Hello, friends! So many of you have emailed for more information on healthy teeth, so I have posted steps 1 and 2 of the Holistc tooth care series. You can find step one here. Be well! ~ Rachel
From a self-sufficiency perspective it’s awesome simply because you made your own toothpaste (how rad are you?). But you also get the bonus of being able to control what goes into your mouth (did you know most toothpastes contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate? Yep. Even at the Co-op).
Oh, and there is one very compelling reasons to stay away from the commercial stuff. Decay.
Lupine had early childhood caries (ECCs). Her teeth were crumbling by 18 months. Modern dentistry blames ECCs on poor brushing habits, poor diet, acidic mouth, genetics, and nighttime-nursing/bottles.
But that story wasn’t jiving for us.
We brushed well and regularly, ate wholesome food, and avoided juice, corn syrup processed foods, and most sweets. We did night nurse (and still do), but that seemed evolutionarily normal and to me it didn’t make sense that it would contribute to decay of healthy teeth. So I dug deeper. Lots deeper.
I discover a nutritional imbalance. We adjusted our diet to mainly Traditional Foods, continued to night nurse, and began to supplement deficient nutrients. And we adjusted our cleaning routine.
The first step? Toss the toothpaste.
A coating of glycerin remains on the teeth for days after brushing with commercial, glycerin-based toothpaste. This film prevents remineralization, something vital for healthy teeth.
While our dentist doesn’t buy this theory, he did acknowledge that Lupine’s decay ceased within weeks after we made the changes above. It has been over a year and have seen no new decay since our diet and brushing habits changed.
The recipe below is our new standard. It tastes pretty good – sweet and minty, and if you rinse after brushing there is no soapy-taste at all. (Bonus: Our soap-based formula helps prevent swearing!)
LuSa Organics Homemade Toothpaste
2 tsp Natural Liquid Soap (try unscented Dr. Bronner’s or similar. We’ve used our bar soap grated into water but it makes too thick of a toothpaste for my squeeze bottle.)
4 Tb Coconut Oil
1 Tb Water
2 Tb Xylitol (optional)
1/2 tsp Stevia powder (edited in 2014: please use the green stevia powder rather than the highly processed white powder. A half dropper of liquid stevia is another great option.)
10-20 drops Peppermint Essential Oil (optional)
5-10 drops Spearmint or Sweet Orange Essential Oil (optional)
Boil a small pan of water. Measure out 1 Tb and stir into it Xylitol (optional). Stir to dissolve. Melt coconut oil and add to water mixture. Measure in soap and stevia and blend (a stick blender works well if you have one. Otherwise use your regular blender or whisk by hand like mad). Blend while the formula cools enough to stay combined. Add essential oils and transfer to a clean squeeze or pump bottle. Cool completely, shake well.
Then smile at your self-sufficiency with those squeaky-clean teeth.
We sure do have a lot in common. 🙂
I have a 5 yo who had same issues. We have gone an alternative route and now for 3 years have stopped the progression of the caries. We have gone more TF too – I make our own cheeses, yogurt, sour cream, yogurt drinks…stocks/broths…lacto-ferment veggies…soak/sprout/grind flour for bread and of course the oils. It has helped all of us, but in particular my son who not only had the tooth issues, but also eczema and asthma (all tied together, I think, and much improved with our changes).
I should try making our own TP. I do remineralization on his teeth and we use natural toothpastes & tooth powders, but I make so many of our home products I should include the toothpaste. And oddly enough, I have all of those ingredients here at home! Thank you!
Is it just like the best day ever? Are the stars all aligned everywhere? I think I am going to cry, choke, laugh all in the next breath! Rachel. What can I say? Can I pick up Xylitol at the co-op?
You are in service to so many by being in service to your own. Thanks again.
Oh, Meg! Thanks. I was going to call and tell you it was up. Ive been working, mama. Xylitol at the coop, yes. Or I have a huge sack. Come over and steal some.
xoxo
Denise,
Parallel worlds indeed. I would love to compare notes with you sometime. Blessings!
HOmemade toothpaste? never even thought! thanks! I think I am new reader for sure! all kinds of fun ideas!
Thanks, Molly! Welcome to my world. I love the toothpaste. There is a mildly soapy taste, but it is mild. My teeth feel amazingly clean after I brush. So glad you are here.
Did you find any information in your research about using baking soda? My husband and I need to adjust our brushing routine, mostly because our well water has been staining our teeth (his more so than mine, even though I drink more coffee than him).
Thoughts?
I did research baking soda. It is abrasive and can wear enamel if used regularly. But I have heard a bit about using peroxide occasionally to whiten. It would be worth some google searching. Good luck!
Great stuff! Thank you for leaving the link on FIMBY. I’m experimenting right now with various recipes. I think I need to try this as my other’s are too baking soda-y or just yucky.
Maybe can you just make this and sell it on the Lusa site 🙂 Please….
