DIY Toothpaste Recipe

Making your own toothpaste (and other products) is easy, fun, and inexpensive. Plus you can flavor it exactly how you like it.

If you are interested in learning a little more about why it’s important to use natural toothpaste, read on…. otherwise, the recipe is at the bottom of the page. I’m all about education and empowerment so that you can make your own choices based on solid facts!

Oral Health = Heart Health

By now we know that oral health is directly related to heart health. So besides wanting a pretty smile, it’s actually important for the health of your body to take care of your teeth. Unhealthy teeth and gums can let bacteria and tiny food particles directly into your blood stream. This triggers your immune response and can cause a whole host of problems, including inflammation, thyroid problems, low energy, and weight gain, just to name a few. YIKES!

Now that we’ve established the importance of oral health, what next besides brushing and flossing regularly?

Conventional Toothpaste

Have you ever looked at the ingredients of your toothpaste? If you use conventional toothpaste, the ingredients list is pretty scary, including a warning to call the poison control center if more than a pea sized amount is swallowed. Since our gums and mouths are a quick gateway to the bloodstream, do you really want that stuff getting absorbed into your bloodstream?

Here is a list of the ingredients in conventional toothpaste which are most dangerous or controversial to our health:

Sodium monofluorophosphate. This is fluoride. The topic of this post isn’t about whether or not you choose to use fluoride, however I don’t use it myself because of the researched link between fluoride and brain damage, cancer and more. Dr. Mercola has a great article on fluoride if you’re interested in learning more.

Sorbitol. A fairly natural type of sugar alcohol found in fruits and veggies, used to sweeten the paste. It is important to note that most sorbitol is made from corn, which means that it likely contains GMOs.

Silica. Basically this is a fine sand used to “exfoliate” the teeth to remove stains, which can be pretty abrasive for some with sensitive teeth and gums.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). Stay away! You can find a plethora of information about why this is detrimental to our health, including skin irritation as well as facilitates the absorption of more toxins into the body. It is added to products to make them lather – this is why most natural products don’t produce the rich lather that you may be used to.

Flavor. This could be anything, including MSG (monosodium glutamate), a highly addictive additive that causes a multitude of health problems.

PEG-32. Used to bind the ingredients together and is often contaminated with hazardous materials like ethylene oxide.

Mica. Used to polish the teeth

Sodium Carboxy Methyl Cellulose. Used as a thickening agent.

Saccharin. An artificial sweetener that causes cancer in animal studies.

Trisodium Phosphate. An industrial-strength cleaner that painters use to prep their surface before painting… I don’t think anyone’s teeth need that much cleaning power!

FD&C Blue #1. Synthetic dye made from petroleum. No thanks!

Calcium Glycerophosphate. Type of calcium that can help to remineralize teeth.

Yikes!

Natural Toothpaste Options

So, what about buying natural toothpaste? While there are some good reputable brands out there, they can be pricey. Also, natural brands can have some undesirable ingredients in them too, so make sure that you read the label.

An even better option? Make your own. It is so quick and easy! Start with this base recipe, which is dentist approved.

3 Tbsp Xylitol – help with tooth decay, and give the toothpaste a nice flavor
5 Tbsp Calcium – this can help to remineralize the teeth
2 – 4 Tbsp Coconut oil – antibacterial, and also healing for the mouth

You can add any or all of these options to customize your formula:

1 tsp L-arginine helps with tooth sensitivity
1 capsule Charcoal to whiten teeth
5 drops Essential Oils add flavor – try cinnamon or peppermint

How to make your DIY Toothpaste:

Step 1: Empty calcium capsules, or crush with rolling pin

Step 2: Mix all dry ingredients (calcium, xylitol, and charcoal / l-arginine if using) in bowl

Step 3: Add coconut oil 1 TBSP at a time , mixing until you like the consistency. I prefer a thicker paste, but this is totally based on your personal preference. If you accidentally add too much coconut oil and the mixture gets runny, just add more xylitol and calcium until you get the right consistency. The recipe ratios are just suggestions 🙂

Step 4: Add essential oils, mix and put in small container. That’s it!