I think I’ll give it time. My husband is already freaked out by my deodorant making….
I don’t think this is odd at all! I actually do this minus xylitol (sp…whatever i can’t spell) -i hate xylitol flavor- but I use mint oil and sometimes i brush with dr bonner’s… but mostly baking soda + coconut oil. I did that before i read your blog because I read a book “money by the mouthful” if you haven’t read it- you should. you can find it online (they won’t publish the actual book because the dentists in this country don’t approve- although it was written by a dentist….sounds like major corportations don’t like people to realize toothpaste is bad for you!) Anyway, thanks for the blog! 🙂
I use Emu oil on my skin.. Seems like I read somewhere some one used it in their mouth & was highly beneficial. Although Emu oil if VERY expensive I think I might try it. Neem oil has some benefits too. I think I will use that too. Any think to get away from commercial products. I haven’t used commercial deo or toothpaste for years now. Did have a cavity last time I went to dentist, but I have always had cavities even when I used floridated tooth paste
is the stevia strictly for sweetening purposes? can we make the exact same recipe minus the stevia?
I think so, the recipe I use doesn’t have any sweetner in it, probably will taste a bit saltier but it’s not too bad.
I think so, the recipe I use doesn’t have any sweetner in it, probably will taste a bit saltier but it’s not too bad.
Definitely going to try this. As I use up the commercial toothpaste I bought previously, sometimes I just sprinkle some baking soda on top before I brush. I admit it’s not my favorite taste but it does work well. Also, you mentioned oil pulling and though I haven’t been able to commit to it on a regular basis either, I do it once in a while and it ALWAYS makes my teeth look brighter and cleaner so I can imagine this toothpaste with the coconut oil will work wonders.
Okay, I tried, this, and it was SO IMPOSSIBLY SALTY I couldn’t bear it and spit it out. I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me that sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride would both taste salty, but eew.
Is this just me?
Any suggestions?
–Jenn
I just made a batch and discovered this as well. I think I will try more coconut oil or another pack of stevia. Anyone else have any solutions to this?
I used to brush with just baking soda…yes. Salty! But my teeth were so healthy and pretty. I stopped b/c my dentist told me it was bad. Now my teeth are not so pearly white and I’m going to switch back to something made at home and also switching dentists! Just remember to pull your tongue back while brushing and use a little at a time. It gets more and more tolerable as you see your teeth get healthier! I am gojng to skip the stevia, bc I’m ok with the saltiness, but maybe if you upped the stevia and tried adding vanilla extract instead of peppermint?
I have been oil-pulling with unrefined sesame oil morning and night (4 hours after eating or before eating anything), then gargling with warm salt water. Lastly, brushing my teeth with 2 drops of peppermint Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap. Very bright white, very clean teeth! LOVE IT!!!
This morning, though, life happened a little different and I couldn’t do the oil swishing. I decided to try the Dr. B’s anyway, but only put one drop on my toothbrush. EEEWWWWWWWWWWW! ICK!!!!! I basically was washing my mouth out with soap. LOL
So, I have been searching for a homemade toothpaste to use for the times I cannot oil-pull and follow that regimen. I’ll be making a bunch of “samples” this week…FUN!!!
Oh, and I forgot to mention, we use an oral irrigator in the shower, which feels awesome on the gums and gets between teeth well.
This looks like a great recipe! I’m going to try it this week.
How much stevia should I use, exactly? We don’t have packets, instead we have a garlic-container size amount of it. How much should I use? 1 tablespoon?
Also, I’m wondering about the vegetable glycerin. I have a bottle of the stuff from NOW that I use for making pet shampoo, and it claims to be food grade, no added ingredients. Is it okay to use that in my toothpaste?
Thanks!
I’m against flouride, and it’s that reason which made me switch to homemade toothpaste a year or so back. I’m also however against the use of glycerin in toothpaste. The reason is that the glycerin puts a thin coating over your teeth which in the short run protects them, which is good. But it also prevents your teeth from being able to heal themselves, which is bad. So if you’ve got glycerin in your toothpaste and you get a cavity, you will not be able to get rid of it yourself and will instead have to go to the dentist to have it filled. It takes somewhere around 24 tooth brushing sessions to fully remove the glycerin coating from your teeth. And honestly, I’m sort of weirded out by putting something on my teeth which takes so long to wash away. Because of that I don’t include glycerin in my toothpaste recipe, just baking soda, coconut oil, peppermint essential oil and stevia. 🙂
I read on the internet (well, where else?) that brushing too often with baking soda damages the tooth’s enamel, has anyone else on here experienced any problems like this so far? I really want to try it, but my tooth enamel’s kinda at risk as it is thanks to my tongue piercing
Hi Ella! That is my question too. I wonder, did you ever find an answer to your question? I have a dentist friend who says rather emphatically “You should NOT brush with baking soda on a daily basis.” Hmmm.
My dentist told me that toothpaste was actually more abrasive than baking soda.