Well let you know if we do, Kate. But with products that go into the mouth theres a whole different set of FDA hoops we arent quite ready for. You can do it! Itll take 10 minutes! 🙂
I love this. So easy. Must try. Especially since we are almost out of toothpaste (great timing) Where does one buy Xylitol though?
Melodie,
We buy our xylitol at the coop. You can simply add a bit more stevia if you cant find it. But to me stevia tastes a bit like nutrasweet, so I prefer the xylitol addition. Let me know how it goes.
Peace,
Rachel
So glad to come across this! We’re doing our own toothpaste-free experiment and I’m going to make this toothpaste soon! Here’s our progress: http://www.ieatreal.com/real-teeth
My daughter (just turned 5) has 8 cavities and crumbling enamel – with the same good habits you describe above, including traditional foods! I truly blame the toothpaste, glycerin especially.
Liz & Rachel – Pascalite clay (hydrated) is a great alternative to baking soda, and tasteless.
Another thing to try: Oil Pulling. This has been the real miracle for me, cold sensitivity gone, teeth seriously WAY whiter than ever. And my daughter actually *loves* her “coconut swish” – she first chews it up, and then swishes for about 5-7 mins. I think she’d freak out if she thought it was oil (sesame oil was a giant NO for her) but to her, it’s just yummy coconut ‘stuff’ like her old mouthwash.
Thanks for writing this!
My best,
Liz
Fascinating, Liz. I would love to hear what your experiences are after going toothpaste free. We made all of our changes at the same time, including ditching the paste. Let me know how you (and she) like it! Thanks for the tip on the clay. Ive been searching for a non-abrasive clay to make tooth powder with.
Peace,
Rachel
Okay, here is my question. Homemade/natural soap, even castille, contains glycerin. Is it in a different amount or what? Why is the glycerin in soap okay, but the glycerin in toothpaste not okay?
I’m thinking about making this, just curious! 🙂
Ashley,
I meant to mention that in the post, but it was so long already I edited it out! Soap does contain glycerin, but it is a very small amount. It is not of consequence in its natural form in soap. It is when it is the concentrated base of the toothpaste that it becomes an issue. Hope this clarifies your question!
Blessings,
Rachel
Rachel, thank you for the quick response! I’m thinking of making this ASAP, and then using one of my husband’s teeth as a “guinea pig”. Already, since we cut 99% of fructose out of our diet (exceptions, fruit, the bacon bits we are using up) it has went from being sensitive, to not being sensitive any longer. My teeth feel much stronger and less sensitive, too, but kicking sugars out of the diet (except for stevia, maple sugar, honey, fruit) has been BRUTAL, like a month long detox (which it probably has been!). Ugh.
I’m so pleased to find this recipe. Thank you for your speedy response!!!! 🙂
I turn in to a raging grump when Im off sugar. Detox to be sure. Good luck, and blessings. You can certainly make this with stevia only.
Peace,
Rachel
I’m so excited to make this! One question, any ideas of where I can find a squeeze bottle that won’t leach chemicals into the toothpaste–or do you think that isn’t a big issue?
Jeannette,
It depends who you ask. Some suggest a new glass soap pump. (It will have a plastic pump though). I chose to use a plastic bottle becasue my kids serve themselves and we have a tile floor. This is within the bounds of my comfort level.
Blessings,
Rachel
This is awesome! Thank you so much for posting it. I was wondering from one mama to another, how do you clean your kids teeth? My girl is 15 months and is not alright to be pinned down to have her teeth brushed and neither am I. Any suggestions?
Anne,
That is such a tough one. Im not prone to force anything with my kids either, aside from dont-run-into-traffic. Tooth brushing requires vast resources in the creativity department. Sage was easy. I made up one song and we used it for two years. Lupine? Much harder. We do games, she helps, we wear funny costumes. We play dentist, we count her teeth to see how many she has, we play mama bird and baby bird. We shine them up SOOOOOOO bright so theyll light up her room after we shut off the lights…. Follow her lead and find out what shell go for.
Luck and blessings,
Rachel
I just recently found out about using organic toothpastes and I’m trying to make a recipe using myrrh, propolis, xylitol, and chamomile. If pascalite clay is a good substitute for baking soda, how can i combine all of these together? I’m sure the peppermint can be substituted for chamomile, but with inadequate information about all of this new organic toothpastes and whats good and not good for your teeth, I’m not too sure if they can be used mixed together and if it can be mixed together, how much I should be using.
I just read that glycerin is actually good for you. By reading your posts, it seems like its doing just the opposite. It will be staying in your teeth for days without being able to remineralize? Some websites say that using a mix of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide is good to use as a daily toothpaste, but I’m not sure what to believe anymore.
Another thing, is there a way to substitute the soap for anything else? I think its just the thought of using soap as toothpaste thats making me hestitant about using your recipe. Thanks.
