There is not one toothpaste that can meet everyone’s individual specific needs. Nonetheless, keeping your teeth clean is essential to maintaining good oral health. You may also want your teeth to appear as white as possible. You can make it possible by using homemade toothpaste. Homemade toothpaste does not contain fluoride or other compounds that can help prevent cavities and treat other oral health issues.
Check out your nearest supermarket, and you’ll see so many brands and alternatives. Plain white Colgate is no longer the default toothpaste for everybody. There are so many flavors, spark and glitter options for kids, as well as for adults too.
But there’s also homemade toothpaste that’s growing in popularity because of its natural ingredients and America’s love for DIY. Most ingredients for homemade toothpaste can be bought at most retailers and health food stores. However, using the wrong homemade toothpaste recipe may lead to enamel damage or damage to the microbiology of your mouth. So, make sure to stick to tried-and-tested recipes that are safe and effective. If you’re unsure of what’s the best for you teeth, be sure to consult a professional and get your dental needs taken care by this oral surgeon in Paramus.
Why Use Homemade Natural Toothpaste?
Why would you be compelled to switch to homemade toothpaste when the usual store-bought toothpaste works for you? It’s because a regular toothpaste may contain questionable ingredients, such as:
Fluoride
Fluoride is one of the most controversial toothpaste ingredients. It has been included in many store-brand kinds of toothpaste because it fights bacteria, builds strong teeth, and prevents cavities. But this chemical is extremely toxic. Did you know why toothpaste for kids that are under six years old have no fluoride? It’s because ingesting this chemical can seriously harm a child. Fluoride is a waste product of aluminum, phosphate, and nuclear industries, and the EPA classifies it as a toxin. It’s also the primary active ingredients in pest fumigants, crop pesticides, cockroach and rat poisons, as well as in hypnotic, anesthetic, and psychiatric drugs. It’s even illegal to dump fluoride in the oceans, lakes, or streams, but for some reason, it’s okay to include in our toothpaste and water supplies.
Moreover, experts believed that babies exposed to fluoride are at high risk of developing dental fluorosis. It is a permanent tooth defect caused by fluoride damaging the cells which form the teeth. The front two teeth, which are the child’s most important cosmetic teeth, are frequently affected by fluorosis that develops during infancy. This can make the youngster feel self-conscious and lead to other types of social discomfort.
Sweeteners
Any sweeteners in toothpaste are to be non-cariogenic. It means they do not cause cavities to form in teeth. The most common sweeteners are xylitol, sorbitol, and sodium saccharin.
Artificial sweeteners such as sodium saccharin are usually added to toothpaste to improve the taste, but some of these substances are controversial and can be harmful.
Some may experience side effects from sweeteners, so you may consider switching to a toothpaste with a different sweetener or a natural toothpaste.
Glycerin
While glycerin is intended to produce a slick clean feeling, brushing with glycerin toothpaste is ineffective. This feeling is like a coat that is forgotten and attracts plaque. Glycerin is produced from GMO vegetable oils and has a byproduct of soap production. The worst component for dental health is this one.
Glycerin is found in many kinds of toothpaste, and it’s a sweet and colorless liquid. Some research found out that it can coat the teeth and prevent them from benefitting from the minerals in saliva.
Triclosan
This is a chemical used in antibacterial soaps and products, such as some kinds of toothpaste. It was also found to affect proper heart function. Furthermore, triclosan isn’t generally recognized as safe, as per FDA ruling in 2017.
In addition, triclosan is an endocrine-disrupting chemical. That means it can harm your endocrine system, leading to issues with proper hormone function. Some animal studies have shown that exposure to high amounts of the ingredient may cause a decrease in certain thyroid hormones.
Surfactants
Sodium lauryl sulfate is a typical kind of surfactant that gives toothpaste its rich foam and lather. However, some research shows that this chemical can cause canker sores and mouth ulcers.
Some natural toothpaste contains a foaming agent to meet that expectation of being a foaming toothpaste for a better clean. However, this soap is nothing but a chemical bomb to your mouth with harsh chemicals. There are alternatives to surfactants, but they have been found dangerous to ingest. It is best to stay away altogether.
Artificial colors and synthetic flavors
Natural is always better for health and your mouth.
The thing that is great about natural toothpaste is that there are no artificial ingredients, which you will undoubtedly find in practically every synthetic toothpaste. There are artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, and even artificial colors used in synthetic toothpaste and while that may make them look great and attractive to consumers, there is no ignoring the fact that they are quite harmful to health.