I grew up using baking soda and salt as a tooth powder, we had tooth paste too, but when my baby teeth began to fall out and the permanent teeth came in they were yellow and stained easily. My dentist (this was the early 70’s yeah I’m that old) told me they would never be white. So the baking soda scrub was kind of important to keep them as light as possible.
About 8 years ago I discovered the miracles of coconut oil. While reading a book on the subject, I’m sorry I can’t remember which one. It said the native people of the island the author was living on had used just plan coconut oil to brush there teeth for years. Knowing it’s the brushing and not the toothpaste that cleans your teeth I made the switch. I now just rub my tooth brush over a small bit of coconut oil I keep for this purpose and then dip in a small bowl of baking soda. This is what I have brushed my teeth with for years now. My dentist is impressed. Also, I clean my tooth brush with peroxide, it never bubbles like it did with toothpaste or even just the soda mix. The antimicrobial properties of the coconut oil keep it nice and clean and no bubbles proves it….lol
When I was three, my parents and I moved to Germany. American dentists advised my parents to put me on fluoride tablets because Germany didn’t put fluoride in the water. (I don’t know if they do now or not.) Sure enough, I developed fluorisis. Nowadays, the spots on my teeth aren’t visible unless my teeth get dry. It’s a nuisance…but I also don’t know what other long-term effects I might still suffer in the future.
In the meantime, I’m now using the Crunchy Betty toothpaste recipe and loving it! Today I made it with lemon oil instead of peppermint. Haven’t tried it yet, so we’ll see how my tastebuds feel about a “salty lemonade” flavor. ; )
Nice article. I am against fluoride and anything forced onto the public. In medical school we were taught about fluorosis, but also how fluoride reduced cavities…I think we get just as much, if not more, than the past. I keep getting them with brushing and flossing daily.
Can not wait to try the coconut oil. I already use it in soap making and for lips, and face and body for lotion. There is a book about the benefits of coconut oil, The Coconut Oil Miracle by Bruce Fife. I have not read it yet, but have read about the benefits of coconut oil and it is amazing. I was just using the baking soda, but my husband is not a huge fan so I am going to try this out on him and see. Thanks so much! Oh and we do not like the floride thing either! I am a little worried about not getting it as far as cavities go, but read an article that said that we are getting so much that people are thinking that they have Thyroid problems, but are actually overdosing on floride! I have thought that I have had Thyroid problems for the last 10 or so years, but doctors could not find it.
Actually while working for a lab there was a doc’s office that only allowed there expectant mothers to brush with baking soda before having there gestational glucose checked
Is there a substitute for the coconut oil? I just can’t stand the taste of coconut. I might use it on my skin, but the flavor just makes me gag.
You don’t taste the coconut oil at all. You could get some brand that says it has no scent perhaps. All I ever taste in mine is baking soda (salt) and whatever flavour I use. The coconut oil scent in the jar is light anyways.
Yeah I can’t taste it either, the peppermint or whatever essential oil you add helps change the flavor.
Yeah I can’t taste it either, the peppermint or whatever essential oil you add helps change the flavor.
Some of the coconut oils have a faintly coconut scent, but not truly a coconut flavor. More sweet than anything else. If you really cannot handle it, Spectrum Organics coconut oil does not have an odor whatsoever.
Just wanted to let you know I’ve linked to this recipe on my blog and given you credit for the recipe. Thanks for posting this!
I have Type 1 Diabetes and battled breast cancer this past year. 2012 is my year for getting healthy and ditching all those chemicals I can’t pronounce and really don’t need in my system. I plan on trying several of your recipes and really enjoy your website.
Oops. . sorry, I’m at babscampbell.wordpress.com. Thanks again!
If you want to rid your brain of fluoride, use 1/8-1/4 of a teaspoon of 20 mule team borax from Dial,THAT BRAND ONLY because it’s pure, in a liter of pure water. Drink it throughout the day for ONLY 4 days a week then break. This will cleanse your pineal gland, and seriously I think it made me happier in general. It will start to create like a serotonin increase. No more Govt. mind control.
Dude, no. Borax is toxic. It’s used as an insecticide. Do NOT consume it.
No no, keep at it Adam. (Pol Loff: The primary toxicity of Borax is to the testes, and it’s probably a good idea for Adam to continue drinking it…)
Is it supposed to dissolve in your mouth? As soon as I started brushing it dissolved. I totally could get used to it though. Also I am now curious about the vegetable glycerine after reading some of the comments.
I just started using it myself, not this recipe but one very close. Yes it does dissolve, I also salivate a ton with it. I normally put some on my brush and brush the bottom teeth, then spit, rinse out toothbrush and add more to do the top. My mom does this but 4 times, quartering her teeth, I’m a bit too lazy to do it that much.
I just started using it myself, not this recipe but one very close. Yes it does dissolve, I also salivate a ton with it. I normally put some on my brush and brush the bottom teeth, then spit, rinse out toothbrush and add more to do the top. My mom does this but 4 times, quartering her teeth, I’m a bit too lazy to do it that much.
hey, i have found your article interesting. I have played around with making my own toothpaste and used baking soda and peroxide for a long time. at one point i was using coconut oil for my gums……then i got lazy since we live right across the street from Whole Foods and I buy TOMS toothpaste. Now I am leaving to Thailand to manage a resort where coconut oil is plentiful and googled what i can do with coconut oil and found your article lol so my question…would just the oil and soda be sufficient….just wondering since i don’t know if i can find the peppermint oil there……that is more for the taste right?
