Homemade Toothpaste Recipe
The
most important action you can take to maintain oral health is to eat
a healthy diet. Avoid all artificial additives (flavors, colors, preservatives),
GMOs, pasteurized dairy, and refined sugars. Do not consume foods laden
with herbicides and preservatives (especially the "dirty dozen")
or factory feedlot raised animals or farm raised fish. The healthiest
diet consists of whole unadulterated foods. It is possible, through
a truly healthy diet and proper oral care, to whiten and re-mineralize
your teeth, to re-build your enamel, and to heal your gums.
Commercial toothpaste is toxic. You can avoid most of these toxic ingredients
by using an expensive natural toothpaste, but many still contain sodium
lauryl sulfate or other questionable ingredients such as glycerin, which
prevents re-mineralization. Fluoride may cause some superficial hardening
of the enamel but it will not produce healthy teeth that naturally resist
cavities. This effect is from topical application only, and if fluoride
is ingested over time it can cause arthritis, brittle bones and neurodegeneration.
Definitely avoid fluoride, and prevent cavities by improving your health. The book, Cure Tooth Decay, by Ramiel Nagel is an
excellent resource with extensive information that goes well beyond
the scope of this article.
The basic recipe for homemade
toothpaste is equal parts of coconut oil and baking soda. Make sure
both are organic and your baking soda is aluminum free. From here, you
can add other ingredients and adjust ratios if necessary.
Simple Homemade toothpaste recipe:
- Equal parts of coconut oil and
baking soda
- Add essential oil to taste
- Add stevia (if desired) to taste
For 3 tablespoons of oil
to 3 tablespoons of baking soda, add up to 8 drops of essential oil. Try peppermint,
eucalyptus, cinnamon, clove, lemon, orange, rosemary, or discover others.
Each essential oil provides more than taste; each adds its own benefit.
Add drops of one, or experiment with combinations. But be sure to buy
your essential oils from a reputable source. Store your toothpaste in
a small wide mouth jar.
- Peppermint - a powerful anti-oxidant
- Eucalyptus - antifungal, antibacterial,
antiviral, anti-inflammatory
- Cinnamon - antifungal, antibacterial,
antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
- Clove - antiviral, antibacterial,
antifungal and an amazing antioxidant as well as analgesic
- Lemon - antifungal, antibacterial,
antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
- Orange - antiseptic and antioxidant
- Rosemary - antifungal, antibacterial,
antiviral
- Oregano –strong antimicrobial,
useful if there is infection
Neem oil and tea tree oil could also be used for antibacterial
qualities. Try 3-4 drops, but know that neither one is a flavor enhancer.
They may help tighten up gum tissue, however.
Your basic recipe can be changed in a variety of ways. Coconut oil is
solid at room temperature, sesame oil is not. You can replace as much
coconut oil with
sesame oil as desired to reach the consistency you prefer, but this
will also change the taste and color. To aid in remineralization, try
adding trace minerals or calcium magnesium powder to the mix, removing
an equal amount of baking soda and adjusting for consistency. Bentonite
clay, and/or diatomaceous earth will add grit and may aid in drawing
out impurities, but are probably too abrasive.
Hydrogen peroxide is added to many home toothpastes, especially those
formulated for whitening. But hydrogen peroxide is one of those ingredients
you are not supposed to swallow and it can irritate the gums. It
is not a good idea for kids or for anyone with sensitive, damaged, or
diseased gums.