EspañolBrush and protect your teeth naturally with these homemade toothpaste recipes and tips for optimal dental hygiene from a dentist.
One thing that doesn't come up much on this blog is my pre-blogging career. If you've visited and read my “about me” page, you may already know that I'm a dentist. I earned my D.D.S. degree over 10 years ago, but when I came to Spain I wasn't able to validate my degree. With too many dentists here already, they have recently made it mostly impossible for anybody who has studied outside the European Union to legally practice here.
Rather than do as many foreign dentists and practice illegally, I began looking for other work, and eventually ended up starting my blog. It's something I absolutely love, and now I don't think I could ever go back.
While I am not currently practicing, I do happen to know a lot about teeth and dental hygiene. I've avoided writing about dental health up until now, but decided that it's about time that I help you understand why and how we get cavities and gingivitis in the hopes that you can prevent them and take back your dental health.
DISCLAIMER: This post is meant to be informative only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition. While I use these homemade toothpaste recipes myself, I also recognize that there are many dentists who will only approve of fluoridated toothpastes with the ADA seal. (The ADA will only place their seal on toothpastes with fluoride in them.) Keep that in mind when choosing what toothpaste you choose to use.
The importance of brushing your teeth
Brushing your teeth, as you probably know, is very important for your oral hygiene, and serves several important functions.
First, brushing your teeth helps remove food debris and plaque. Dental plaque is basically a buildup of bacteria that forms on the teeth and gums. Some of these bacteria, mainly streptococcus mutans and other lactobacillus types, metabolize sugars and produce acids that form cavities.
Normally, your saliva helps buffer the pH and there is an equilibrium between the ions in the hydroxyapatite crystals of your tooth enamel and those floating around in your saliva. In an acidic environment, though, your teeth begin to demineralize. In other words, in the acidic environment caused by the bacteria, some of the ions dissolve from the enamel crystals leading to what we know as cavities.
Brushing isn't only about preventing cavities, though. Dental plaque can also harden into what is known as tartar which can lead to gingivitis and periodontal disease. Removing the plaque, then, is important for both preventing cavities and for preventing gingivitis and periodontal disease. (Gingivitis, or gum disease, when left untreated can progress to become periodontal disease that affects the bone structure holding your teeth in place.)
Apart from removing the plaque from your teeth, brushing your teeth also helps massage your gums, stimulating better circulation for healthier gums. Even those without teeth should brush their gums regularly to help improve circulation and ensure healthier tissues.
What about toothpaste, though?
The purpose of toothpaste
Toothpaste is normally formed of abrasives, active ingredients, and flavorings. It is intended to help remove plaque and freshen your mouth, while also delivering active ingredients meant to help protect against caries (aka. cavities).
Fighting plaque?
While many people think of a toothpaste as being the important part of your dental hygiene routine, thinking that something magical in the toothpaste will help eliminate plaque and keep you from getting cavities, unfortunately it's not that simple. In fact, if you're using toothpaste mainly as a mean of removing plaque, you may be surprised to find that a review study done last year found that using a toothpaste when brushing didn't provide any extra plaque removing abilities.
So, brushing your teeth, even without any toothpaste at all, already does a pretty good job of removing plaque and helping in the fight for optimal dental health.
But does toothpaste serve another purpose?
Most commercial toothpastes have additives meant to help prevent cavities in other ways.
Fluoride is the most popular active ingredient added to toothpaste.
How does fluoride prevent dental cavities?
Fluoride is added to toothpaste in an effort to remineralize teeth that have been demineralized by the bacterial plaque. Under the right conditions, the fluoride ion can substitute part of the missing crystaline structure of the enamel. Enamel is mostly formed of what it called hydroxyapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2), but fluoride ions can become incorporated into the enamel structure forming what is known as fluorapatite (Ca10(PO4)6F2).
In the presence of fluoride, remineralization takes place more quickly, and the newly formed fluorapatite is said to be less soluble than hydroxyapatite, which means that it is less likely to demineralize again if and when the acidic conditions return.
The problem with fluoridated toothpaste
While adding fluoride to toothpaste can help prevent cavities, it also brings with it toxicity concerns. At high doses, fluoride may affect bone formation, cause digestive issues, kidney problems, or suppress the thyroid. At lower doses it can cause cosmetic issues like fluorosis of the teeth, something I know from experience, as I have mild dental fluorosis myself.
To prevent having toxic amounts of fluoride in the toothpaste, in case young children were to ingest an entire tube of toothpaste, the levels of fluoride in toothpaste are pretty low for a topical application.
When you think about it, the method of trying to incorporate fluoride into the tooth structure through toothpaste doesn't sound that effective. Most people are brushing for only a minute or two at best, simultaneously removing the layer of plaque while trying to topically deliver a dose of fluoride to the teeth. In order to incorporate the fluoride ion into the enamel structure, you need an ideal environment with a high pH.
To make up for the non-ideal method of giving your teeth their fluoride dose, they tell you that you shouldn't be rinsing after you brush to help keep the fluoride in contact with your teeth for longer. (Of course, that also means that you have the fluoride in your mouth for longer and are involuntarily swallowing small amounts of it during that time.) Toothpastes with a higher concentration of fluoride are available with a prescription, but should be used with caution.