Hai to all,
Natural tooth paste is a better substitute due to the fact
that they are made with better substances that flavor better. Some people who
move to natural dental paste can’t see themselves going back to the frequent
professional manufacturers. Right away you observe a difference and the dental
paste helps your the pearly whites benefit from the sensible food you eat
better. Other natural solutions to help clean your the pearly whites can
include everyday to help lighten up your the pearly whites and dental detergent.
Some may restrict the use of these products to a few days a week if they cause
discomfort.
My husband is crazy about all things fluoride. I dont date say the F word in our house. He starts ranting about Area 52 and wheat poisons and bigfoot. I am excited to try this recipe, I could be the hero around these parts….. well when it comes to toothpaste at least.
What about the recipes with hydrogen peroxide in them, it can help whiten teeth right?
I have always been told that hydrogen peroxide is bad for the enamel on your teeth.
My dentist told me about this for preventing gum disease. He said if a person brushed with gly-oxide (the oral form of hydrogen peroxide) and baking soda once a week you’d NEVER get gum disease. You shouldn’t use the gly-oxide every day before it kills all the bacteria in your mouth and some of it is good and needs to be there for your health.
Try colloidal silver it’s the best all home remedy in the world if you want you can look it up yourself
Fine grounded sage dried leaves, are good for whitening the teeth, I guess it could be added to the mixture.
I too wanted to avoid fluoride and also sodium lauryl sulfate which I discovered was causing my extremely painful cancer sores (which I had suffered from my whole life). I also felt that my teeth were not clean enough after brushing with standard toothpastes. About two years ago I embarked on a research binge that led me to the conclusion that soap was the way to go. But boy did it taste bad! So I started making my own formulations and after 1 1/2 years I finally perfected it. As it turns out, soap doesn’t mix well with mild abrasives, so I went with a two-part system of soap gel and polish. Everyone who has tried it loves it…so I just launched a website to make it available to health conscious people If you’re at all interested, the site is superhumantoothsoap.com .
Yea, I know this post is old, but I have just finally decided to take the leap into homemade toothpaste world. I’ve been reading (here and other places) that glycerin keeps your teeth from remineralizing, so I’d like to cut that out. However, when I was a kid, our dentist put some kind of sealant on our teeth. Is that going to keep my teeth from remineralizing as well? Granted, I have pretty strong teeth, and only 1 cavity as a 33 yr. old, but I’d still like to know for future reference.
Thanks!
Sealants won’t keep your teeth from remineralizing, they are put on the biting surface of your teeth in the grooves to make the grooves less deep, so your toothbrush can clean them out properly. They are probably a big part of the reason that you don’t have any more cavities.
I do know about Coconut oil, great for skin too, warm in hot/warm water bath while you shower, it will be melted and you put on skin, all the anti-bact. and healing properties on your body, and side benefit, no stinky pits (w/o deoterant), no ingrown hair, bumps red spots on skin, just remember to use X virgin coconut oil ( this uses lower heat to separate from coconut meat, ensuring all positives about the oil remain, if heat is to high–you get the same feel but basically the ‘coconut smell’ is gone—dead oil, benefits lessened dramatically to practically nothing. Thank you for your recipe, I am now ready to jump into homemade toothpaste after conquering shampoo/conditioner, gel, and 2nd day texturizing spray and degreaser mist. this is sooooo much fun and God is good to us humans.
Hey, I would love to hear about your other recipes – the gel, degreaser mist, etc!
http://www.chipmunkscorner.com
I cannot wait to try this. My mom has used salt and baking soda (I can see the little yellow Tupperware container on her bathroom counter as I type) as long as I can remember. Dentists rave about how clean and tartar free her teeth are! I have moved away from commercial toothpastes due to a sensitivity to SLS and SLFS. This seems like the next step!
I made this about a week ago and am loving it!!! Thanks!!
Hey, I just wanted to mention that there apparently is a specific kind of peppermint essential oil to buy when using it for consumption. I was at Whole Foods yesterday for the peppermint essential oil and I just grabbed some. Thankfully, I asked the cashier if that was the right kind, and she said, “Oh no! You have to buy the kind that is safe for consumption. If you just buy any kind, it can literally take your breath away–where you can’t breath!” So, I just wanted to pose that warning! Thanks so much for your recipes! You’re helping me change my hygienic life! 🙂
I’ve been using your recipe (minus the stevia and glycerin) for a few weeks after my dentist said baking soda would be fine for my teeth. Now I know of a hygentist who says soda is very abrasive to the teeth and gums. If you’ve been using this for almost a year, how has it affected your teeth?
I’ve read a lot about how glycerin isn’t good to put on your teeth because it coats your teeth and prevents nutrients from getting to them. This is why I actually looked up a recipe for a tooth cleaner (right now I buy mine at Tropical Traditions). Do you think leaving out the stevia/xylitol would be okay? Or is that necessary?