Hi Rachael,
I am not familiar with pascalite clay. If it is non-abrasive it is a great choice. We’ve used a tooth powder with clay in the past and liked it. We made one with myrrh but it was too bitter for the kids. Go lightly with the myrrh! To combine the items on your list you could buy them powdered. Then simply combine, sift, and use as a powder. The posted recipe is the only one I’ve developed. Soap is really the only effective tooth-healthy cleaner that I’m aware of. Give it a shot – my kids love it.
Hi again,
I decided, what the hey, I’ll try your recipe, but I could not find the stevia powder. Is there a way to substitute it? Possibly with xylitol? Or can I just make it without? Thanks again.
P.s. I also decided to add 1/2 tsp of myrrh into it. Perhaps it can be a substitute to stevia powder? Something about myrrh having an antimicrobial/fungal property….
Rachael,
The last batch I made was stevia free (because we were out). I simply increased the xylitol a bit. It is the best batch yet!
Blessings,
Rachel
This is so great, I cannot wait to make it!!
My little man has cavities too, we have I think slowed them down, but went the more standard route but feeling like this would be way better particularly because everything else we do is natural! May I ask a question? Did you take a wait and see approach for your little girl or did you end up having to fill those cavities? I’m hping that we can stop it on our end, but it is so good to hear others have done the same, to have hope…:) Thank You
S
Luna,
Stevia is a great replacement for the maple, honey, or other sweeteners for little ones with decay. We now normally mix stevia with a 1/4 or less dose of honey or maple.
If I had know what we were seeing earlier than I did I would have taken a proactive tooth healing route. Traditional foods, no toothpaste, extended breastfeeding, lots of whole-fat raw dairy, and high-vitiman cod liver oil, butter oil, etc. (The book You can Heal Tooth Decay is an awesome place to start.) But by the time we understood what was happening she had already lost bits of two teeth. We took her to a wholistic dentist who believes that you can heal decaying teeth, and even he said it had gone too far. Now we do all the things listed above (and then some) and I expect that if decay comes up again well not have to have them capped.
Hope this answers your question. Feel free to email me for more info.
Blessings!
Rachel
This sounds great! My kids are so excited to make their own paste. We are in the same boat as far as decay in baby teeth, despite long breastfeeding, whole natural foods and being raised on raw milk! The common denominator seems to be the stupid “healthy” baby toothpaste that is all glycerin and chemicals. We thought with our first child that we just didn’t brush and floss her enough (she was a biter and hitter), but the other 2 more compliant children have the same problem.
My question: What does this recipe act like in the winter when the coconut oil gets harder (below 76 degrees)? Do the other ingredients allow it to remain liquid enough to pump/squeeze out of the dispenser? I make a lovely cream deodorant from coconut oil, baking soda and cornstarch and I have to keep it in a little jar. In the summer (Texas) it’s creamy, but in the winter I have to scrape it out with my fingernail and let it soften up. That could be more of a problem with tooth paste. Thanks!
Hi Rachel,
The toothpaste become softer in the heat, but not unmanageably so. In fact, I didnt really notice until you mentioned it. My deodorant is also easier to apply in the heat. It seems to respond more to the temp than the toothpaste does. We put ours in a squeeze bottle rather than a pump, and it is easy to squeeze out in all temps.
Good luck!
Rachel
We’ve been using Tooth Soap for a couple of years now from Perfect Prescription. BTW, none of us have had a cavity since switching to tooth soap. I had started making my own with Dr. Brommer’s unscented soap, but I saw it had glycerin in it, so I started buying Perfect Prescription’s tooth soap again. Thank you for clarifying the glycerin issue. I’m going to save myself a lot of money by making my own tooth soap again. Blessing, Jackie
So I am new to your blog and really enjoy it- we love outdoors, homebirthing, unschooling, but we also -after much research- have gone completely into the nourishing traditions realm. huge change but great benefits and it just makes sense instictively.
I have a 4 1/2 yr old and 2 yr old and am expecting in december. I took my daughter to the dentist this week for our regular checkup and was really confused and discouraged as it seems you have been in the past. one more cavity. she’s had 3 so far. it doesn’t measure up because of our lifestyle, no i don’t use fluoride in her toothpaste and i simply refuse to from my research but i don’t see how that 1 thing alone would seriously be the missing link to the cause of her cavity.
That night in my discouragement i randomly got on your sight and after reading some inspiration I had run across making your own toothpaste! of course i had to click it. I have everything and will be making it today- I love to do things the hard way if it is the right way. your reasoning made so much sense- we’ve used weleda and other “organic” brands but even those have alot of glycerin. so i will try this.
I have a question though. I usually try to do bone broth every other week but i will try and step that up. how long do you boil your broth down? I don’t want to leave it boiling over night but i know sally fallon says it can boil a long time. i usually try 8-12 hrs.
Also, I don’t give supplements to my kids but now maybe i should. What supplements do you give them? Just cod liver oil? what type/brand?
Any other info you think would help please pass my way! Thank you so much for what you are writing!