Each person has to weigh out the potential benefits and risks of using a fluoridated toothpaste. While fluoride may help in the fight against cavities, relying on fluoride toothpaste to keep cavities away isn't your best bet. Cleaning up your diet, and removing cavity causing foods, is not only a healthier way of keeping cavities at bay, but it also a lot more effective. (If there's enough interest, I can give my tips for keeping cavities away some other day!)
Plus, there are other less toxic substances that can help with remineralization instead…
Watch me make my natural, homemade toothpaste recipes
Other problematic ingredients in toothpaste
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
The main ingredient I wanted to avoid, that happens to be found in most commercial toothpastes, is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). Both my husband and I used to get canker sores quite often, and SLS in toothpaste has been linked to an increased recurrence of canker sores. SLS is a surfactant that helps give toothpaste its foaming quality, but in exchange can irritate the mucosa of your mouth. If I wanted a foamy toothpaste (which I don't), I'd probably just follow Dr. Bronner's advice and use liquid Castile soap instead. (For the DIY-ers who want to try it, I have several liquid Castile soap recipes up on the blog).
Ditching the SLS has been enough to keep the canker sores away for years now. I can't remember the last time I got one.
Triclosan
Triclosan is an antibacterial agent that remains in your mouth for hours after having brushed your teeth. It is added to prevent the bacterial plaque from forming, thereby preventing cavities, gingivitis and periodontitis. It has been removed from most brands due to safety concerns, but Colgate still uses it in their Colgate Total® toothpaste. While their studies conclude that the benefits outweigh the risks, there isn't really a lot of non partial data to study.
Triclosan has been banned from hand soaps because it was shown that antibacterial soaps weren't more effective than using plain soap, and that using antibacterial agents like Triclosan risked the creation of antibacterial resistant bacteria. It was allowed to remain in toothpaste, though, because Colgate convinced the government of the increased potential benefit.
I have several problems with it.
One, Triclosan has been shown to be a hormone disruptor.
Two, just as taking antibiotics every day isn't the best way to keep yourself disease free, I can't imagine using antibiotics in your mouth is the best way to keep your mouth disease free. Our digestive system has a delicate balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria, and taking antibiotics constantly can wreak havoc on our digestive system by killing off the good bacteria along with the bad. I'd imagine that our mouths, the beginning of the digestive system, is the same way.
Without knowing more, I don't like the idea of risking throwing off the balance of bacteria in my mouth, especially not as a preventative measure.
If you were dealing with a period of rampant cavities or have severe gingivitis and/or periodontitis, using a topical antibacterial agent may be helpful to control the disease for a short time, just as you'd use an antibiotic for a short period of time to deal with other diseases. In this hypothetical situation, though, it would really be a lot more effective, and healthier, to find and remove the cause of the rampant caries instead. (Perhaps someone was sucking on cough drops all day to deal with a sore throat and cough, not realizing that the habit was also causing multiple cavities. Rather than use an antibacterial agent against the cavities, it would be more helpful to identify the cough drops as the culprit and either stop using them or limit the way they were used.)
Formulating a natural homemade toothpaste
Today, I'm going to share with you several different methods of making a homemade toothpaste.
In the interest of avoiding the need for preservatives, many (most) recipes for a natural, homemade toothpaste are oil based.
What ingredients can be used in a homemade toothpaste?
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is a commonly chosen oil for oil based toothpastes because it is said to have antibacterial and antifungal properties, but not enough to wreak havoc on the balance of bacteria in your mouth.
Some recipes use the fact that it is solid at colder room temperatures to make a thicker, more consistent toothpaste. The disadvantage of that is that the consistency of the recipe will change from season to season, giving you a thinner toothpaste in the summer, and possibly a hard-to-use, almost solid toothpaste in the winter. I'll be sharing an oil based toothpaste recipe using coconut oil, but it can be made with either a fractionated coconut oil, or a different oil of choice, in the winter to avoid that problem. (I like using a silicone travel tube for dispensing my toothpaste, but in the winter if the toothpaste solidifies, it can be difficult to dispense the toothpaste from those dispensers.)
Oil Based Homemade Natural Toothpaste
Oil Based Homemade Toothpaste
Makes around one liquid ounce- can double or triple the recipe as needed to fill your particular tube.
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. coconut oil more or less, despending upon desired consistency
- 1 Tbsp. bentonite clay
- 2 tsp. cacao unsweetened cocoa powder or ground nibs
- 1 tsp. xylitol
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- peppermint essential oil optional, for taste
Instructions
- Mix together all of the dry ingredients. If you are using cacao nibs, or you find that the ingredients are too abrasive for you because you have sensitive teeth or gums, you can pulverize them in a coffee grinder. (I normally use cocoa powder, and don't grind the ingredients further, but it is an option.)
- Add coconut oil, little by little until you reach the desired consistency. If using a silicone travel tube for storage, you may want to add a bit more to make it flow easily when dispensing. In the winter, you may use fractionated coconut oil or a different liquid oil to keep the toothpaste from solidifying.
- Fill your silicone tube or storage containers with the toothpaste. It's now ready to use!
Water Based homemade toothpastes
Most commercial toothpastes are water based. Once you add water to a homemade natural product recipe, though, you are also introducing a source for bacterial growth to form. That is why many prefer either an oil based toothpaste or a homemade tooth powder.
When making a natural homemade toothpaste, though, we are looking to make a product that isn't very hospitable for bacterial growth. Several ingredients in the toothpaste will help keep the toothpaste safe to use for longer.