The amount of fluoride they actually put in water is so low that it isn’t such a big deal…a lot of food has higher amounts of fluoride in it, like tea and even some sodas. You never hear of soda addicts getting fluoride symptoms. Fluoride protects your teeth from cavities by helping to strengthen the enamel. But it only works topically, so ingesting it will do nothing. The extra fluoride in toothpaste isn’t a big deal because we don’t swollow it. You can believe whatever you want about it but I will say that I have had several patients say that they “don’t believe in fluoride”…as their teeth are decaying out of their mouth. Stop using fluoride, expect to see more cavities. Now if this was 10,000 years ago and we ate a diet of unprocessed foods, veggies, etc, I would say sure, skip the fluoride. But it’s not, wherever we turn there is processed carbohydrates or processed anything and for this we need a fluoride boost.
Tell your patients to eat REAL food, & they won’t NEED the fluoride. And to say 10,000 years ago? That’s ridiculous. Processed & crap foods began in the 1800’s. It wasn’t that long ago. We’ve switched to mostly organic, all whole foods, recognizable by Mother Nature, & we will never do fluoride again. BAD stuff. Sorry. That was a sad response. Start teaching your patients about health through nutrition instead of just treating their symptoms. This absolutely goes for dental patients also. Bad nutrition is why people need dentists in the first place. But if you teach them about good whole foods nutrition, then they might not come back to you. Oh yeah… that’s not a money maker, is it. :/
Actually, 10,000 years ago is EXACTLY when tooth decay problems started. Tooth decay is not due to *processed* carbs specifically, but to carbs (and other sugars) generally. When agriculture began approximately 10,000 years ago the increase in sugars (from cereals) in the diet and the decrease in dietary variety (from relying on a few domesticated species rather than hundreds of wild ones) caused a marked drop in stature and a huge increase in cavities etc.
The fluoride in toothpastes and tap water is a byproduct “silicofluorides” of the fertilizer industry, not the natural occuring calcium fluoride which is bonded together, therefore will not harm the body…These byproducts are so harmful to dump onto land, that it will kill surrounding living things. Why do you think they pay water utilities to disburse and toothpaste companies? Haven’t you seen adolescents with dental fluorosis due to ingesting high levels of fluoride? Here in the states it is now over 40%! So, yes it is unhealthy, unsafe and unethical since it is an ingredient to antidepressant drugs to be disbursing this poison in public water and toothpastes. The best way to have healthy teeth and gums is through prevention, ie: eating wholes foods, minimal processed foods..instilling healthy eating habits to our children. There are dentists out there that are turning away from fluoride…just do some research and they will tell you exactly why. Science speaks for itself, if you knew the adverse effects and the source of the fluoride, would you give it to your own children? Not me!
Calcium fluoride is actually an ionic compound, meaning that the fluoride usually separates from the calcium given an aqueous environment (like our bodies). Hexafluorosilicic acid actually completely traps the fluoride. Not saying that it is right or wrong to add it to water, but your science is somewhat flawed.
As with all chemicals, including water, it is the dose that makes the poison. The average levels of fluoride in water are around 1 part per million, which is not very concentrated. The LD is between 5–10 g, which is a lot.
Again, point of this: dose makes poison. Water fluoridation may not be as beneficial as people claim, but using it in a paste that does not get swallowed does benefit your enamel.
Most people willingly put worse chemicals into their body everyday. They abuse hyped science and may end up causing more harm than good. Case and point: anti-oxidants. Not all anti-oxidants are created equal, some types increase free radical damage, while some prevent it. Over use of anti-oxidants can inhibit important free radical reactions in the body.
Found this on pinterst and it’s perfect! I saw the recipe on Tammy’s recipes too. Glad you tried it first. 😉 will be making this w tea tree oil!
I just made this (with 2 stevia packets and like 30 drops of peppermint oil – and it’s still a little salty, tho I’m getting used to it). I’ve been using it for about a week, but now my gums and mouth are starting to get a little sore and torn up. Anyone else have this problem, or have any ideas of what to do?
Thanks!
I know this is a late response.. But I had the same problem as well when I included baking soda.. I took it out and have had no problems since 🙂 I do use it once a week straight though as a whitening agent.
In my research about coconut oil, it pulls the bacteria and microbial matter out of your gums and mouth tissue so it is important to rinse and swish thoroughly several times and spit it all out. Rinse, rinse, rinse, DO NOT SWALLOW, swish it between the teeth thoroughly with more fresh water and spit. Your gums will thank you. The baking soda flavor is strong no matter what you put in with it. It will also settle your stomach if you mix a bit with water and swallow. This type of recipe is GREAT!
I just use the coconut oil, a lot of baking soda and some essential oil of mint as that is also a bacteria cleanser. The taste takes getting used to but your mouth will feel very fresh with several rinses of water as I described.
Enjoy!