Are there any other recipe books you are addicted to right now?? 🙂
Hello, I was doing searches on toothpaste recipes and found yours. I want to try it, but I did have one question. Is your recipe safe to swallow? I have a special needs daughter and she doesn’t know how to spit out tooth paste after brushing.
Will this still be ok if I only use the soap, coconut oil and water? I don’t have essential oils and don’t really need to have a sweet taste for myself.
Lucy,
You would indeed. In fact, just a bit of soap (liquid or not) is all you need. For a time we were just using a bar of our LuSa soap that was for teeth. Wed just lather up the bristles and wash away.
Blessings,
Rachel
Hi Rachel- thanks for this! Just made it for the first time, and I really like it. I used 25 drops peppermint oil instead of both peppermint and another essential oil- any reason that would be a bad idea? Also, it’s a little sweet for us, but I would like to leave in the xylitol since I’ve read it’s good for teeth. Can I just cut out the stevia? Have you tried that before?
Thanks again!
What is the shelf life of this toothpaste?
Are these ingredients hard to find?
Meg,
I get all ingredients at my co-op. But check online as well if you dont have a local source. Ive never had a batch spoil. Blessings,
Rachel
Rachel Wolf
rachel@lusaorganics.com
http://www.LusaOrganics.com
608-356-SOAP (7627)
blogging at http://www.lusaorganics.typepad.com
Use coupon code hello and receive a free lip balm with your first LüSa Organics order! (Add a lip balm of your choice to your basket.) Online at http://www.lusaorganics.com .
10% to organizations generating positive global change
Ah, finally! A toothpaste recipe without baking soda! I’ve had poor results with baking soda, so I was looking for one.
I’ve pared it down to just the coconut oil and soap, since I didn’t have any of the flavorings (and frankly don’t really trust xylitol, though that’s just a gut feeling). I’ll see how that goes! Thanks so much for posting!
Katie,
I hear you on the xylitol. Ive decided that if it allows me to brush my kids teeth longer than Im going for it. For myself I think Id forgo, but to them the taste is important and it seems like a small concession. Glad you like the recipe!
~ Rachel
I have used baking soda & peroxide mix on my teeth for years. The last time we went to the dentist he told me to cut back on the baking soda that it was wearing down my enamel. He suggested that I look for an organic FDA approved paste. He also said the same for my children except that I should make sure they are using something with flouride at least 3 days a wk. Thanks for the recipe, I think I’ll give it a try.
Thank you for addressing the glycerin in soap issue in the comments, I would recommend putting it in the original post. I went and made myself a batch and then looked at the Dr. Bronners label. Was very confused at that point. My 3 yr old was very excited to make toothpaste and wanted to make sure her little sister was going to use it too. I feel better knowing what they’ll be swallowing.
Great suggestion, Rachel! Ill edit that post soon. Enjoy!
Rachel
Cool! I love the idea but I am not sure if my kids would love it. 🙁
You can always add a bit of extra stevia, Hollywood.
~ Rachel
Thanks for the recipe! I made it today and my mouth feels VERY clean! I have a 2 yr old who sometimes forgets to spit. Is it safe to swallow a tad? Do you think it would be as effective if I cut the soap in half until she is a bit older?
It is absolutely okay. Its mostly coconut oil after all! A dash of soap is no worry.
Blessings,
Rachel
Wow! Thanks for answering so quickly!! I just realized that I used the peppermint Dr. Bronner’s instead of the unscented. Is the only difference going to be in taste?
Also I am very excited to try your bug repellent. We go camping for a week every summer and I HATE putting DEET on my kids.
Thanks!
The peppermint is no problem. Especially since you can add a varied amount of essential oils. And yes, the bug spray is still in its testing phase but has had great responses so far!
Best,
Rachel
Thank you so much for this recipe. It’s THE BEST BY FAR! We were using a recipe with baking soda and after hearing how abrasive it was to the enamel, the search began again. This stuff makes your teeth feel so clean and tastes wonderful too. Can’t thank you enough for posting this.
Wendy,
So glad it has been good for you. We are 1 year using it and going strong. Because my husband and I drink tea/coffee once every few months we do a single brushing with baking soda to remove stains. Yes, it is abrasive, but so infrequently it works well to remove staining.
All the best,
Rachel
Thanks for this post! I’m so interested in making my own beauty products at home – I don’t know if I’m quite ready for homemade toothpaste, but I’ll definitely keep this in mind.
I linked to this post on my blog: http://www.liverenewed.com/2011/01/green-your-weekend.html along with other recipes and tutorial for homemade beauty products.
Thanks for the link, Emily!
~ Rachel
Thanks so much for this Rachel! I have a question though – is the soap really necessary? I already made some with half the recommended amount and just can’t handle it! Will the toothpaste work without it? Would I just add more coconut oil or water? If I can just get past the soap issue it would be perfect for me! Thanks again 🙂
Hi Erin,
The soap is what is doing the active cleaning of your teeth. I dont think Id try it without the soap. What kind are you using? Trying a different type might be a good idea, or add more stevia/xylitol. Good luck!
