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.