I am 42 and I don’t have a cavity in my mouth. I have used a simular recipe for a long time since regular toothpast tends to make all the skin in my mouth sluff off. The dentist said it was probably a reaction to toothpaste in general and that it is on the rise in his practice. Anyway, my last visit I had no tartar on my teeth at all, I received a perfect score on my cleaning. The dentist asked what I was using since a lot of other of his patients were asking for an alternative to the store bought toothpaste. Personally I just use the coconut, baking soda and whatever oils I want. I love it!
Okay, this post is a few months old but I sincerely hope somebody can help me. I’ve made the toothpaste according to the recipe, without the glycerin since I don’t have any. I didn’t expect the salty taste, but I can handle that (plus the gulp of water for rinsing after has never been sweeter!). The problem is that every time I’ve brushed using this toothpaste (for about a week now, once a day), I have bloody spit afterwards before the rinsing.
My gum are not in the best shape, and this is really scaring me. I’m going back to normal toothpaste meanwhile until I can ask my dentist about this at my next visit, which is not for several months (just how I like it… Sorry, dentists scare me).
I would actually stay with the coconut oil/essential oil toothpaste. The antibacterial elements in both are probably working to heal your gums and teeth which is why you have the bloody spit. It may take time but in the end I think your gums will be even healthier than ever. Don’t give up just yet!
You can also get a Rotadent toothbrush, I did when my gums were in bad shape because I hate to floss. It does the same as flossing and my next visit, I had no pockets under my gums. The company is easy to deal with when buying replacement heads too. I was wondering if I could use real peppermint from my plant and how to make my own extract. If anyone knows, please post.
Crunchy Betty has a post on making peppermint extract: https://crunchybetty.com/make-your-own-heavenly-homemade-vanilla-and-peppermint-extracts
I’m not sure if you can use it in the toothpaste, but It should be fine.
Give your dentist a call if you’re really worried, but I would stick with it. Most people don’t realize that when you ditch the chemicals for something natural, your body will go into detox and you will sometimes get worse before you get better. It’s a good sign!
Ar4412 – Almost everything you said was complete rubbish. Either you are a complete corporate shill or you have swallowed the cool aid. Either way I suggest people ignore your disinformation.
Whoa. I just tried this, actually I cheated because I don’t have any essential oils in the house, and my husband is fine with my “hippy experiments” as long as I don’t spend alot of money. Anyway, I used Mint Extract (as in, baking extract) for flavor, and just baking soda and coconut oil that I already had on hand. It works. It works better than my toothpaste. Who knew three little ingredients could do that! I won’t lie, the baking soda is way salty but I’m not swallowing it and my teeth feel so clean and look so bright, I love this article thank you for posting it! Now I might actually get the nerve to try your deodorant recipe! I already tried the oil cleansing method thanks to everyone here and I love that as well.
just use only the coconut oil…eventualy with essential oils but without the soda. the soda is to havy to use daily and without your tooth wil brighten up en wil be very clean:)
just a suggestion, when i make my toothpaste, i put it in a little travel shampoo bottle and then just have to shake a bit and squeeze onto toothbrush.
Me too. But I thought it would be better to get a small bottle with a top that you press and some comes out when you squeeze, like those little bottles that the gift body wash comes in.
Thx! I didnt like the original writers idea of “dipping” the toothbrush or the idea of putting it into an old tube. I will try the recipe now!
This is what i did as well. I was looking around for a small container and I found my travel containers. Cleaned them out real good, give it a smack upside down on the counter and it worked WONDERS!
The baking soda seemed a bit much for me, so i did 1tbsp of baking soda and the rest followed as suggested. Looking forward to seeing how this works! I have been looking for ways to go natural and a lot of ‘recipes’ called for things i couldn’t pronounce or have never heard of. This was simple.
Coconut Oil has become my new best friend for EVERYTHING 🙂
Your recipe is very similar to one I’ve been using for a few months now. I absolutely love it. And, I was very curious to see what my dentist said about my teeth when I had my semi-annual cleaning recently. The dental hygenist said, “Keep doing whatever you’re doing because your teeth look great”. But I didn’t really need them to tell me that; I always feel so fresh and clean. I use the coconut based toothpaste with my electric toothbrush and I rinse after with my own concoction of cinna-mint/tea tree oil mouthwash. I won’t go back to commericial toothpaste.
We need the cinna-mint/tea tree oil mouthwash recipe, please.
I used Tom’s of Maine toothpaste for years because of its natural ingredients but also (mostly) because of its metal rather than plastic (plastic = bad) tubes. Then, mysteriously, I one day went to buy toothpaste and all the Tom’s of Maine tubes had switched to plastic, just like all the other toothpaste manufacturers. So, I had to find something plastic-free, and make-your-own is about as waste/plastic free as it gets. Unfortunately, this recipe doesn’t really work if you live in the southeast US (or somewhere else that’s hellishly, oppressively hot) in the summer, especially if you, like me, can’t afford to run the air conditioning in the entire house for the whole summer. You see, our bathroom is on the south-facing side of the upstairs of the house, and really just about everywhere’s at least 80 degrees inside during the summer so the stuff separated into an icky too-oily layer and a baking soda layer. I poured off the oil and was able to use the thicker layer, but just be aware that if it’s gonna be hot where you keep your paste, forget about it. I have amended the recipe to a more like 2:1 baking soda to coconut oil instead of 1:1, and I’m trying out putting it in one of those old-fashioned metal frosting extruders. Of course, it will only work if the thing is kept on its side, so the stuff doesn’t leak out, but we’ll see how it works.