~ Rachel
So this meaning that you and your family have put off refined sugar entirely? I want to try this, but I still eat white sugar and I’m not sure if this will combat the cavities.
Lindsey,
Are you experiencing decay or just trying to be proactive? There is some fascinating info out there about decay and diet – beyond sugar. And we eat honey and fruit (more often than we should I guess) but no complex carbs/sugars.
Blessings,
Rachel
Proactive. I’ve been looking into fluoride and not liking my findings, especially sodium fluoride, which happens to be the main ingredient in every major brand toothpaste. So I’m looking for an alternative without baking soda so it doesn’t wear on my teeth.
Thanks for the quick response!
-Lindsey
Lindsey~ Then, yes, switching out your toothpaste is a great start. There is more good info in the book You Can Heal Tooth Decay that gets into the specifics of why sugar causes decay (its not like you might think.). All the best,
Rachel
Who’s is the author?
Lindsey,
Ramiel Nagel. Here is a link to his web page:
http://www.curetoothdecay.com/Tooth_Decay/tooth_decay_press_release.htm
Best,
Rachel
My wife should see this, Rachel. I must admit that she’s very cautious of our three-year-old daughter’s little teeth, so much that she’s been collecting some articles online regarding prevention of childhood dental problems. We do have competent dentists around here in Colorado Springs, CO and she wants us to take our baby to a pediatric dentist. She’s gonna love this idea of homemade toothpaste, I must say.
I’ve read some comments here about using Peroxide in your toothpaste. Please be careful if you have dental amalgams (the silver-looking fillings in your teeth), they are made with mercury. Using Peroxide makes the amalgams leach mercury vapors into your mouth. We all know how bad mercury is for you!!
Thanks so much for the toothpaste recipe! I will try it today!
Great comment, Islem. That had not occurred to me. Good catch!
~ Rachel
Is this recipe okay to make without the Stevia? I would really prefer to stay away from it. If it’s just for taste then would Xylitol alone help in that department? Thanks!
Mayme,
You can certainly leave out the stevia. It is optional – for taste only.
Peace,
Rachel
This toothpaste recipe is a winner! It’s tastes great and we love it! I used everything as you said with 2 exceptions: I skipped the spearmint essential oil since I only had funds to buy one of the oils, and I really wanted to invest in organic essential oil which is more $$$! So peppermint it was. Hopefully I’ll have the spearmint essential oil for the next batch of toothpaste. Also, I used organic Stevia EXTRACT powder instead of regular Stevia powder. Teeth feel very clean and no soapy taste either. THANK YOU!!
your website is so great that i love it very much. thank you for sharing it with us.
I made this but with bad results. The cocconut oil solidifying and I couldn’t get the toothpaste out of my pump. Any suggestions on how to keep the cocconut oil from getting solid?
Gwen,
Did you add the Tb of water? You could double this amount or replace a bit of the coconut oil with olive. To get it out of your bottle and add the additional liquid simply place it in a pan of warm water.
Best,
Rachel
hay! i have a question for you. did you really try this recipe? cause for my summer job I’m selling homemade toothpaste and i need to know that what i’m selling will work for the people im selling it to. please respond.
-Cecilia Black
and i would like to ad this recipe looks much more simple then the one i was using yesterday it had flower and water thats it!
Cecilia,
I dont exactly understand your question. Are you asking permission to use my recipe for a product you intend to sell? If so that should be something you create yourself, not a recipe shared online. In addition, if you are located in the US selling homemade toothpaste requires that you adhere to FDA requirements for Best Manufacturing Practices, something that can not be obtained when making product in house. Perhaps consider making and selling a product that you already create. That seems like a better choice. As for your first question, yes, it is a recipe of my own creation so I have made it many times.
Best,
Rachel
nice experiment. Keep it up.
Hi I love this post may I just say. I have the same issues with my 2.5 year old son. He is still Breastfeeding. I just took him for his first dentist visit today. He needs 4 root canals, and several other things. I was wondering what action you took for your daughter for her crumbling teeth? Did you have to do anyting for it? Like get them pulled? I am VERY aganst doing root canal at soooo young and they want to put in “stainless steel” caps which I AM NOT happy about and I do not want either. (contains 50% nickle) Anyways, I was just currious what fixed her decay? what the dentist did for her? thank you!
Hello Lisa,
I have a friend whos daughter (at two) was in the same state as Lupine and they waited a little too long and ended up having to pull her four top front teeth. Because of their experience (where she had to go under and ended up with no front teeth) we made the difficult decision to cap her four front teeth and four molars. It was an extremely difficult decision to make – the hardest one we have made with this child hands down.
We made some massive dietary changes which I can outline for you if you are interested, began to supplement with fish oil and butter oil. We cut grains. We ate bone broth (as I outlined on a very recent post) daily.
Let me know what additional information I can provide.
You will come through this! It is so hard, but there is a light glowing at the end of this tunnel.