Salt
Just as salt helps preserve foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, salt cured olives, and homemade anchovy fillets, adding salt to the toothpaste will help inhibit the formation of dangerous bacteria. It may have other beneficial properties, though.
If you are using a salt like pink Himalayan salt, you are also adding beneficial minerals to the recipe. Apart from that, salt can help stimulate saliva formation, which, in itself, can help keep cavities away. Saliva helps buffer the pH, keeping cavities away. (That's why having a dry mouth can be a major factor in cavity formation.)
Baking soda
Baking soda can be found in a lot of toothpastes. It's a different sort of salt that helps raise the pH of your toothpaste. The alkalinity of the baking soda can help neutralize the acids in your mouth, which can help fight cavities. (Remember: it's the acids from the bacteria that lead to cavities in the first place.)
The high pH of the baking soda (around pH=9) also helps preserve the toothpaste in a way. Most bacteria prefer a pH near neutral (pH=7). That said, there are some microbes, called alkaliphiles, that can survive in alkaline environments of 8.5-11. In combination with the salt, we are making a not-so-hospitable environment for bacteria, but we should still be cautious and make small batches of water based toothpastes, just in case, especially since most of us won't be able to do periodic testing of our toothpastes for unwanted microbes.
Bentonite clay
Bentonite clay is a great addition to homemade toothpaste because it helps give your toothpaste consistency. Here in Spain bentonite clay isn't as commonly found, and homemade toothpastes usually call for white clays like kaolin clay instead.
While either is fine, I tend to prefer bentonite clay for several reasons. Bentonite clay has a high pH, (pH=8-9.7), which, once again, helps to combat cavities. Bentonite is also said to bind to toxins and impurities to help remove them. Whether or not that is true and helpful in the context of a homemade toothpaste (I wasn't able to find any studies to support or oppose that idea), it is a clay that can be easily found in food safe grade, and one that is extremely useful to have on hand anyway. I use it often in my activated charcoal facial mask, and it works wonders on my oily, acne prone skin.
Xylitol
Xylitol is an interesting sweetener because not only does it not cause cavities, it may actually help reduce them. When I was in dental school, prescriptions for a xylitol gum were sometimes given to patients with a tendency towards cavities. These gums work in several ways. The act of chewing gum stimulates saliva production, which helps keep saliva in contact with the teeth to help buffer the acids that can damage your teeth. If you are using a gum with sugar, though, you're causing more harm than good. Xylitol on the other hand seems to discourage the formation of cavities by helping to raise the pH of saliva in the mouth. While some modern studies are calling into doubt just how much of a help it really is, it is still a sweetener that is safe for your teeth and is great for homemade toothpastes.
Cacao
Cacao is a fun addition to your natural homemade toothpaste that may make it a lot more appealing to kids. Theobromine, one of the components of cacao, has shown promise in the remineralization of teeth. In fact, some have said that theobromine may be a safer, better alternative to fluoride in toothpaste.
I came across its beneficial effects on teeth by accident when I saw people raving about a chocolate toothpaste in an online forum. I was tempted to buy it and test it out, but there were a few things I didn't like about it. Apart from being quite expensive, it seems to be glycerine based. I haven't found any studies to back up the popular idea that glycerin can help prevent the remineralization of teeth, but like to avoid it just to err on the side of caution.
Does it stain your teeth?
I've been using homemade toothpastes with cacao in various forms on and off for almost 2 years now with no signs of staining. I've also read mixed things about whether or not it “should” stain your teeth. Some hypothesize that because the theobromine helps strengthen teeth, that in the end cacao could help prevent any staining. In the end, I have to admit that I'm not sure, but can only state that I haven't noticed any staining after years of using it. It will leave dark marks on your sink, though, if you don't rinse well after spitting it out.
You can use ground cacao nibs or cocoa powder, but I've found that even when grinding up the nibs finely in a coffee grinder that little bits stay behind and get stuck between your teeth. While that's a great incentive to floss, it's likely off-putting to most.
Water Based Toothpaste Recipe
Water Based Homemade Toothpaste Recipe
Makes around 1 liquid ounce.
Ingredients
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 Tbsp. bentonite clay
- 2 tsp. distilled water
- 1 tsp. xylitol
- 2 tsp. cacao optional- unsweetened cocoa powder or finely ground cacao nibs
- 2 drops peppermint essential oil optional, for flavor
Instructions
- Mix together all of the dry ingredients. If you are using cacao nibs or find that the ingredients are too abrasive for your sensitive teeth as is, you can grind them in a coffee grinder before adding in the water.
- Add distilled water until you get the desired consistency. mix thoroughly.
- Add a few drops of an essential oil like peppermint or clove oil, if desired, for flavor.
- Fill your silicone travel tube, or other storage container, with your toothpaste. You are now ready to use it!
How to use these homemade toothpastes
As far as I'm concerned, your technique for brushing is more important than the toothpaste you use (and if you use toothpaste or not).
We all use electric toothbrushes in our home because I find that the rotating action of the toothbrush allows for proper technique without doing a lot of work. This is especially important for young children or people who don't have good control with their hands.
While it is normally suggested that you brush your teeth multiple times a day, I think the most important thing is to have at least one thorough brushing session each day, preferably right before you go to bed. It's great (and preferable) if you can get in a quick brush after your meals, to help clear off food debris and to help raise the pH after having ingested acidic foods. But, don't let the fact that you've done a quick brush after your meals keep you from getting in your thorough brushing session at night before you go to sleep. Our favorite periodontal instructor in dental school always pushed that concept, and it's stuck with me ever since. I have a hard time going to sleep without getting in that all important thorough brushing session at night.