Have you tried keeping it in the fridge? It may harden a little too much, but you could put it on your brush and let it sit for a few mins before brushing.
I’m pretty angry about the forced medicating (or flouriding) of our water supplies.. I recently bought a water distiller, and cannot believe what I find in there, literally after 3 gallons you can see the “slime”.. At my daughters school (aged 4) they add extra flouride into the water they drink at the playground fountains.. so I have had to see the head master about this, and after a lengthy negotiation, Im now allowed to provide my own daughter with clean water to drink at school all day (feels like im asking too much)
Great toothpaste recipe btw, I am experimenting with making my own, the kids like it really minty and enjoy the peppermint flavour.. I also use a food grade 3% hydrogen peroxide (water with an extra oxygen atom) as its really whitening.. Always store in a glass container, plastics can break down and “leak” into your product after time.. 🙂
I have also heard that fluoride makes people more docile and causes them to question things less…
There is considerable documentation that the chemical flouride mentioned above was added to the water supply in Nazi Germany and at the labor camps and the other camps. No wonder DC just keeps doing unbelievable things and we just consider it a normal part of the news.
My understanding is that it was actually entered into the congressional record sometime during the 1930s in a report on what the Soviets were doing to prisoners in their gulag.
If stored in a plastic container, how do you get it on the brush? Spoon it out?
We just keep a little stash of wooden craft sticks in the bathroom (like popsicle sticks) and use/pitch them. That way the bacteria from the brushes doesn’t get into the jar.
ugh, so sadly adding 30…60…90…extra things in trash each month ): how about a utensil that could be rinsed and reused forever?
I made this a few months ago with dr bronners instead of the glycerin, because that’s what I had. I loved it from the start! My teeth feel great and are whiter than when I’ve used whitening toothpaste. Well I ran out like two weeks ago and been so busy I couldn’t make it. Used my b/f regular toothpaste and it seems so lame in comparison! Remade with the glycerin– still awesome 🙂
Do you use one part coconut oil to one part baking soda? You said your dentist is impressed. Has your dental health improved and/or been maintained with this regimen?
Hi I read on an article somewhere that baking soda may be a little too abrasive on the teeth in the long run. Can wear off enamel. Maybe you can look into it ? I don’t know i’m not finding a lot of ‘scholarly’ articles on this though
Baking soda is great for your teeth!!! It does not wear off enamel at all.
I’ve been using a recipe similar to this for about six months. I recently saw my dentist for a check up and I asked if the ingredients were safe for teeth. She said yes, agreed that avoiding chemicals is a grand idea, and said my teeth looked healthy and clean as ever. This stuff works!
any way to keep it mixed without having to re-stir it every time? also, it’s been clogging up my drain. is anyone else having this problem?
To unclog the drain:
Spoon 1 c baking soda into the drain, then pour 1 cup vinegar down the drain. In 1 hour, pour 3 cups boiling water down the drain. voila – drain will clear
I regularly use the baking soda/vinegar steps just to keep it clear, before it can clog.
Agreed. I try to do it to all my drains once a week. Seems to work wonderful for me, especially in the shower. I have very hard water and there was always nasty build up in the tub and my drains would clog all the time. Since using it, my drains flow free and my tub is sparkly clean…no chemicals and I feel MUCH better about cleaning things…
I just keep a little bowl of baking soda and a little bowl of coconut oil. I dip my tooth brush in the coconut oil and pick up a good bit then dip in the baking soda. I’ve been using baking soda as a tooth paste most of my life and I’ve been using the coconut along with it for 3-4 years now. What I like most is that my lips get a good moisturizing while I’m brushing….lol Sometimes I just use the coconut oil. I’m a scrubber and sometimes I don’t need the abrasiveness of the baking soda. Never thought of adding essential oils, I may have to give that a try. I use a little peroxide ever now and again mixed with baking soda for a “whitener” Just remember not to swallow
How long does it last? Say I make a batch big enough to last a week. If I put it in a sealed container, will it still be good by the end of the week?
i use baking soda and activated charcoal. makes my teeth whiter. yes the black rinses away fast
Does anyone know how much stevia is in a packet? I plan to use xylitol instead, but am wondering how much to use… thanks!
I am really excited to find your site and also to try this recipe! I have a 20 month old who I can’t always get to spit toothpaste out. All of the ‘safe to swallow’ toothpastes for his age contain the artificial sweeteners that I definitely don’t want him swallowing either. He is starting to get the hang of taking a sip of water and spitting it out but obviously still swallows the paste. Would this be ok for a little one if swallowed? I use coconut oil in tons of things so I know that is ok, but just want to be sure on the stevia and baking soda? Thank you for the recipe!!