Many blessings,
Rachel
Oh, another homemade toothpaste! Your homemade toothpaste sounds cool, yow! I’ve just started using green products recently. I read that baking soda with salt or pepper mint is good replacement for toothpaste, too.
Hi Jenna,
Both salt and baking soda are abrasive to enamel, so use those rarely just for stain removal.
Many blessings,
Rachel
I just tried this recipe and I love it! I might be hooked. It was super easy to make, not so easy to find the ingredients, but not impossible. I hear what you said about the abrasiveness of baking soda, but i added a bit at the end to thicken it up. maybe I used too much water, as I halved the recipe. The coconut oil, I think, is what made it nice and foamy. Thanks so much!
So glad you enjoyed it, Rhonda!
Best,
Rachel
The most common homemade toothpaste recipe is salt and baking soda. This is way better than that salty formula. This could be very useful in communities that have no access to toothpastes. What a big help to isolated communities that desperately need dental care.
Thanks, Timothy.
~ Rachel
Great info! Does the no swearing part work on dentures as well? Kidding aside, thank you very much for the recipe, dear. I’m sure it, and your research has helped a lot of kids who are suffering from ECC. Much love to you and Lupine! God bless!
Hi Bethany,
Somehow I totally missed your comment last AUGUST. I’m so sorry. I give my kids fermented cod liver oil and butter oil from the folks at Green Pastures.
I boil my bone broth for 12-36 hours. What about a slow cooker? That would work beautifully.
Again – so very sorry for my delay! No idea how I missed this…
Peace,
Rachel
Sorry for the delay, RAF. Yes! Safe to swallow. Looks like a few comments were eaten from my email feed, yours included. My apologies on the ridiculously slow reply.
Best,
Rachel
Ooh I can’t wait to make this! I have wanted to research toothpaste for a while, thank you for posting this!
By the way, thank you for your comment on making my own almond milk. I made it the next day after soaking almonds and it was delicious! I linked to it in my post for gluten free Chewy Trail Mix Cookies.
http://www.thealmondflower.com/2011/06/chewy-trail-mix-cookies.html
Thank you Mollie! Glad you enjoyed the almond milk. I hope you like the toothpaste as well!
~ Rachel
Thanks so much for sharing that. I’m always looking for green tips and information about how our commercial products can be harmful to us. Would love for you to be a guest blogger at my site http://www.greeninspirationblog.com. Please let me know if you are interested. In the meantime, I’m off to test out homemade toothpaste on my children (and husband)!
Dear Anne, I’m just making Rachel’s toothpaste recipe now. I saw you were having tooth brushing ‘issues’. I wrote a small piece about this on my blog. Don’t know if you still need suggestions, but here it is;
http://obaitori.typepad.com/obaitori/2010/03/saucha-cleanliness-teeth-cleaning.html
Katie x
I was just wondering if the coconut oil is necessary, or if it could be substituted for another oil. Strangely enough, I don’t like the taste of coconut. I have olive oil, extra virgin olive oil, if either of those would work?
Barbi,
This issue is youd get runny toothpaste. Perhaps try it with one of your liquid oils but use grated, dissolved bar soap. That might re-balance the recipe.
I love this! I really love this! Are you still using it? I am so interested in you know… “over time” opinion on home made products.
Now for my inquiry mind… I see there is water in your recipe and many people will argue water+stuff=bacteria over time. Do you add anything at all to your recipe like preservatives? In my experience I’ve been argue this with many soap and cream makers, they add all kind of stuff to their recipes and I keep telling them you can achieve better results by just using essential oils with antibacterial properties…
I am going to make you recipe today! I also want to try make a new recipe based on calcium carbonate, baking soda, essential oils and soap… also I was thinking at guar gum for thickening… hmmmm…
PG,
We used it for most of a year and then slowly switched to just soap. Thats right. Just soap. My kids (and we) no longer need the it-tastes-like-a-treat effect when we brush. Just soap works great. Occasionally we see some staining and we use soap and baking soda – maybe once a month or so – to get the coffee and tea out. Be conscious of how often you use baking soda or salt on the teeth. It is abrasive and can damage enamel. As for preservatives, it doesnt last (around here anyway) long enough to spoil. Sterilize your bottle first and boil your water and you should be a-ok if you are at all concerned.
All the best,
Rachel
Where do you get the Xylitol from, pharmacy? And how much does is cost more or less?
My natural foods coop sells it with sweeteners. I think it was about $6 for a 1/2 lb bag. (ish)
Best,
Rachel
It’s amazing that you were able to create homemade toothpaste because of what happened to Lupine. This idea is radical indeed.
We still eat sugar here, will this toothpaste still work for us? Thanks!
Absolutely! Its universal. Happy crafting!
Awesome! Thanks for the fast answer, I’m hoping to give this a try tonight! So excited!
