About six months ago I decided it was time to apply my crunchy ways to the area of oral care. I had already tried the “natural” toothpastes in the “healthy” section of the grocery store and I was not really impressed by any of them. I still didn’t like some of the ingredients they contained and they were pretty expensive. So I decided to look into making my own toothpaste (much to my husband’s dismay).
I searched the internet for some recipes and found a ton that contained coconut oil. I tried one for a month or two and wasn’t really happy with it. While I love coconut oil and its many uses, I did not like brushing my teeth with it. There was just something about the after feel that made me feel yucky. So I searched some more for a recipe without coconut oil and found a few options. Based on my research and adapted from several recipes I found on the web, here is my favorite version of clay-based natural toothpaste.
DIY Natural Clay Toothpaste
Ingredients
1/4 cup bentonite clay
1/2 cup (more or less) distilled or boiled water
Essential oils (I used peppermint and tea tree)
Liquid stevia or xylitol
Directions
Using a small glass or plastic bowl and a porcelain or plastic spoon (never use metal with bentonite clay), add the clay and distilled water and mix well. You want to add enough water to make the clay a smooth, but not runny, consistency. Once the clay is mixed completely add about 15-20 drops of your sweetener (stevia or xylitol) and mix well. Finally, add about 5 drops of tea tree and about 12 drops of peppermint. Once the oils have been mixed, pour mixture into a glass, plastic or porcelain container and store in a cool, dark place. That’s it!
I found a pretty little porcelain jar at Target that I keep my toothpaste in and I use a tiny porcelain spoon to put it on my toothbrush (some people just scoop some out with the brush but I find that disgusting and germy). A batch of this stuff lasts me at least three months. Play with the recipe to make it sweeter if you desire and try different oils if you don’t like peppermint (spearmint, eucalyptus, wild orange…all would be good).
Since using this recipe I have had my tooth sensitivity completely disappear. I also thought that I was getting a cavity several months ago but since switching to this toothpaste I no longer have any pain. It may seem weird brushing your teeth with what feels a little like dirt, but now it really doesn’t phase me. I love this stuff and I won’t go back to conventional paste.
My next challenge–getting my toothbrush-shy toddler to brush with my “dirt paste.” That should go really well…
If you make some and try it, let me know how you like it!
Xylitol is also a cavity fighter. Not sure if stevia is, but I would pick xylitol for its bacteria preventing qualities.