Whether you’re trying to reduce chemicals in your bathroom, avoiding plastic containers or simply wanting to save money, DIY toothpaste is a lot easier than you may think with only two simple main ingredients! A months-worth of this toothpaste will only cost you a few pennies, and it takes less than a few minutes to whip up.

The amounts of the ingredients will depend on how much you want to make and your ideal consistency. I recommend starting with a small tester (say, a tablespoon) first to see how it goes, then make more as needed. All you need to do is scoop a bit up with your toothbrush or place it on with a spoon and you’re good to go!

Using this toothpaste, I found my mouth stayed cleaner and healthier for longer with less fuzziness between brushes. However, some people react to sodium bicarbonate so if you notice ill effects then stop using it immediately. You can replace it in the recipe with the optional powders instead. All abrasive powders can also cause tooth enamel damage so don’t go scrubbing too hard and swap out those ingredients if you notice an effect on your enamel.

What you need

• Clean glass or stainless steel jar with lid
• Bicarbonate soda
• Coconut oil or water – if using coconut oil then it must be soft or liquid (I prefer using fractionated in a colder climate)
• Spoon

Optional additions

There are so many options when making DIY toothpaste including flavour and special healthy additions, so go ahead and experiment until you find your perfect combo!

But be careful – do not use too many abrasive powders in one recipe and be sure to add in extra liquids to balance the abrasivness.

• Organic essential oils – a maximum of 1 drop per teaspoon of toothpaste or 3 drops per tablespoon total. Cinnamon, orange, peppermint and tea tree/melaleuca, are good options. Clove also works well but is very strong, so use a ratio of of 1 drop per tablespoon or less.
• Castile soap – a couple of drops per teaspoon
• Activated charcoal powder
• Fine sea or Himalayan salt
• Guar gum
• Turmeric
• Diatomaceous earth
• Cacao
• Bentonite clay
• Calcium powder (or clean, powdered eggshells)
• Magnesium powder
• Natural stevia powder

Method

1. Spoon your bicarb and other dry additions into the jar – the amount should be about 3/4 of the total amount of toothpaste you want to make.
2. Add in coconut oil or water a little at a time and mix well until it is almost the paste-y consistency you’re after.
3. Add in any of your liquid additions.
4. Finish it off with a little more bicarb or coconut oil / water as needed to reach the right consistency.
5. Brush those pearly whites!

When it comes to brushing, I usually wipe the paste around my mouth first to distribute it. Lumps are gross.

How it works

Coconut oil has natural antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties so it is great for oral health.

Baking soda is alkaline and neutralizes the pH of acids that cause cavities. It also has mild abrasive properties to remove surface stains from teeth. Salt is also alkaline and more abrasive than baking soda.

The essential oils can be added for flavouring and freshening breath but also for their individual properties. For example:

• Cinnamon is antibacterial.
• Clove oil is antibacterial, anti-fungal and soothing.
• Orange is cleansing, soothing and whitens teeth.
• Peppermint oil can relieve pain, is antimicrobial and kills anaerobic bacteria.
• Tea tree oil is antimicrobial and acts as an antiseptic.
• And many more!

Castile soap adds extra cleaning powder as well as some suds. Don’t worry – it is a safe natural, organic, vegetable-based soap that has 18+ uses around the home that you should also be trying!

Activated charcoal is mildly abrasive, can help to remove surface stains and can absorb and remove toxins.

Guar gum acts as a thickening agent rather than using other powders to make up the body of the paste.

Turmeric and diatomaceous earth act as tooth whiteners and a mild abrasive, while also remineralising. Cacao, bentonite clay, calcium powder and magnesium powder all also help with remineralisation.

Resources

• News Medical Life Sciences ‘(How to) Make Your Own Toothpaste‘
• Wellness Mama ‘How to Make Natural Toothpaste‘
• Coconuts and Kettlebells ‘Homemade Toothpaste Recipe‘
• Natural Living Family ‘How to Use Essential Oils for Oral Health‘
• Dr Bronner’s All-One ‘Dilutions Cheat Sheet for Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap’