How to make your own toothpaste | Simple effective homemade toothpaste recipe

How to make homemade toothpaste recipe

Stores running out of everyday items has unfortunately become a scary reality in recent months and although we can’t recommend a toilet roll recipe we thought we’d share this terrific homemade toothpaste recipe that we love. 

Recent events have prompted many of us to think more about what we can make at home. Have you considered what you might do in the event that you weren’t able to get a hold of your very favorite toothpaste?

Maybe you’d like to be more conscientious about what you put in your body and know the exact ingredients that are sloshing around your mouth to clean your teeth? 

It’s interesting how we spend a fortune on organic foods, take huge amounts of time to examine the ingredients of what we’re consuming but when it comes to toothpaste we will happily use the shiny, blue sparkly stuff without any further consideration!

NASTY STORE BOUGHT TOOTHPASTE INGREDIENTS

• Fluoride – this can be toxic in large amounts
• Triclosan – hormone disruptor
• Artificial colorings – linked to ADHD in children
• Titanium Dioxide – only added to make the toothpaste white
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) – causes canker sores
• Glycerine – disrupts the oral microbiome
• Abrasive ingredients – these wreck your enamel

We’re going to look at a super simple alternative homemade toothpaste recipe that anyone can make as well as some of the things we think you should avoid and the reasons behind that. We’re also going to explain in more detail the benefits of the ingredients we do like and why we’ve chosen to include them.

As well as offering a more natural alternative and allowing you to make your own toothpaste when it may be in short supply, the other great benefit of making your own is it can save you money. 

When trying to use natural products there are lots of options for you to brush your teeth. In fact in centuries past they just brushed their teeth with sticks and that was good enough for their required level of dental hygiene.

THE ONE MAN BANDS

There are some ingredients that you can use on their own if you have to and will do a fine job of cleaning your teeth – also it’s worth noting that brushing with no toothpaste is preferable to not brushing at all.

You can use these on their own for brushing if you get stuck:

• Castile Soap
• Baking Soda
• Diatomaceous Earth

Castille soap – yes, it’s soap and yes, it’s gonna bubble up nicely –  but it might not taste very good!

You can use this just fine for toothpaste all by itself and get a good clean mouth. Also you could use baking soda by itself which is wonderful. It does taste essentially like putting a bunch of salt in your mouth and scrubbing it around but it does do a good job of cleaning.

Introducing diatomaceous earth!

‘‘Diatomaceous earth ( /ˌdaɪ.ətəˌmeɪʃəs ˈɜːrθ/) – also known as D.E., diatomite, or kieselgur/kieselguhr – is a naturally occurring, soft, siliceous sedimentary rock that is easily crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder……Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled protist. It is used as a filtration aid, mild abrasive in products including metal polishes and toothpaste’’

– Wikipedia

It’s amazing at brushing your teeth just by itself even though it tastes mostly like a handful of mud in your mouth. However, it’s fantastic for your gums and it’s absolutely fine to use by itself to brush your teeth.

TIP – it’s a great idea to include some toothpaste in your bug out bags. Don’t underestimate the value of clean teeth!

If you want to try to be as natural as possible homemade toothpaste is a fantastic way to go. With store bought toothpaste you are running the gauntlet of chemicals and processed compounds that you inevitably put in your body every single day (twice a day if you’re following dentists instructions).

Many of the various homemade toothpaste recipes published are fantastic and it’s a good idea to try several different methods over a period of time to see which one works for you the best. We all have different toothpaste needs – some have sensitivity issues or stained teeth and you can adjust your recipes accordingly.

INGREDIENTS WE’RE GOING TO AVOID

First let’s take a look at some ingredients we won’t be using and explain why. 

Ingredients that we’re not using in our homemade toothpaste:

• Turmeric
• Glycerin
• Coconut Oil
• Peppermint Oil

One of them is turmeric. Turmeric is excellent for your health. It has tremendous anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties when eaten.  However, turmeric on your teeth has a bit of a yellow staining effect. If you are making a toothpaste to use everyday, we wouldn’t recommend using turmeric – put it in your food instead! 

On your journey to learn more about homemade toothpaste recipes you’ll likely encounter lots of weird and wonderful solutions. Some of them choose to include glycerin.

It is a natural substance and it won’t do you any harm. However, it does have a way of coating your teeth so if you’re trying to remineralize them, glycerin counteracts that and doesn’t allow the surface of the tooth to be penetrated with anything that’s going to help get those trace minerals – calcium and potassium etc. You need to help remineralize your teeth and using glycerin will work against that.  

A lot of folks love to use coconut oil and this is a great product. We have used it in toothpaste before but firstly you’ll have to like the taste of coconut toothpaste (which we don’t) and it can feel just oily in your mouth. Using it for oil pulling is a completely different ballgame and we’d thoroughly recommend it for that…just not for including in a homemade toothpaste.

TIP – essential oils like peppermint are not great to use in a toothpaste because they have antibacterial properties and can strip the good bacteria from your mouth. This can lead to bad breath and poor oral hygiene.

Now let’s look at our favorite homemade toothpaste recipe!