When doing a thorough brushing session, you want to make sure that you brush each tooth surface completely. You want to brush with small, circular motions following the contour of your gums, or guide an electric toothbrush to gently massage your teeth and gums at the gum line.
Use a toothbrush with soft bristles. You should be brushing for at least 2 minutes, which is normally the programmed time for an “alarm” of sorts on electric toothbrushes.
After that thorough brushing session, it's the ideal moment to floss between all teeth, and behind the last teeth in your mouth. You want to gently bring the floss down along the side of each tooth, gently pushing down past the gum line, and pulling up any trapped food debris and leftover plaque accumulation on your way back up.
If you want to do a final rinse, in my next DIY, I'll share with you a quick and easy recipe for an alcohol free homemade mouth rinse!
This post is also available in Español.
This discussion needs to be continued. I even didn’t try to make toothpaste for myself at home. I would like to learn how to do that? But not sure enough how does this work if I made this at my home. But I will follow your guidelines for sure.
How about an 8% arginine mouthwash again to raise the pH and encourage healthy bacteria to grow and reduce decay.
Again- it’s definitely a good idea- but it’s something I’d need to research more to know how to use it effectively.
Hi Tracy, what do you think of adding 8% Arginine Bicarbonate/Calcium carbonate into your toothpaste mixture? This is the new advice to help raise your oral pH to encourage healthy bacteria growth and thus reducing decay.
How would you make this?
Hi Rob,
I’ve actually been working on formulating a new toothpaste with calcium carbonate as the base. This new one doesn’t use clays. I hadn’t considered adding arginine because I wasn’t exactly sure how to incorporate something like that. I haven’t seen arginine bicarbonate for sale? I’ve only seen L-Arginine Monohydrate Crystalline powder for, and I haven’t done enough research into it to know what is normally used and how to best incorporate it into a recipe. It is a great idea, though.Arginine has been shown to both help against the formation of plaque, and, in combination with calcium, can help prevent sensitivity in teeth too.
Thank you. Wanting to reduce plastic in landfill by making my own toothpaste. Much appreciated!!!
You’re very welcome, Catherine!
I’m happy to have helped- and applaud your effort! 🙂
Wow-answered so many of my questions about natural tooth care. I am sensitive to so many of the additives in commercial dental products. Years of cold sores have stopped since I began an effort at homemade toothpaste. Now, I’ll follow your recipes. Thank you a thousand times over.
Hi Susan,
That’s wonderful to hear!
My husband and I used to have problems with canker sores! It’s been years since I’ve had to deal with the pain too! 🙂
I’m happy to have you follow along!
Hello, 1. I recently heard that xylitol is not good for you good for you as we have been told. I have been using it myself to make toothpastes. Do you know if there is any validity to this? 2. I have wondered why some of these sugar substitutes in their natural form are green or brown and when we buy them are white. I have dried stevia that I was thinking of grinding it and adding it to toothpaste, not sure if it would stain though.
3. Can food grade peroxide be added?
Hi Terridale,
I see mixed reports on using xylitol in food, but I don’t think there are any real issues to using it in something like toothpaste. I think the problem is that some people replace their sugar use for xylitol and end up eating large quantities of it. I personally only use it in toothpaste.
You’re right about being careful with the way certain things are refined, though. It’s definitely better to use ground stevia or adding stevia leaves to your tea mix (which is what I do when I make my homemade chai tea) rather than use the white powdered stuff. I do occasionally use a stevia glycerite extract, which probably isn’t as good as the leaves themselves, but it’s probably better than the white powder, when I need a liquid sweetener.
I think you could use either without staining in a toothpaste. I choose xylitol just because it’s been shown to likely help against cavities. That said, you don’t really need to add any sweetener at all.
As for the peroxide, I’d really recommend against it. There is the possibility that the peroxide forms free radicals and can somewhat damage the soft tissues in your mouth over time. While it may provide a slight whitening effect, the concentrations that most people have/use probably aren’t really enough to help, and can actually hurt your gums, tongue, and the tissue inside your cheeks. When teeth whitening is done through a dentist, they usually ensure that the peroxide-based products don’t really come into contact with your tissues for that reason. They also can cause some tooth sensitivity, which is why a dentist usually likes to supervise the whitening process.
What do you think would be good for me . I have brushed all the enamel off my teeth .And I’m on very strong medication which some have codeine and are decaying my teeth really bad 😪My dentist said it’s from both , brushing them to hard to take the enamel off and the meds are what destroying my teeth. Is there anything I can use to prevent this all happening. I only brush now 2 times a day just with normal toothpaste please help??????
Hi Debbie,
I’m sorry to hear what you are going through.
I’ll start with a small disclaimer…It’s hard for me to be able to give you a complete answer without actually studying your mouth, and I’m not currently practicing (and haven’t renewed my dental license lately), so don’t take this as medical advice…
That said, I will give you a couple of ideas of things that may help you. 😉
First, it sounds to me like a pH balance problem in your mouth. Without knowing what meds you are using, I can’t really say if I think it’s part of the problem or not. Meds that are given in syrups, for example, can definitely cause dental problems. (As can lozenges, etc.)
Going back to the other, though… Try to balance out acidic foods and meds or whatever with alkaline ones.
