A few months ago, I decided to take my self-care to another level and start making my own beauty products. I started with making deodorant, and was pleasantly surprised with how easy it was to make (literally a couple of minutes), and more importantly, how well it works. I continue to be thrilled with the results.
This month, I’m tackling toothpaste. What’s wrong with toothpaste? Well, a lot. As with just about every other beauty and body-care product out there, it’s one big chemical cocktail, many of which are doing slow and steady damage to our health. If I take such care of what food I put into my body, it only stands to reason I care more about what I ingest when I brush my teeth (and make no mistake, you ingest some of it, even if you don’t swallow it). Elizabeth Walling over at The Nourished Life wrote a great post that explains what’s in most commercial toothpastes and why you want to avoid them.
Toothpaste-making is brand new territory for me, so I turn to my much more seasoned DIY beauty-product-making blogging peers. Below are 5 ways to make your own toothpaste. I’ll report back with my results soon!
Update!
I have been playing around with my oral hygiene routine ever since writing this blog originally, and have found a beautiful, simple and really routine. Here’s what I do:
First thing in the morning, before eating or drinking anything, I oil pull with coconut oil. This is an ancient Ayurvedic cleansing technique in which you swish around some oil in your mouth for 20-30 minutes, and then spit it out (in the garbage, not the sink or it will clog). The oil attracts toxins and pathogens and “pulls” them out of the crevasses between your teeth and gums that your toothbrush and dental floss could never access.
MF note: I’ve had a few questions and comments about the whole oil pulling thing, so I thought I’d share more than just my experience with it. Here’s an interesting read from a fellow blogger who experimented with oil pulling for 6 weeks, and another’s experience, with a great explanation of how and why oil pulling works.
Then, I brush my teeth with my homemade toothpaste. I have played around with various recipes and this one is the easiest and most appealing I’ve found:
1 Tablespoon baking soda (baking soda is one of those wonder-ingredients that you can use in many ways. Here’s a great article I came across from Thank your body with 36 – yes, 36 – uses for baking soda)
1 Tablespoon coconut oil
1 teaspoon bentonite clay
20 drops peppermint essential oil
I just stir these together in a little glass jar and dip my toothbrush into it. I don’t bother with tubes or anything. I like to make it in small batches but you can easily double or triple this recipe to get more.
In the evening, I floss and then brush with a single drop of peppermint essential oil. I know that sounds like it wouldn’t be enough, or that it wouldn’t be effective, but I’ve been completely amazed at how well it works. And talk about easy! I use my electric toothbrush and wow… my mouth feels tingly and spotless, just the way I like it, without ANY of the mysterious stuff you find in commercial toothpaste.
Here are the five recipes I started with. A lot of these recipes include essential oils. Here are the oils I use and where to buy them.
- Kid-friendly squeezable homemade toothpaste by Veggie Converter
- DIY toothpaste with baking soda and bentonite clay by Overthrow Martha (I’ll admit, this one appeals to me particularly because I have everything I need already stocked… I like the simple ones!)
- Homemade toothpaste by The Crunchy Moose
- Homemade squeezable toothpaste by Homemade Mommy
And, if you’re like me and like the most minimal-effort DIY projects you can find, check out this great list of 12 natural alternatives to toothpaste by The Nourished Life. Now this is what I’m talking about!!
Have you ever made your own toothpaste? What were the results?
THank you..this is great!
I can’t wait to try this. Do you really swish the oil around for 20-30 minutes or did you mean seconds?
You’ll love it, Jennifer! Yes, I mean 20-30 minutes. I definitely multi-task. empty dishwasher, answer some emails, etc. 🙂 Something that doesn’t require talking.
As a dental hygienist, I love all the attention you are giving to your oral health and do agree that what you put into your mouth does go to the rest of your body! Your oral health directly relates to your overall health. The only product I do love but not for your teeth; is the baking soda. It is very abrasive and will remove too much of your enamel. I am well aware it has been used for hundreds of years for brushing. My own grandmother swears by it at 94. However, she has two teeth left! Lol 🙂 I do not like some comercial tooth paste on the market either but, before you use or make your own do research even on the homemade products.