We already make our own deodorant and laundry detergent, will be moving to a no-poo hair care regimen soon (see more make your own products here), and my son and I are on a facial cleansing routine that’s against what modern cosmetics say we should be doing, so now we’ve ventured out into toothpaste land. So here is the toothpaste recipe we’ve come up with that we love so far.
MAKE YOUR OWN TOOTHPASTE
6 TB Coconut Oil
3 TB baking soda
1 TB salt*
10 drops of Spearmint Essential Oil (or you can do an extract for just the flavor – we really love Plant Therapy, but you can use any of the EO’s that you like.)
For me:
5 drops of Tea Tree Oil (aka melaleuca is a natural anti-microbial, antifungal and antiseptic which we use a lot in our cleaning products.) Because I have a history of gum disease, I use it. This isn’t something to be used continually by someone who has a healthy mouth.
Mix all ingredients together and store in a jar. Above 75 degrees, this will be solid paste that you can use a spoon to place onto your brush. Below 75, this will be a very soft paste that you can dip your clean fingers into to apply to your brush or teeth. If you want to make it even creamier, add a little extra oil or a little glycerin to the mix.
Note:
I find it helpful to make sure I run my salt through my spice grinder, as if I were making popcorn salt. It is less gritty in the toothpaste and allows it to be a finer consistency in my mouth without feeling like I’m using rocks, and it’s a little easier on your enamel, too. You can totally leave this out if that is an issue for you.
If you need to give it a bit of sweetness, you can add some powdered stevia (I get the liquid form here) or a drop or two of liquid. I opt not to because we’re trying to train our palettes not to require so much of what we use to be sweet.
If you feel that your gums or your mouth is beginning to get a little raw after use, add more coconut oil to cut down on the ratio of oil to baking soda and salt. Or make a new batch and leave out the soda all together. You want to clean your teeth, but you don’t want to damage your mouth, and some folks have a bigger sensitivity to it than others.
YOUR THOUGHTS: There are so many different versions of homemade toothpaste. Do you make your own? Share your recipe here.
Need to know what to pack for your emergency dental kit?
photo credit: jeyp. via photopin cc
Tom is a Marketing & Communications graduate interested in nature, gardening, agriculture, and traveling. For the last decade, Tom has turned his hobbies into a full-time job, creating useful resources and guides for all our readers. If he is not working on his next article, you will find Tom spending quality time with family or taking care of his own back garden.
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