Never thought to use coconut oil. I make my own toothpowder– baking soda, peppermint eo, sage eo & myrrh. Heavy on the mint, one drop each of sage & myrrh. I’ve been using it for 6 years. Had a bad patch of no $$ for dental work so didn’t see a dentist in all that time. Just went to the dentist a few weeks ago thanks to newly procured insurance & he was a amazed at how great my choppers are. He was doubly amazed (and a bit dubious at my DIY toothpowder claim) when I told him gum disease runs in my family & at my age my mom’s issues were so bad she was making the hard switch to dentures. I had zero issues & I’m convinced it’s the homemade toothpowder. I’m going to try your recipe when I get some culinary grade coconut oil. I’d suggest adding a drop of myrrh for folks with concerns about gum health. Mountain Rose Herbs sells the best quality and a little goes a long way. It tastes a bit funky, but I prefer it over clove– which I’ve tried and don’t like. Thanks again.
Can I use regular plain old essential oil? It’s not harmful if accidentally swallowed????
Oh, and is wintergreen ok?
Do not use wintergreen essential oil. wintergreen oil is not for internal use it can only be used tropical or inhaled but not swallowed. can be poisonous.
Ok, thank you!
I added some drops of grapefruit seed extract to give it some more anti bacterial/anti viral power ….
Could I use just the coconut oil? I am hesitant about using baking soda, one I hate the taste and two I don’t like the idea of possibly being too abrasive. I am using Earthpaste and Toms of Maine at the moment but want to get away from the xylitol as well as the glycerine. With the antiseptic properties of the coconut oil you would think that would be all you really need? Would using it as toothpaste be similar to using it through oil pulling or would the amount of time spent in the mouth for brushing be null and void to pull anything from the mouth? Thanks!
I have been using your toothpaste recipe since last October – almost a year. Background: I have suffered with receding gums and gingivitis for the past 15 years (I am 56), despite daily flossing and brushing, gum massaging, etc., no help for it except to brush and brush and brush, while my gums continued to recede (genetics – Grandpa had to have all his healthy teeth pulled, no gums left). I despaired going to the dentist, so much plaque, scraping, pain, bleeding gums. HOWEVER, since using your toothpaste, my gum pockets have reduced by at least 2 levels for each tooth, my teeth are whiter, and the hygienist has to SEARCH for plaque on my way back molars. She is sold, and is switching to your toothpaste, too!!! My mouth is in the best health it has ever been in! THANK YOU!!!!!!!
I want to make “natural, homemade toothpaste. But I have a serious sensitivity to coconut (internally & externally). Can anyone suggest a recipe that doesn’t include coconut oil?
Here is a recipe I found online that doesn’t contain coconut oil:
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, finely ground
1 drop peppermint, clove, or citrus pure essential oil
A few drops of water
(source: http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/natural-beauty-fashion/stories/3-simple-homemade-toothpaste-recipes)
Here is a simple recipe made and used be a dentist. Very simple to make.
http://thegreenminimalist.blogspot.com/2013/09/home-made-plastic-free-toothpaste.html
Here’s a recipe for toothsoap that you put in a soap dispenser, hence everyone can use it and it leaves nice clean teeth 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing your tweaked recipe! I have used fluoride-free toothpaste for years, but now that we are living in South America, I can’t get it anymore. I am going to go try this. 🙂
Hi there,
I am loving this post and am excited to make some toothpaste tomorrow. I have two questions: Do you think making your own toothpaste has saved you money in the long run? When I type in Baking soda into google it keeps coming up with baking powder. Are they the same product or do I need to get exactly the right one to make the toothpaste work?
Kind regards,
Charde
Baking soda and baking powder are not the same thing. I understand how someone who hasn’t done any baking would confuse the two. You should be able to pick it up at any grocery store in the same area as baking soda/baking supplies.
We’ve tried one recipe with coconut oil and liked it okay, but my husband has been having trouble with excess mucus from his sinuses due to the toxins being pulled. Will this stop eventually, or will he just have to put up with this if trying to avoid all the harmful stuff?
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You have a lot of comments on this and I didn’t read them all but you can also add calcium powder to this. I make a very similar toothpaste but never considered glycerin. I will be adding it to my last batch ASAP and seeing if that will change it enough to get the kids to use it!
I’ve read that glycerin is a product to beware of. That is coats the teeth and does not allow a cavity to self-heal (re-mineralize). Do you have different information?
Here is my recipe:
3 tablespoon organic virgin coconut oil
3 tablespoon baking soda
1 pinch of salt
1/4 cinnamon
peppermint essential oil to your taste (organic, if you can find it)
stevia (optional – I personally don’t add any)
The coconut oil has a lot of natural anti fungal and antibacterial properties. The major cause of cavities is acid erosion, not sugar. So the baking soda fights the acid. The cinnamon just adds flavor but I have also heard tooth paste recipes containing cinnamon for specific reasons. The peppermint essential oil add to the flavor, however, peppermint oil is known to be a anesthetic and antiseptic. At 2 months, my teeth a clean and feel plaque free.