THE NINJA HOMEMADE TOOTHPASTE INGREDIENTS

• 2 Tablespoons Diatomaceous Earth
• 1 Tablespoon Baking Soda
• 1 Tablespoon Bentonite Clay
• 1 Tablespoon Liquid Castile Soap
• 1- 2 Teaspoon Distilled Water
• 1 Teaspoon Xylitol
• 3-4 Drops of Anise Essential Oil

* The links above are all affiliate links to Amazon products that we recommend you use for the recipe. Please be aware that we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you choose to make a purchase using our links. Thanks!

THE NINJA METHOD

You will need: small mixing bowl and something to mix with. Teaspoon and tablespoon measure.

To start add two tablespoons of diatomaceous earth. 

Next we’re going to put in one tablespoon of baking soda.

Add 1 tablespoon bentonite clay.

Next put in 1 tablespoon of the castile soap and this is going to give it some bubbles – we prefer to use the peppermint flavor castile soap. 

Xylitol is up next and this is our sweetener. You’ll find that as an ingredient that is used often in sugar-free gums because it helps rebuild the enamel on your teeth.

Anise essential oil drops for some flavor. Put in about 2-4 of these drops. Make sure to use the food grade essential oil.

TIP – Amazingly Cinnamon oil has the most potential bactericidal properties and is found in lots of toothpastes. We prefer anise because of the aniseed flavor but if you like cinnamon, go for it!

Add 1-2 teaspoon distilled water – if you have stained teeth, you  may want to substitute this out for hydrogen peroxide (be careful when using this as it can be harsh).

Stir everything together until it makes a paste. Leave to stand for 5 minutes and let it do it’s magic! It should get all creamy and expand a little, but don’t worry, it only does this for the first few minutes.

If you’d like some more cleaning power, swap out the bentonite clay for activated charcoal. Yes, this makes a black toothpaste but it is terrific for using 3 or 4 times a week to get your teeth really clean.

It is time now to go ahead and get your mixture in a nice sealed container.

SUGGESTED CONTAINERS

There are a few options when it comes to containers – we love using these blue tinted mason jars from Ball Jars – Blue 8 Ounce Bundled With SEWANTA Jar opener (8 Pack) They have an airtight seal and are terrific to have around your home or to give as gifts.

If you fancy something more lightweight and practical for bug out bags or travel these little 2oz tins are perfect for dividing up your toothpaste to distribute to family and friends – these ones even come with labels and of course you can just wash them out and re-use when you’re done. 23pcs 2oz/60ml Sliver Aluminum Tin Jar with Screw Lid and Blank Labels  

Sometimes you can’t beat a squeezy tube for putting your toothpaste in and we have the perfect solution for that also – try these excellent Travel Bottles TSA Approved, Uerstar 3oz Leak Proof BPA Free Silicone Cosmetic Travel Size Toiletry Containers for Shampoo Lotion Soap (6 Pack)

Yes they are plastic but you can use them again and again and at 3oz they are a great size and sometimes you just want to squeeze your toothpaste through a tube!

REASONS FOR INCLUDING THESE INGREDIENTS IN OUR HOMEMADE TOOTHPASTE

Diatomaceous Earth – ‘’DE powder is hard and porous, which makes it the perfect abrasive to help remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. In fact, many name brand toothpastes already includE (diatomaceous earth)’’ – https://www.diatomaceousearth.com/ https://www.diatomaceousearth.com/blogs/learning-center/de-as-a-toothpaste-enhancer

Baking Soda – We like to use baking soda as it acts to neutralize the many acids that attack your mouth and teeth throughout the day. Balancing out the pH level of your mouth is super important for encouraging the right type of bacteria to flourish and also helps protect your tooth’s enamel. Essentially baking soda is an alkaline substance and so works against acid to neutralize the pH level of your mouth.

Bentonite Clay – ‘’which is a natural polisher rich in minerals that isn’t too abrasive. It’s also alkaline,   so it helps reduce acidity in the mouth. Don’t be afraid of putting “dirt” in your mouth—we’ve been brainwashed into thinking that we need to sterilize our mouths with mouthwashes that remove “99%  of germs,” but vibrant dental health is actually about achieving a balanced ecosystem of bacteria in  your mouth, which protects us from illness and promotes tooth remineralization. Clay is actually used to clean and polish exotic cars without damaging the finish.’’ – Ask the Dentist 

Liquid Castille Soap – this is purely for the texture it gives to the toothpaste and you’ll find it makes a lovely foamy texture that we’re used to in store bought toothpastes.

Distilled Water – this is to help the other products that are mostly in powder form, bind together.

Xylitol –  ‘’a sugar alcohol sourced from birch trees and other types of hardwood trees and plants.  Said to improve dental health, xylitol tastes sweet but unlike sugar, isn’t converted in the mouth to acids that can promote tooth decay. Said to slow the growth of Streptococcus mutans (the bacteria most closely associated with tooth decay), xylitol toothpaste is often touted as a natural approach to cavity prevention.’’ – Very Well Health

Anise Essential Oil – Many essential oils have surprisingly destructive properties when added to homemade toothpastes. They can be highly potent and strip the mouth of healthy bacteria because of their antibacterial properties. Exceptions to this rule are anise oil and cinnamon oil both of which are excellent for flavoring your paste. Also, be sure that you use a high quality food grade essential oil. 

Now it’s your turn to have a go! 

We’d love to know how you get on and if you tried our recipe, how’d it work out for you? Did you make any alterations? What were your preferences? Let us know in the comments.