You should also be very careful not to immediately brush after using anything acidic- or having anything acidic in your mouth. (Some people rush to brush their teeth immediately after drinking something acidic or vomiting, etc., and it’s really not the best idea. You should rinse with water first and allow your teeth a little bit of time to recover before brushing. The abrasive action of the brushing would otherwise be working on the teeth when the enamel is most vulnerable to erosion.) You could also try using something like my homemade mouthwash that uses baking soda to help neutralize anything acidic.
Also, take a look at what sort of toothbrush you are using, and your method of brushing. Only use a soft bristled brush and use gentle circular motions when brushing.
I hope that at least helps get you moving in the right direction to helping restore your dental health.
You may also consider trying some sort of mineral supplement to help somewhat remineralize demineralized areas…
I have and use these mineral drops.
Can I use bentonite clay for making homemade tooth paste for kids of around 10 years old .
Hello Nirupama,
That should be fine! Make sure to use a food grade bentonite to help avoid using a clay that is contaminated with heavy metals. 😉
If you don’t want to use it for some reason, you can switch it out for any food grade clay. Some kids might prefer one of the white clays because of the appearance, etc.
That said, if you mask it with cocoa powder, kids tend to like it.
I love recipe but I have a concern, my husband has a metal plate in his mouth from being in a car accident and I was told that bentonite clay can lose some of its properties from coming in contact with metal and wondered if it would still be useful for him to use or if he should find a different option.
Hi Megan,
That’s a great question.
Bentonite can attract metal ions which is why they tell you not to use metals with bentonite. The idea is that if you use a spoon with a reactive metal, that some of the unwanted metal ions can be attracted to the bentonite so if you are planning on taking the bentonite internally, you may also be ingesting lead or some other heavy metal.
In this case, you are going to be spitting out the toothpaste, so I don’t think that he should have any issues. Many people have metal fillings and they use bentonite clay-based toothpastes without issues.
In any case, the clay here is really just providing structure to the toothpaste. You can use any food-grade clay instead. White clays similar to kaolin are also often used in toothpaste recipes and work well.
Greetings can you substitute activated charcoal for the cocoa..
Hello,
I’m not sure what I think about using charcoal in a toothpaste. It has the potential to be abrasive and to possibly stain composite (tooth colored) fillings. Whether or not it would do either of those, I’m not really sure. It probably depends on the type of charcoal you find (hopefully a food grade activated charcoal of good quality).
It has been said that it can help remove stains (rather than cause them), but I’m guessing that is mostly caused by its abrasiveness.
If I were to add it, I’d definitely start with a small amount to see how it affects your teeth and the soft tissues of your mouth. I haven’t personally tried it, so I’m hesitant to recommend it, but I will admit that it does show some promise.
Hello and thank you for these wonderful recipes! I’m always in search of ways of polluting less, so your website has been a great find. I was wondering how you’d add Castile soap to your toothpaste recipe. Would you add it to the oil-based or the water-based recipe? And how much would you add? I was thinking that adding Castile soap could also aid in preventing bacteria from growing in the water-based recipe. Would this be correct? Thanks!
Hi Beza,
I haven’t tried it, but I would think that you could add soap to either recipe. As liquid soap is water based, you’d definitely be able to incorporate it into the water based recipe.
The reason that liquid soap doesn’t need a preservative is that its pH is on the high side. This recipe also gives a product with a high pH. I talked with a professional cosmetic formulator, and she said that in her experience most products with a pH of over 9 or under 4 didn’t really need a preservative (the addition of certain ingredients can make a product more difficult to preserve) and could be used for up to a year without one.
Adding soap probably won’t make that much of a difference when it comes to bacterial growth. What you do want to avoid is adding something that will bring the pH down- so definitely don’t add anything on the acidic side. Once you get into a more neutral range, you’d need to use some sort of preservative.
Hey I found your article just now. I make mine with just coconut oil and cornstarch. Others use arrowroot but cornstarch is a good sub, as another group says. Thoughts came that cornstarch, by the name itself, is starch. Question is, won’t it cause long term effects to my teeth as the starch leaves a residue?
Hello,
Yes, I’d honestly avoid using either of those in a toothpaste! I’m guessing they are using whatever they have on hand to get the right consistency, but that doesn’t mean that it is good as a tooth cleanser. I especially wouldn’t want to use it as the last thing that comes in contact with my teeth at night.
My mother has used baking soda mixed with a little hydrogen peroxide for about 20 years and since starting has never had a cavity. She has a normal diet and enjoys sweet foods and drinks, so this is the only things she does to prevent cavities. Thanks for this helpful article explaining why!
I read your comment saying that you would be cautious with hydrogen peroxide and I feel the same way, which is why I have never tried my mother’s homemade toothpaste. But I usually have cavities…
Since using your homemade toothpaste for two years, have you or your family had cavities?
Hi Alivia,
That’s really interesting!
We haven’t had any cavities in our family for years- before or after using this.
I will say that I still think that diet is the main reason for getting cavities or not most of the time. (There are always exceptions, of course!) It may not always be what you eat or drink either, but how you eat or drink it.
I think once I had conversations with my husband about the sorts of foods and drinks to avoid and the ways to drink them if you must (drink at one sitting and not sipping sugary drinks over a long period of time, for example), that really helped him. He had a lot of cavities at one point in his life, and hasn’t had any in the last 20+ years since he’s been with me. I have only had one cavity in my lifetime, which coincided with a time when my mom had remarried to somebody who drank pop a lot, so we had pop in the house, something that we had never had in the past. My son has never used a fluoridated toothpaste and has never had a cavity.