My almost 5 yr old son had his 1st cavity filled at 2. He wasn’t into sweets then, but was an all night nurser. I also had a difficult time brushing his teeth at 2–he would chew on the toothbrush. Anyway, I continued to nurse until he was 3.5. There have been no more cavities, but some spots on his molars that the dentist is concerned about. I’m happy I stumbled onto your site and discovered your recipe and your reasoning behind the recipe, which makes so much sense. For the past 8 months my son also has been getting a red, irritated, blistering rash that cracks and sometimes bleeds around his lips. It has been occurring 1x/wk and has a 4 or 5 day cycle. Well, thanks to using your recipe for almost 2 weeks, the rash has not returned. Something in conventional TP was irritating his lips. Plus your TP doesn’t have baking soda, which he nor I like to taste. I am so grateful for you. Thank you so much!! Tameka
So glad. Thanks for sharing your story! Look into traditional foods, too. Thats huge.
Hi Liz! I just made my first batch of TP from coconut oil, baking soda, and tangerine essential oil. I had come across this site http://www.aboutclay.com/info/Uses/toothpaste.htm talking about using “dry powder LC clay” or a kids TP with “Calcium Bentonite Clay Powder”. Do you know the difference btwn the pascalite you mention, and these two?? Still learning! Thanks!
What do you mean by traditional foods? Also, when you take your children to the dentist, do you allow the dentist to use conventional TP and flouride on their teeth?
Thanks again for you help!
Are there any other essential oils that would be safe to use for kids and that may be swallowed?
I stick to citrus and mints mostly. What about lime-tangerine?
Great recipe! I did a You Tube video about how to make your own tooth powder- check it out here:
Not only should you avoid toothpaste for the glycerin, but also for the toxic fluoride. It has incredibly damaging health effects.
I like to alternate using my blend with using Tooth Soap which is very similar to your recipe. The only thing is Tooth Soap is pricey (about $25 a bottle.) So the best thing is to wait until they’re buy 1, get 1 free OR make this awesome recipe! I am going to make it soon!
Please check out my blog where I discuss organic beauty and the toxins you should avoid in your cosmetics:
http://toxicbeautyblog.com
Robin 🙂
this is too funny. I did 2 things today…made my weekly batch of laundry detergent and started a list for Target…as I started my list, I thought about all the things I used to put on that list that I now make myself (laundry detergent, household cleaners, soap, shampoo, facial stuff, etc). The list had toilet paper and toothpaste on it and I thought, “I bet I could find a good homemade toothpaste recipe”…I log onto FB and low and behold…
thank you, thank you once again! can’t wait to give it a try!
you rock! thanks so much for this recipe!!!
Ta da! Youre a great manifestor. Once upon a time I shopped at Target for various things too. Recently I wondered at what exactly I use to buy there. Soap, toothpaste, floor cleaner, shampoo. None of that comes into my home anymore either. ~ Rachel
I will definitely try to make this homemade toothpaste. It seems easy enough to make. But can I put about 2 tbsp. of coconut oil and 2 drops more of peppermint oil to it? I like the freshness you get from the combination.
Just wanted to say for people with a corn allergy that xylitol is made from corn. However, I’ve heard different things. I’ve heard that it’s made from the corn fibers which don’t contain the corn protein that aggravates the corn allergy…Anyone else know for sure?
Yes, like some many things xylitol was once a corn-free creation but now contains corn. (It was originally made from birch!) We stopped using the toothpaste for a while when we were grain-free and switched to straight soap. Thanks for mentioning this.
You’re our hero! I tried to make my own toothpaste before and it was a total bust. Then again this recipe was mostly glycerin and baking soda and now that I’ve found out glycerin is horrible, I’m glad it failed. I’m making your recipe today and I couldn’t be more excited!
Hi Rachel, I am so glad God lead me to your site =D I was hoping you could give me your opinion for a coconut oil sub. int he recipe; as my daughter has problems with coconut? Also, I assume the water you use has the floride removed (or you don’t have floridated water)-do you know of a good device for removing the florida from water?
Hi Rosa, Youll just want another solid oil if you daughter cant do coconut. And yes, we use filtered water. The Berkey filter is supposed to be outstanding. http://www.berkeyfilters.com/
Hope this helps!
Rachel
I’m confused about the prep. Am I mixing the boiling water with the Xylitol and then adding the coconut oil to that or to the remaining boiling water?
The boiling water is just there to dissolve the xylitol. The process after that is not fussy. I normally add the hot water to the xylitol, then the cold water, then the coconut oil.
Is the liquid soap a must? Also, where do I buy essential oils? I’m brand new to this whole natural world, and I don’t have any friends to ask advice from.
You can also use bar soap but youll likely need more water. Though if it is hot where you live bar soap is fine as long as it is truly natural and not a detergent bar, as most from the grocery or department store are these days. Essential oils are optional but you can find them at a natural food store. Enjoy!
I meant, is soap in any form needed? I’ve been looking up lots of homemade tooth paste recipes and yours is the only one that has soap in the ingredients. You seem a little more legit than the other sites I found, though. 🙂
Oh, I see! Well, mine is using soap as a cleanser as opposed to an abrasive ingredient. Many use salt, baking soda, etc. to clean. This one uses soap. If you want to forgo the soap Id dig in to a soda or salt recipe. Just dont use those formulas on compromised/soft enamel as they can be too harsh. (Thats why I use soap.)
