Yummy Homemade Toothpaste!
If you are like me and use flouride-free toothpaste without SLS and other yucky ingredients, you are likely paying a lot for toothpaste. Any of the brands we have found that meet the criteria we are looking for cost about $5.00 per tube, for a not-so-family-sized tube. (If you don’t understand why someone would want toothpaste without flouride, then you may want to do some homework on your own. When I found out that Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Austria, France and The Netherlands have banned fluoride, I figured it was something worth looking into. Here are a few articles to get you started: Weston A. Price Foundation articles and Dr. Mercola’s site .)
Because I have been focused obsessed with “bringing back home” (making/creating/growing our own or even eliminating our “need”) all the items that I reasonably can, and our family has been making concerted efforts to end our own consumerism, I was intrigued to find instructions for making your own toothpaste on the MOMYS digest. The fact that it is potentially cheaper is also a bonus, although I haven’t yet crunched the numbers.
Here’s the recipe I used~
Mix together:
~2 Tablespoons of Coconut Oil (I buy this from Mountain Rose Herbs - $121 for a 5-gallon bucket.)
~3 Tablespoons of Baking Soda
~5 drops Peppermint Essential oil
~5 drops Spearmint Essential Oil
~a pinch of Stevia powder
I have used baking soda to brush my teeth before (and felt a bit like a martyr because the taste was less-than-desirable), but this was incredible! I am so thrilled at how well it turned out! The coconut oil gives it a creamy consistency, and holds the Baking Soda together, while the Stevia and essential oils gives it a yummy flavor. (I chose to use part Spearmint instead of all Peppermint because the Spearmint doesn’t have that “hot” mouth feel that Peppermint does. This is important to little people!) Note: I feel safe allowing these essential oils to be used in a situation where they could possibly be ingested because 1) the amounts are so small, and 2) both Spearmint and Peppermint essential oils are on the FDA’s GRAS (generally recognized as safe) list.
It doesn’t have that foamy effect that commercial toothpaste has, but I actually appreciate that - it doesn’t get the bathroom sink so dirty, and it doesn’t gag this pregnant woman like the foamy kind does. I was amazed at how well it turned out, but the best part was how quick it was to mix together. It literally took less than five minutes including the time it took to gather the oils from another room. Our stores change brands of toothpaste so quickly, that I couldn’t have picked out toothpaste in the store as quickly as that because of reading labels. We mixed it in a tiny wide mouth half-pint canning jar, and just dip dry toothbrushes in it. Don’t get grossed out… remember coconut oil is anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, so it will even keep the toothbrushes more sanitary.
This business of bringing stuff back home is so much fun!
Posted: April 4th, 2008 under Recipes & Kitchen Fun, Oh-So Groovy!, Herbs & Homemade Medicine, Healthy Living (Or Something Close), Frugality & Stewardship.
Comments: 20
Comments
Comment from Cheri
Time: April 4, 2008, 7:10 am
It’s the SLS that makes that nasty foamy stuff…another reason to be glad it doesn’t foam. I can’t wait to try this 
Love,
Cheri
Comment from Heidi
Time: April 4, 2008, 10:03 am
I love your posts of homemade “recipes”. I just wanted to ask about the baking soda. I’ve been reading for some time that baking soda is a bit too abrasive for using in toothpaste as it is hard on gums and actually wears down enamel over time. Have you read anything about that??
Comment from Amy
Time: April 4, 2008, 2:53 pm
Wow! I can’t wait to try this! Thanks so much for sharing. This so huge for me. I’ve recently been drawn to doing more things “homemade” too. I know YHWH is gently showing me the alternatives. Thanks.
Comment from Kat
Time: April 4, 2008, 3:42 pm
This is a wonderful idea. I was wondering if you could make this in a fruit flavor? My children dislike mint and I’ve been buying the strawberry Tom’s of Maine. It taste nice but the price is ridiculous.
Thank you for your beautiful blog.
Comment from oldpathsfamilyfarm
Time: April 4, 2008, 10:06 pm
Heidi~
I had read some about that too, but I’m not totally convinced because I have seen so much saying that it is *not* too abrasive. The fact that all toothpaste has abrasives in it (that is part of how they work), and all the baking soda toothpastes on the market, make me wonder. We have used baking soda toothpastes for years, and not found any differences in our tooth sensitivity, etc., and the dentist hasn’t mentioned anything unusual… so I’m thinking I’m OK with it for now. I’ll keep my eyes open just in case.
Kat~
Yes! I had thought of this, too, in case the Littles still don’t like the mint. For some reason orange came to mind… lemon, orange and tangerine essential oils are on the GRAS list, so I might try some of those. The other idea I had was, “Couldn’t we just use flavoring extracts? (like vanilla?)” I haven’t tried that yet, though. I can’t think of any reason why it has to be mint. It’s just what we’re all used to, I guess.
Comment from Holly
Time: April 6, 2008, 12:06 am
AWESOME, Julie! I skipped right over this, for some reason, on Momys.
I’m going to do it.
Many of the oils are fine for ingestion - even by children, particularly in the amount you are speaking of using. I think the orange sounds good, too!
Comment from Julie
Time: April 6, 2008, 4:45 pm
Your timing as ussual is excellent! I had sat down to the computer to “search” for a good toothpaste replacement and as always, was very blessed to see it here!
Question for you though..is there anything you can think of that would help in keeping the coconut oil “softer”. Right now it is much to thick to dip our toothbrushes in.
