If you’re reading this, chances are, you’re interested in avoiding the dangers of fluoride or curious about how making your own toothpaste could save you money–that’s why I was inclined to take on this little project, at least. Many recipes exist for homemade toothpaste. However, none of the articles nor posts I’d read about making your own toothpaste truly got into the nitty-gritty of it all (there’s a pun there that you’ll understand later). I’d like to photographically walk you through my process, my results, and my reactions, and offer some tips and solutions for greater natural oral health.
First, I gathered my tools and ingredients: a glass bowl and wooden spoon for mixing, baking soda, calcium-magnesium powder, coconut oil, xylitol, sea salt (not pictured), and essential oils. Each ingredient serves a purpose in the pursuit of oral health. Baking soda kills bacteria, cal-mag powder remineralizes, coconut oil heals gums, and sea salt polishes. I bought some of my ingredients from Vitacost. If you’re in need of a simple essential oil starter-kit, a good one can be found on Amazon. 
Next, the mixing process began. I based my recipe on this one from Keeper of the Home, increasing quantities to fill a baby food jar, and creating my own flavor. I chose a calcium-magnesium powder which included trace minerals, and needless to say, I didn’t expect it to be this color:
I mixed all of my ingredients thoroughly. In order to get a “paste” versus a “crumbly mess,” I added 2 more tablespoons of coconut oil. You may find you need less; I live in a very dry climate. 
And, voila! Homemade…Toothpaste? This stuff looked funky. I’m glad my nails were painted grey so you could see a good comparison. 
Alright, who cares what it looks like…Does it work?
Let me tell you, folks. I was eager to try this stuff. I’ve had gum issues on-and-off for awhile now (sensitive spots, receding gums) and had always used coconut oil to calm any flare-ups. This toothpaste, however, was not the therapeutic massage I was hoping for. IT HURT! This mixture is GRITTY, so if you’re not into the idea of scrubbing your teeth with sand, this is a no-go. Not to mention, despite the xylitol and essential oils to cover the saltiness of the baking soda and salt, it still made me hang my mouth open in fear of swallowing–just a reflex. It took about three days until my gums stopped bleeding when brushing with this mixture. I’m going to stick with it until the jar is gone, and I’ll be updating with my experience. The positives: 1. My teeth felt the cleanest they ever have; 2. My teeth felt smooth all day; 3. My gum health has improved.
What Are Other Options?
You may want to check out this Wellnesse whitening and mineralizing toothpaste. It’s fluoride and glycerin free, tastes great, and works better than any natural (or un-natural) toothpaste I’ve ever found
You may also want to check out Orawellness’ Brushing Blend, a blend of oils meant to be used in conjunction with your regular toothbrushing routine, to help improve gum health and overall mouth health.
More Information
I learned so much from the HealThy Mouth Summit, presented by OraWellness, mentioned above. If you’ve never delved into the idea of holistic care for your teeth and gums (I hadn’t!), I highly recommend this series.
Homemade Toothpaste Recipe
Make Your Own Toothpaste
Ingredients
- 3 T coconut oil plus 1-2 T more if necessary
- 3 T baking soda
- 3 T calcium-magnesium powder The kind I used included trace minerals.
- 3 T xylitol powder
- 3 tsp sea salt
- 15 drops orange essential oil or more to taste
- 15 drops peppermint essential oil or more to taste
Instructions
- Mix the coconut oil and the dry ingredients together until well blended.
- Add essential oils.
- Stir in more coconut oil, if necessary, to form a paste.
- Store toothpaste in a baby food jar.
- To use: scrape toothbrush or a popsicle stick across the paste. Brush as usual.
Do you suffer from any dental issues and feel that toothpaste just isn’t cutting it?
I’d love to know if this is still working for you. With it being gritty, are you worried about damaging your enamel?
I am eager to know as well if this is continuing to work!
Have no fear, I’ll be updating within the next week or so! It’s been about a month ago that I made the toothpaste. I took before pics of my teeth (okay, gross, yes) and hope to see some improvements in the after pic. Overall, I can tell you the results are positive, but there are some negatives I’ll discuss.
Hi there, i was wondering if your still using this toothpaste and how it is working for you? The article doesn’t say how long you have been using it and/or if you would actually continue to use it based on the fact that it is kind of gritty and what not. Thanks =)
Hi Jasmine, you’re right, I haven’t yet updated on this. The short answer is that the toothpaste did soften a bit after the ingredients congealed after a few days, but I will admit that after the first batch, I haven’t been motivated to make more. (Probably more due to laziness, though–ha!)
Hi there, I think you should speak to a dentist or some sort of professional before you use something like this. If the substance you created is ‘gritty’ it sounds like it might be quite corrosive and therefore could do more harm than good in the long term. You don’t want to wear your teeth out…
Wow! This looks adventurous. I may just have to give it a shot. Although, it does look like it may turn my mouth grey in the process.
Thanks for sharing this Healthful Mama