What about the “retained glycerin” in liquid Dr. Bronner’s soap (and in the bar soap too)? Won’t the glycerin in the soap cause the same problems? I am itching to make this but want to get all my facts straight before I do.
Thanks!
Glycerin is a natural part of soap. But it is a small part. The consensus to this question that Ive heard is that there is so little glycerin in natural soap that it is not an issue.
glad this worked and thanks for posting! I would suggest that xylitol is probably the most important ingredient in the toothpaste. We’ve had similar results with the book “kiss Your Dentist Goodbye.” Xylitol is the one thing the two systems have in common. We eat xylitol 5 times a day and wipe it on my baby’s teeth. Our older kid and us use a system of mouthwashes along with regular toothpaste – closys before brushing to lift germs from under gums and neutralize acidity (brushing while mouth is acidic can cause sensitivity), listerine after brushing to kill germs, followed by ACT to neutralize the acidity from the listerine and leave flouride on the teeth. Saved me from having a root canal and has helped our whole family.
I have cinnamon oil. Would that be ok to use instead? If so, how much?
My gut is that it would be too strong for the mouth. Cinnamon is pretty fierce. What about skipping the EOs all together?
HI, I just stumbled in here today and have been enjoying reading it all.
I have a question about the coconut oil: what brand do you use? I’ve tried others that either feel like it’s burning my mouth, has a chemical after taste or makes me nauseous just smelling it. I decided a few years ago not to use it for cooking or anything since I’m tired of throwing away my money on stuff that is nasty. Another question: Is there a specific reason to use coconut oil or can another oil be substituted?
Great things you have going on in here, thank you for sharing them all with us 🙂
Where do you get your glass bottles with squeeze tops? I’m excited to try out your recipe, just need to find a practical way to store the toothpaste. 🙂
I just made this but I did change it a little. I didn’t have any Xylitol so I used 2 packets of Stevia. I made my own peppermint bar soap and melted it down and used that so I didn’t need as much of the peppermint oil and I omitted the spearmint. My kids loved it and there is almost no soap taste at all. If you don’t know it’s there, you probably won’t taste it at all. I will use this from now on. So extremely easy and tastes good! I might get some xylitol and try that next time. Thanks for a great recipe!
Wonderful! Im so glad.
I’ve found that without fluoride in my toothpaste, my teeth become really sensitive. Do you have a suggestions for preventing that from happening? I would like to make my own toothpaste, I’m just not sure how to keep them from becoming sensitive.
Michelle, You are the second person to ask me this same question. Im not sure what the reason is for sensitivity or why fluoride seems to temper it. Sorry I cant be more helpful!
I bumped into your site while searching for homemade toothpaste recipe. I just started using a mixture of coconut oil and baking soda for myself and my two year old, so glad to have found your site because I didn’t know baking soda is abrasive and not suitable for long term use. I’d like to switch to your recipe, but wonder if it’s suitable for toddlers who can’t gaggle/spit yet and will swallow the toothpaste? TIA
Interesting! Thank you for your tips! I’ll try to make my homemade toothpaste too.
That was amazing i never seen yet an home made tooth paste.In Helsinki i seen most different kind of tooth paste product and mouth wash which is really helpful to take good care of the teeth.This is really excellent.Love it.
Wow, it is too interesting because my kid does not want to brush his tooth regularly because of tooth paste flavor’s. So I will make a new tooth paste for him according to your way.
I did not know there can be a home-made kind of toothpaste. I just not sure if when I make this one, they will use. This must have different taste from the usual toothpaste that we are using.
If your family is accustom to sweet/purchased paste it does take a week or so to get use to. The stevia helps!
Soap, really? I’d love to try this recipe but I’m a littlebit confussed by the soap part?!
Is this suppose to be come out as a liquid form?
It really depends on your climate. If its too thin you can grate bar soap. Too thick – add more water.
I just wanted to say that I’m only on day two of using this recipe, and my teeth already feel better! They have that silly feeling like I’ve only felt after visiting the dentist for a cleaning! Love it! Thank you!!
Obviously, I have that *silky* feeling…not silly. Oops!
Im so glad!
Wow! Another great learning that truly helps me to lessen my daily budget.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Rachel,
Thanks for the recipe. I don’t know what to do since my son has many cavities and dentist suggested GA to put him under to repair the teeth. I am so weary.
Hi I can’t wait to try this. My son is only 20 months old and doesn’t know how to spit. Could he swallow this? Also, would you say that fluoride isn’t necessary especially for toddlers? There’s so much controversy over this. What’s your opinion? Thx!
I am going to try this. Do you have to use xylitol or stevia? I don’t care for either and would like to opt out of those two things when making the recipe.
Thanks Rachel : )
does the tooth paste you make taste terrible or not