Making your own toothpaste at home is a solid idea for saving money and getting less chemicals in your body. People buy toothpaste but rarely consider what ingredients are in it.
It took me a while to come around to using homemade toothpaste, but after some trial and error and a talk with out dentist, it is all we use now. Just a few simple ingredients and no nasty chemicals – it does a mom good. Flouride was something I did worry about a bit, but it turns out our water supply has enough for our needs.
My whole family also gets a flouride treatment at every dental visit so we are covered there as well.
The DIY toothpaste recipe below is what we personally use. It took me a couple of months to get it to where I was happy with it, and it should be a great base for you. You can also use it as it is!
Homemade toothpaste recipe
- 6 tablespoons baking soda
- 6 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon well grounded salt – you can adjust to your personal preference
- 10-15 drops of peppermint or spearmint extract or flavored essential oil
- 1 package of powdered Stevia is optional
Once you have blended all the ingredients you can place the mixture in a jar and store in a cool dry place.
The consistency of the toothpaste will be dependent on the temperature of your home. If it is softer you can dip your brush into it or use your finger to apply to the brush. Harder mixtures may require the use of a spoon or knife to add to your brush.
If you have gum disease – adding a couple of drops of tea tree oil is an option. I have years of gum issues and since tea tree oil has microbial features it can help maintain gum health. But be sure to ask your dentist first!
Adjusting the recipe
Your mouth may need a bit of time to adjust to the new toothpaste. If you find that your mouth feels a bit uncomfortable or raw, you can adjust the ratios of the ingredients. Start by increasing the amount of coconut oil to balance out the harshness of the baking soda and salt.
Leaving out the baking soda is also an option, but it does add a lot to the paste so I would only do this if you are really struggling with it.
If you make your own toothpaste leave a comment below and let us know how you make yours.