If you are getting cavities, it may be a good idea to take a good look at what you are eating/drinking. Sometimes people are eating a healthy diet, but could be constantly sipping on something like kombucha or sucking on throat lozenges or something that didn’t even occur to them as being something that would cause cavities. Pop is probably the biggest cause of cavities in the general population, though. I found that most of the time when I had young patients with a mouth full of cavities, they were people who were addicted to Pepsi or Mountain Dew or something like that, and were sipping it over the course of the entire day. If they could at least confine the drinking of those drinks to mealtime or one short sitting, they would at least lower their risk somewhat.
If you aren’t a pop drinker, though, and have a pretty healthy diet, you’ll have a harder time pinpointing possible problems.
Even natural type throat lozenges, candies, gums, etc. can also be a huge source of cavities, so try to think back to times you may have used something like that.
Then, after that, look for what you may be ingesting with either lots of sugar, something very acidic, etc. If you have a dry mouth or are a mouth breather, that can also cause issues.
Some people will be more likely to get cavities than others (probably due to the different minerals in our saliva, different bacterial colonies, etc., etc.), but try not to get too frustrated and hopefully, you can find how to best prevent them for your particular case.
I hope I don’t make it sound like I think you are at fault- or that this is always easy- because that is not how I think! I’m just trying to point out that we sometimes overlook potential issues.
As for the hydrogen peroxide… when I was younger, I used to do rinses in the hopes of lightening my teeth. I don’t know that it really benefited anything or if it hurt anything, to be honest. It probably isn’t too bad for the teeth themselves. I’d be more worried about your gums and the other tissues of the mouth. Perhaps it isn’t that bad, but without knowing for sure, I’d be hesitant to recommend it. 😉
I hope that helps you!
What an inspiring blog! Many thanks!
Thank you, Florence!
I’m happy to help whenever I can! 🙂
Hi Tracey thanks for sharing! I was wondering if you might be able to provide your thoughts on adding a tiny bit of hydrogen peroxide (3% strength) to the oil or water based recipe for gentle whitening – about 0.5-1ml max and a little arrowroot to bind into more of a softer paste? I’m choosing hydrogen peroxide as it breaks down into water and oxygen plus the small amount is being diluted again in the paste.
(I’m making a salicylate free toothpaste for a friend who is intolerant and also has allergies to consider that mean no mint and no store bought item was suitable)
Thanks in advance for any thoughts or guidance you are able to provide 🙂
Hi Kaz,
I have mixed feelings on the hydrogen peroxide. On the one hand, hydrogen peroxide is very similar to what is used (usually carbamide peroxide or something similar) for bleaching teeth when working with a dentist. On the other hand, precautions are taken to avoid it coming into contact with the gums for prolonged periods of time. The concentration of the bleach used is much stronger so that it can actually do the whitening in a short period of time, meaning that it won’t be in contact with the surrounding tissues for very long. Over the short term, it isn’t probably a big deal, but there is the possibility that by using it free radicals are liberated that can lead to tissue damage. The other problem with using hydrogen peroxide is that I’m sort of doubtful if it will really be strong enough to actually whiten the teeth at concentrations that are low enough so as not to hurt the surrounding tissues.
To be honest, I’m not really 100% sure about it and avoid using it to be on the safe side.
I’d personally prefer using a whitening treatment of some sort that is a short-term treatment, and then use a toothpaste without it. While I do think it’s beneficial and preferable to work with a dentist who can make sure you don’t have contraindications to whitening your teeth, there are kits online that can help you make impressions of your teeth so that they can make you a professional quality tray and you can whiten your teeth yourself with professional quality whiteners. I’ve known of people who have successfully whitened their teeth that way pretty inexpensively. (That was years ago, though, and I, unfortunately, don’t have any recommended companies that I can recommend if you choose to go that route.)
Hi!
I was excited to come across your article. I live in Madrid (but am from the states) and have had a hard time finding resources that really focus on an all natural non-toxic lifestyle. I’m looking forward to exploring your blog!
One question: I made a tooth powder with Redmond Clay, baking soda, cinnamon powder and clove and peppermint essential oil. Should I rinse my mouth after brushing or allow the little powder left after spitting to stay?
Thank you!
Hi Kristen,
It’s always great to “meet” other fellow expats here.
I don’t really think it’s going to matter much either way, whether or not you fully rinse or allow the powder. It’s probably more a matter of preference. I usually just spit it out and “rinse” by brushing a little longer with just water on my brush after I’m done with the paste. If you do leave a bit of a residue, I’d be especially sure to look for a food grade clay and if it’s been shown to not be contaminated with heavy metals, all the better (That’s really my only concern with bentonite clay- some have been found to have heavy metal contamination). Make sure you don’t add anything that will make for an acidic pH, and you should be good.
I hope that helps!
Very fine article on a useful and timely topic. Thanks.
Concerning oil-based toothpaste: Isn’t the transfer of the theobromine molecule into the crystal structure of the enamel dependent on the theobromine being somewhat soluble? I understand that oil in a bread recipe inhibits the action of the yeast by putting a layer between the yeast cells and the starch and sugar molecules in the flour. I would expect the oily barrier to work similarly with the toothpaste, assuming that theobromine isn’t soluble in oil.
