How to Make Homemade Toothpaste
I will not go into the negativity associated with fluoride, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, or any of the other toxic chemicals added to commercial toothpastes. I will go into how to make the homemade stuff I use to keep my family’s teeth clean and healthy.
This recipe makes enough to fill a used jelly jar (about a half a pint).
1 cup coconut oil
¼ cup baking soda
¼ teaspoon stevia powder, or ground stevia leaf
10 drops peppermint oil, or wintergreen oil, or whatever you choose
3 drops tea tree oil
1/2 teaspoon of ground sage (optional)
Mix the ingredients well and store in a jar. You can use a Popsicle stick to scoop out the portion you want on your brush, or simply dip your brush in. The coconut oil will be solid at room temperature. I have heard that you could put the paste into a squeezable bottle, but haven’t tried it myself.
Coconut oil has been used for centuries to alleviate symptoms of the mouth and to kill the bad bacteria, while feeding the good bacteria. I also believe it has whitened my teeth.
Baking Soda is a deodorizer, cleanser, whitener, and adds a bit of abrasion to brushing.
Stevia powder simply tones down the salty taste.
Peppermint oil is for flavor and that overall fresh mouth feeling.
Tea Tree Oil has also been used for centuries for its antiseptic properties. It has been reported to treat gum inflammation, gingivitis, and plaque.
Ground Sage has been used to treat dental abscesses, infected gums, and mouth ulcers. It adds something to the flavor as well, and makes toothpaste dark green, which may be fun for some, and offensive to those who prefer stark white paste.
I have been using this recipe for 3 weeks now and my teeth and gums feel great. My teeth seem to be whiter already and probably would be more so if I didn’t have such a coffee addiction. The hubby likes it too, but he likes sardines, so take that with a grain of salt. My 7 year old, on the other hand said, “I’m sorry Mommy, but I don’t like your toothpaste.” So, when I can get ahold of some strawberry essential oil, I’ll post a recipe that is kid-friendly. (I’ve heard that strawberries have a whitening effect on teeth).
Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think.