Homemade Toothpaste Recipes
Did you know the first formula for toothpaste was recorded by Egyptians in 4 AD? They used a mixture of rock salt, flowers, mint, and pepper to create a powder to clean their teeth.
Here are some useful, homemade toothpaste recipes that are great for kids and adults of all ages. Due to the nature of the main ingredient, which is oil, these kinds of toothpaste aren’t meant to be stored long-term, so make small batches of these recipes frequently.
Simple toothpaste
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon of sea salt
- 1 drop peppermint, citrus, or clove essential oil
- A few drops of water
Procedure:
- Mix ingredients in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly until a thick paste is formed.
- Scoop it unto the toothbrush.
Natural toothpaste
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of coconut oil
- 15-20 drops peppermint essential oil
- 10 drops myrrh essential oil
- 2-3 tablespoons baking soda
- 2 small packets stevia powder
Procedure:
- Soften or melt coconut oil
- Mix other ingredients and combine well. If you’re using semi-hard coconut oil, use a fork. Otherwise, use a spoon. If your coconut oil is completely melted, you may need to stir several times while moisture cools to keep baking soda incorporated.
- Pour the mixture in a glass jar.
- Let cool before using it.
Chemical-free kid toothpaste
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup soft coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon bentonite clay
- ¼ teaspoon liquid stevia
- 4-10 drops of sweet orange essential oil
Procedure:
- Combine coconut oil, baking soda, and bentonite clay in a bowl. Mix well. Use plastic wood or spoon, as bentonite clay must not come in contact with metal so as not to deactivate the clay.
- Add in the remaining ingredients. Combine thoroughly.
- Store in a jar or on a squeezable container
Squeezable homemade kid’s toothpaste
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons soft coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 tablespoons calcium carbonate
- 1 tablespoon bentonite clay
- ½ teaspoon glycerin
- 1 tablespoon water or vodka
- ½ teaspoon flavor extract of choice
Procedure:
- Whisk together the dry ingredients, such as the baking soda, calcium carbonate, and clay.
- Using a wooden fork, blend in the glycerin and oil until uniform.
- Add vodka and flavor extracts, and stir it very briskly to beat until smooth.
- Place them in squeezable tubes and use them within a month.
- Alternatively, place all ingredients in a food processor or small blender and blend until the mixture is very smooth.
Homemade non-toxic toothpaste
Ingredients:
- Soft coconut oil
- 3 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon of sea salt
- 1 teaspoon xylitol
- 2-3 drops peppermint essential oil
- ½ teaspoon dried sage (optional)
Procedure:
- Grind sea salt in a coffee grinder to make it as powdery as possible.
- Mix all ingredients except coconut oil.
- Combine a teaspoon of coconut oil until you find the right consistency for the paste.
- Put the mixture in a small, squeezable container and keep it in a cool place.
Coconut oil toothpaste
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoon coconut oil
- 2 tablespoon calcium powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon xylitol
- 2-4 drops cinnamon essential oil
- 2-3 drops nutmeg essential oil
Procedure:
- Mix all dry ingredients first.
- Add coconut oil and stir until the mixture is blended.
- Add essential oils and mix until smooth.
Vegan toothpaste
Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons vegetable glycerin
- ½ teaspoon guar gum
- 5 drops clove, peppermint or citrus essential oil
- 8 tablespoons water
Procedure:
- Place ingredients except for essential oil in a pot.
- Cook on low heat and frequently stir for five minutes or until the mixture achieves a paste-like texture.
- Cool and add essential oil to taste.
- Store in a sterile jar at room temperature.
Remineralizing toothpaste
Ingredients:
- 3 to 5 parts of coconut oil
- 5 parts of calcium powder
- 3 parts xylitol powder
- 2 parts baking soda
- 1 part diatomaceous earth
- Mint, orange, cinnamon, or myrrh essential oils
Procedure:
- Mix all dry ingredients together.
- Add coconut oil slowly until the mixture is smooth.
- Mix essential oils to taste.
Tooth powder
Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoon bentonite clay
- 2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoon unrefined sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon clove powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground peppermint leaves, spearmint leaves, or 5 to 10 drops of peppermint essential oil
- 1 ½ teaspoon unrefined stevia powder
- ¾ teaspoon activated charcoal
Procedure:
- Mix all ingredients together. This can be used the same way as you use toothpaste.