I’d love to be wrong about this, though, as I like the idea of coconut oil for a toothpaste base, and I have a package of theobromine ready to go.
Hi David,
I like the way you think!
I have to admit that lately, I’ve been wanting to do a bit more research into the whole theobromine issue myself. I’m not quite sure about how the solubility of the theobromine would affect its effectiveness in the oil based toothpaste. It is said to be somewhat water soluble, but from what I read, it isn’t completely hydrophilic (which they use to their advantage to separate it out of cocoa powder with different solvents). It does appear to favor water over oils, though.
When you use a coconut oil based toothpaste, the oil starts to melt and you have the feel of both water and oils in your mouth. My thought/hope would be that it would be enough to help somehow. My thought process was that it makes for a nice flavored toothpaste that isn’t harmful.
To be honest, I prefer the consistency and feel of a water-based toothpaste anyway.
I’d be interested in trying with theobromine itself, considering that the cocoa powder leaves a dark residue behind in the sink. It’s easy to clean, but a bit of a pain. I have no idea about the flavor of the theobromine itself, though, and it’s a bit of a bummer to miss out on the lovely chocolate flavor. 😉
I see charcoal used in a lot of toothpastes. What’s your take on this ingredient? How much would you add to your recipe, if you would?
Hi Kapua,
I’m not sure what I think about using charcoal in a toothpaste. It has the potential to be abrasive and to possibly stain composite (tooth colored) fillings. Whether or not it would do either of those, I’m not really sure. It probably depends on the type of charcoal you find (hopefully a food grade activated charcoal of good quality).
It has been said that it can help remove stains (rather than cause them), but I’m guessing that is mostly caused by its abrasiveness.
If I were to add it, I’d definitely start with a small amount to see how it affects your teeth and the soft tissues of your mouth. I haven’t personally tried it, so I’m hesitant to recommend it, but I will admit that it does show some promise.
I recently just started experimenting with making my own toothpaste and I have two questions:
1. I read in another blog, also written by a dentist, that essential oils may not be good to use in toothpaste because they have antibacterial properties that may kill good bacteria. What are your thoughts on this? (I didn’t read through all the comments, I don’t know if this was already addressed, sorry for redundancy.)
2. I’ve heard from a lot of sources that clove is good for oral health, but I’ve never found any homemade toothpaste recipes using ground clove or clove oil. Would there be any downside to adding that to your toothpaste?
Hi Mary,
To be honest, I don’t really agree with that. I know who you’re talking about, and I think he’s a great source of wisdom when it comes to more natural dental care, though. 😉
Here’s my take on essential oils. People think that because they have antimicrobial properties that you’d be able to use them to preserve a homemade lotion or other product with water in it, but their antimicrobial properties are definitely not potent enough for that! There is no way that you’d be able to keep a homemade lotion made with essential oils for more than several days without it growing mold and probably lots of bacteria that you can’t see.
On the other hand, both baking soda and salt do prevent microbes from forming by different mechanisms. I think salt sort of dries things out, while baking soda brings things into a high pH range that isn’t very hospitable for most microbes. You can generally get away with keeping a product with water in it that has a pH of above 9 or below 4 without even needing a preservative. (It’s dependent upon the other ingredients, but I got this information from a cosmetic formulator who is constantly testing out the safety of products. She said that in those extreme pH’s most products will keep for up to a year.)
So, to make a long story shorter, while they may have antimicrobial properties, I don’t think they are strong enough to alter the balance in your mouth, especially not in a toothpaste that won’t be in contact for very long. If that were the case, you’d probably have to be worried about salt and baking soda as well (and maybe even more so).
I think he’s erring on the side of caution, and I respect that, but I personally don’t think it’s a problem. (Of course, since these things aren’t really studied well, we are both making guesses based on the information we have.) In any case, it’s easy enough to leave them out if you are concerned about it.
As for the clove oil, I actually have seen recipes here in Spain that use it (and anise oil- Americans seem to be partial to minty flavors). Clove oil derivatives (mainly the eugenol in clove oil) are actually often used in some dental products used by dentists. The only downside I see to using it is that clove oil can be irritating to the skin and mucosa. I’d use a very small amount, a couple of drops, as a testing ground to see how you react to it. I’d also avoid ingesting it. It is known to be a more potent oil and can cause issues when taken internally.
If I store homemade toothpaste in a glass jar, do I dip my brush in? Use a spoon? How do I ensure bacteria doesn’t get into the jar?
Hi Lindsay,
Yes, I’d probably have a spoon or spatula ready for removing the paste from the jar. They often sell natural cosmetics in a jar with a wooden spoon for that very purpose, so that people will use the spoon to remove the product from the jar, rather than dipping in their fingers. 🙂
Hi Tracy, I’m looking forward to trying these.
Just FYI, your ‘print recipe’ button only prints the oil based recipe.
would be good if you could print both from the same link.
Hi Alizah,
Thanks for the heads up. It must have something to do with having placed two recipes on the same page. I’ll ask the developer if there’s a way to fix it. If not, I may have to place it on another page, from which it could be printed.
Can ingredients present in commercial Toothpaste can lead to Oral Cancer.
Hello,
Well, that’s the big debate, isn’t it?
It’s hard to give a definitive answer there. Obviously the toothpaste companies are going to say no. Others feel that certain ingredients in toothpastes may lead to an increased risk of cancer.
