DIY Non-Toxic Toothpaste

I’ve been hearing about homemade toothpaste and its cavity fighting abilities for a few years at least. When I started this journey of eliminating toxins, toothpaste was high on my list.  This blog post sealed the deal: http://www.fitmomsfitkidsclub.com/2011/02/no-toothpaste-no-cavities/ .  I really encourage you to read it for great info on what brushing and toothpaste do, and how it one family was able to completely transform their dental health.  The other concern I’ve had for a while is whether or not fluoride is really good for us, especially considering it is already added to our tap water.  I know you are not supposed to give fluoride to infants, but my two-year-old swallows his toothpaste the moment it touches his mouth.  If it’s not necessary, and may be harmful, I figure it’s worth a shot making our own without fluoride. 

Once I got my supplies out and took pictures, it only took me about 20 minutes to make the toothpaste.  I’m sure I will get much faster as I learn how to work with my ingredients and don’t have to refer back to a recipe constantly. 

DIY Non-Toxic Toothpaste

3TBSP Coconut Oil

2TBSP Baking Soda (Aluminum free)

10 (or more) drops Peppermint Essential Oil

1 packet Stevia

Directions: Mix coconut oil and baking soda with a fork or emersion blender.  The warmer it is, the softer and easier the coconut oil is to work with.  (My dishwasher was running right underneath my work area, so that helped give me a great consistency.)  Add stevia and drops of peppermint EO to taste.  

I found that the baking soda taste was a little overwhelming, so I changed my initial oil to baking soda ratio.  Even with the strong taste, once I rinsed my mouth, the taste pretty much went away.  I’ll update this post with results after we’ve been using the toothpaste for a while.

Cost breakdown:

Coconut oil is about $.50/fl oz

Bob's Red Mill Baking Soda (aluminum free) was $6 for 16 oz or $.16/TBSP

Stevia packet $.06

Peppermint EO $10/oz  $.16 this recipe

(My research says there are aprox. 600 drops per oz of EO, so less than $.02/drop)

Estimated total: $2.04

Not bad for less than 20 minutes of minimal effort and a non-toxic product...if it works!  I purchased my ingredients from Amazon because we have Prime for free 2-day shipping.  I am sure you can do better shopping around, but keep in mind that quality ingredients will yield a quality product.

Please use caution with essential oils and homemade recipes.  Do your own research to make sure that you feel comfortable with the benefits and risks of any ingredients you are using.

Update 4/13/13 - a Week Later: 

She is okay with it; he likes it.  After complaining of the strong baking soda taste, my husband informed me that he used to brush his teeth with straight baking soda! 

            Pros—The consistency is fine.  It seems to work well.  My teeth feel clean.

Cons—My breath doesn’t feel as fresh.  I think this would be great paired with mouthwash, which I MUST add to my to-make list.  The baking soda taste is a little strong for me, but I’m getting used to it.  I already reduced the ratio, and I think with xylitol (a natural sweetener that happens to fight cavities) instead of or with stevia, it will only get better.  A baking soda side effect is that it sometimes makes my breakfast taste funny.

Verdict—I have no intention of buying toothpaste again.  I will keep working on the recipe until I love it, and in the meantime, it works!