I know that just keeping it a bit warmer would help, that is easier said then done here! Unless I store it near the wood stove.
Comment from oldpathsfamilyfarm
Time: April 7, 2008, 8:57 am
Julie~
Now this isn’t very profound… or scientific… but what we are doing while it is still chilly in the bathrooms is to use the bottom (handle part) of our toothbrush to scoop up a little “pile” in the jar, then it is easier to scoop it up onto our brush.
So, this doesn’t keep it any softer, but it might help anyway. (Hopefully?)
Comment from Ann
Time: April 8, 2008, 10:19 am
Could I add a little tea tree oil to this too? My husband prefers that with his toothpaste. The store bought stuff is expensive!!
Comment from oldpathsfamilyfarm
Time: April 8, 2008, 2:22 pm
Ann~
I would think so! One of our favorites of the store bought toothpaste had a tea tree oil and cinnamon combination that was yummy… but a little to “spicy” for the children.
I imagine we could experiment a lot with this!
Comment from Annette
Time: April 9, 2008, 4:04 pm
What kind of coconut oil do you need to make this? (I have the 76 degree melt point..for making soap.) It’s only $61.50 for 50 lbs at soaper’s choice.com. (I say “only” but it has gone up a lot recently!) Didn’t know if that would save you $ or if maybe you are buying organic stuff? They have that too. (Everything is food grade, the company is owned by Columbus Foods in OH)
I have been wanting to do the home-made toothpaste thing…I think I’ll try this recipe. Where do I get stevia?
Thanks for sharing!
~Annette
Comment from oldpathsfamilyfarm
Time: April 9, 2008, 4:51 pm
Annette,
Yes, you could use that kind since it is food grade!
The kind I get is virgin (expeller pressed) and organic, so that is why it is more costly.
But I want to check out that site anyway…I am trying to find a less expensive source for the olive oil that I use for making soap. It isn’t castille soap, but the amount of olive oil adds up quickly, and Sam’s Club is my current source. Thanks!
Comment from Annette
Time: April 10, 2008, 7:54 am
You can use sunflower and rice bran oil in exchange for the olive oil. I will cost less. Just keep the sunflower to 10-15% of your soft foundation oils. DO check out the site. It has the best deals around!
Comment from Annette
Time: April 10, 2008, 7:55 am
oops.
*IT* will cost less! 
Where can I get stevia?
~Annette
Comment from Susan
Time: April 10, 2008, 2:19 pm
Wonderful recipe!! Thank you so much for posting it! We also try to make as much as we can from home and follow WAP and Nourishing Traditions. I’m currently using a tooth powder that a local woman makes for me, but DH doesn’t like using the power, so this toothpaste might be just the ticket! Between that and swishing around some hydrogen peroxide in my mouth after brushing, my teeth are in better shape than ever.
Comment from Lindsay @ Passionate Homemaking
Time: April 10, 2008, 7:12 pm
Wow! I just stumbled over her from Tammy’s Recipes. Looks like you are on the same path as I am. Thanks for passing on this recipe. I am so thrilled to find a good alternative and another wonderful use for coconut oil, since I use it in my deoderant, moisterizer, and practically everything else. 
Can’t wait to read more from you!
Comment from oldpathsfamilyfarm
Time: April 10, 2008, 8:44 pm
Annette~
Oops… I forgot about the Stevia question. I get it from a health food co-op that delivers to my house, but I have seen it at health food stores and several of the Kroger grocery stores that have a Natural/Organic section. It is also available from tons of sites online.
Susan~
Funny to see you here! I was just at your place this week taking notes on a *certain* homemade-from-cloth-article that I am about to start making. Now… if only there was a way to make the peroxide taste good, we’d be in great shape!
Lindsay~
I’m so glad you dropped by! I love to have my children read courtship stories, and I look forward to having them read yours!
Comment from Holly
Time: April 11, 2008, 2:12 pm
Hey Julie…
I’m with you on the baking soda. I don’t really agree with the abrasion issue. People used it for decades with no problem.
Also, wanted to ask if you have a “recipe” for deoderant? I have tried baking soda in a natural lotion base…and baking soda in several different bases…and it eventually stings in the pits.
AND…I wanted you to know that I bought some PUL from a place on line for home-made “girl” products. I bought it in a pretty brown color, and that, coupled with some thrifted brown and pink floral flannel made up SO nice. It is waterproof, highly washable…and just excellent quality. I put a snap on it, voila’…awesome. Doesn’t it feel great to be thrifty and to not rely on BIG manufacturers for things our bodies and our babies need? YAY!
Thank you for the soaperschoice link! WOOHOO!
Comment from Holly
Time: April 11, 2008, 2:28 pm
Okay. I’m back. I LOVE the toothpaste. I didn’t want to stop brushing.
I’m going to let the kids choose their own oil and make their own.
Comment from oldpathsfamilyfarm
Time: April 12, 2008, 8:53 am
OK, Holly-Belle,
I’m gonna contact you with some questions on the girl stuff before I start sewing!
I haven’t come up with a recipe I like for deodorant yet. Still trying out stuff as I come across new ideas. We are sticking with the crystals for now, but I hate it that they shatter so badly when they are dropped (or knocked over by a Little Person).
And do you know how relieved I am to hear you loving the toothpaste? I thought I was a little weird for getting so excited about it. I just ordered orange essential oil, and can’t wait to try it with the Littles! Let us know what “flavors” y’all end up liking best!
I love homemade. Homemade anything!
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