I worry about the glycerin. The glycerin in most toothpastes forms a “protective” layer over the tooth. But really, it just prevents the tooth from naturally healing. The enamel isn’t able to repair because it is coated. Just food for thought.
I love your website. I’m excited to try this recipe. Do you use unrefined or refined coconut oil?
This is a great recipe. Here is my favorite DIY Toothpaste: 1 TSP Diatomaceous Earth (removes stains, parasites if swallowed) 1 TSP Bentonite Clay 1 (removes toxins) TBSP Baking Soda (Natural Bicarbonate; Bob’s Mill) 3 TBSP Coconut oil, 10 Drops Peppermint Essential Oil, 5 Drops Lavender Essential Oil, 5 Drops Clove Essential Oil. If swallowed; this green non-toxic recipe has the ability to strengthen your teeth, kill any pathogens in your intestinal track, detoxify your body and give you fantastic smelling breath. ++For whitening power I add one spray of hydrogen peroxide to my brush before adding toothpaste as needed (maybe a couple times a month). I don’t want to get into the chemistry behind the recipe but your welcome to look it all up. Have a great one and live life one smile at a time. 😀
Thank you for sharing this recipe. We’ve been using it for two years now. Even our three year old loves it. He even helped me whip up our latest batch! Thanks again!
Is this safe for my toddler to use?
Hi,
Thank you for your recipe. Could you please tell me the amount of Xylitol I need to use to replace Stevia?
Thank you!!
Thanks so much for the article! How ling does the toothpaste last for? And does it matter what you store it in?
I have liquid stevia, how much should I use for a “packet” of stevia?
Since stevia is a sweetener, I think it’s up to everyone’s personal preferences. But starting with 1 dtop and tasting it sounds good to me.
This is great! How is the whitening effect of this homemade toothpaste? This is worth trying as this is 100% natural. Wouldn’t mind if you could at least perhaps provide feedback after testing the product. Thanks for posting this.
Hi Crunchy Betty – I was really looking forward to seeing your toothpaste recipe but have to say I’m a little disappointed in it. You see, there is a lot of evidence against the use of glycerin in toothpaste. Reason being, it coats your teeth and doesn’t allow for remineralization. It also promotes tooth decay. It is highly recommended that you don’t use it, in fact, in your homemade toothpastes. Also, bentonite clay is an excellent ingredient for remineralization and an effective cleaner/whitener for teeth. Adding salt for its antibacterial properties is another excellent idea. Em..while I’m at it, xylitol is recommended for sweetening instead of stevia, as it protects against decay. Not that what you have formulated wouldn’t be an effective cleaner, minus the glycerin, of course :), but adding a couple more ingredients would make it outstanding! I don’t have the link with me (I’m on my phone right now) but if you look at the Weston A. Price Foundation website, you might find some really useful information in this regard to help tweak your formula. Love your site, btw, especially your stories. You’re very talented and have a really great way of telling them. 🙂
This is awesome. I drink coffee all day long and it really keeps the stains down. It actually got rid of the build up in between my teeth that been there for a lil while from other food and drink. It’s way better than any tooth paste I’ve bought including the expensive ones.
I have been using b-soda alone for over a yr.. my dentist doesn’t know that.. but he was VERY happy with my gums.. they had been swelling .. & he was constantly nagging me about it 🙂
well last two visits he told me how great my mouth looked..
maybe I’ll tell him…….. who knows.
but I did just make your recipe. but just w/ b-soda & coconut oil…..
my mouth feels great..
yea. I tried the pulling too… still do once in a while. but not crazy about it..
The consistency is awesome, but we’re all having troubles getting past the salty taste!! Any suggestions? We don’t use salt in our house, so it’s a very distinct flavor with a lot of things…please help this momma out 😉
Can I do this with minimal ingredients such as just the coconut oil and baking soda?
I used this recipe for 6 months inbetween dental visits and my hygienist was “shocked” at the huge improvement in my gum health.
I am just learning about essential oils and bought some. From what I’m learning, they have to be stored (even when mixed/blended) in GLASS because they will eat away at plastic (just FYI so when your readers go to make your recipe!) Also, I’m a little nervous about ingesting peppermint oil. I realize its just brushing and not swallowing, but I’m still nervous. Been reading a lot on the dangers of ingesting essential oils. Any thoughts? Any suggetions on where you get your peppermint? And would extract work instead?
I stick with Young Living or Doterra essential oil as I know there are safe. If your EO does not say it’s ingestible, stay away from it!! YL & Doterra make oils specifically for ingesting, myself and many people I know have been training them internally for years (30+) with great benefits!
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Thanks for finally talking about > Homemade Toothpaste: Want to Ditch the Fluoride?
| Crunchy Betty < Liked it!
Doesn’t glycerin prevent your teeth from re-mineralizing?
Thank you for sharing this! Been looking for a healthy toothpaste recipe. Will definitely try it. And can I just say? I love the way you write and your humor! Keep on sharing the love!
is stevia/ xylitol important/essential?
if you see coconut pure oil it does mean it’s refined one, right?