Triclosan and SLS are two of the ingredients that concern many people, but up until now they haven’t been shown to increase your risk of oral cancer. (Of course, as always, that doesn’t mean they won’t.) 😉
Thank you! I’m trying to reduce the use of packaged products and this will be very useful! Now for some shampoo / conditioner recipes !!!
Great, Angie! I hope it works out for you.
I do have good news for you. I have a great recipe for a hair conditioner already up on the blog. I absolutely love that conditioner, and find it so much better than the ones I was buying. Seriously! I’ve been using another deeper conditioner that I’ll be posting soon.
I also just took a course in natural surfactants, and am working on coming up with some decent shampoo recipes soon.
Thank you so much. That’s really helpful. 🙂
You’re very welcome!
Excellent article! I have recently been told I have developed periodontitis, so I have been using coconut oil dipped in a 50/50 mixture of powdered tumeric and baking powder. I would like to hear your opinion on using tumeric.
Hi cw,
I haven’t personally tried it, but find it an interesting addition. Turmeric is a wonderful spice that is known to be anti-inflammatory. I would have been worried about it possibly staining teeth, as it does such a great job as a natural food coloring, and I’ve even dyed clothes with it. 🙂 That said, I’ve done a bit of research right now and I’ve seen claims that it actually helps whiten teeth, mostly from it’s abrasive nature that helps polish off stains (but at least it doesn’t appear to stain teeth).
I’d think that it would be messy to use, but if you enjoy using it, I don’t think it’s hurtful in any way. There is some evidence to show that it may help with gum health, so…
Perhaps I’ll have to give it a try myself sometime. 😉
The coconut version looks more effective. Thanks for sharing this information in detail. Clove and cinnamon are both antibacterial to help discourage bacterial growth in the mouth.
Thank you for this, and for your professional thoughts. I understand that you don’t make medical nor scientific claims, but I really appreciate your scientific (or lack thereof, in the case of glycerin) evidence. It gives me a starting point for my own research. I will heavily cite your post in my blog The Grandmother Club when I get it written. Thank you, again, for your research.
You’re very welcome, J’Anette! 🙂
Ha- yes, I’m not sure at all about the glycerin thing at all. So many people talk against it, but on the other hand so many toothpastes use it. My son was using a store bought natural toothpaste that used glycerin (no fluoride), and he’s never had any cavities. So, who knows. 🙂
Looking forward to seeing your post.
Thank you for sharing your in depth knowledge on this subject. I’m most definitely going to try the coconut oil version!
You’re welcome!
I hope you enjoy it! You may want to try with fractionated coconut oil this time of year so it’s easier to use. 😉
Hey, great post! Thanks for sharing. I had a few questions: Have you come across the same problems with spitting coconut oil down the drain as many diyers out there say? This is what has been keeping me from trying it. How long does the water based one last?
Lastly, you have a little typo in your first recipe saying it’s not ready to use instead of now. Just so you know 🙂
Hi Laura,
I mostly used the coconut oil version up until lately. I know a lot of people don’t like the feel of the oil in their mouth when brushing. I don’t have a problem with it. I understand the concern about spitting the oil down the drain, but I’ve never had any problems with that either. You really aren’t using a lot of toothpaste at once, so very little coconut oil is actually going down your drain. (A lot more is probably going there when you rinse out a dirty plate or something like that.) I also am normally washing my face right after brushing my teeth, and I tend to use hot water to open up my pores and get my skin nice and clean. The hot water would help clear out the drain pipes, of course.
As for the water based recipe- I usually mix up small batches like the one in my recipe, and use it all up before making more. With the salt and the bentonite, I can’t imagine that you should have any problems doing it that way.
As a comparison, I’ve mixed up and saved bentonite clay facial masks for months on end, adding preservative to one while leaving another one without it, and I’ve never been able to tell the difference between them. Unfortunately, since the home DIY-er doesn’t normally have access to a means to test for microbes, it’s really impossible to say for sure. (These things would also be affected by the water you use, your environment, if you sanitized your containers well, if you are contaminating your toothpaste by dipping into it, etc.)
The mixture isn’t a hospitable environment for microbes, but I can’t promise that it’s impossible for them to grow there. You have to use common sense, and of things look off at all, don’t use it.
Somebody just pointed out to me that Earthpaste, a popular non-fluoridated natural toothpaste has this ingredient list: Water, Redmond Clay, Real Salt, essential oils, and xylitol
They make no mention of any preservatives in their toothpaste either. I’d imagine they are also relying on the salt and the high pH of the clay to preserve it.
Thanks for the info, I took the plunge yesterday and made the oil based one. I added some activated charcoal since I was already using that for whitening but otherwise I stuck to your recipe. I’m pretty happy with. It obviously takes some getting used to but much better than another recipe I tried.
Yes, oil based toothpastes are especially “different” than what most people are used to using. They’re sort of slick and abrasive all at the same time, which is a bit weird. The water based version is a little bit closer to “normal,” but still different because the salt and baking soda sort of dissolve away as you use them.
In the end, it’s the actual brushing that’s the most important. If you can find something that makes your mouth feel clean, though, and bring up the pH, all the better.
I’m about to post a recipe for a homemade mouthwash that helps with all that too. 😉
This was informative; thank you! I look forward to reading your tips on cavity-causing foods to avoid. 🙂
Hi Elizabeth,
You’re welcome!
Thanks for letting me know you’re interested in reading my tips. I wasn’t sure that people would be! 🙂