If you don't like the taste of store-bought toothpaste or are looking for ways to save money and are someone who likes to do your own thing, making your own toothpaste could be a fun project. In addition, it will allow you to avoid the artificial products contained in commercial toothpastes, such as sweeteners (usually saccarin), emulsifiers, preservatives and artificial flavors.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Make toothpaste with sea salt
Step 1. Collect your ingredients
For this recipe, you need a glass of baking soda 2/3 filled, a teaspoon of fine sea salt, a teaspoon or two of peppermint extract or another essential oil and filtered water.
- Baking soda polishes teeth and eliminates bad breath. Another advantage is its inexpensive nature.
- Salt acts as an abrasive that helps remove dental plaques. It also activates salivation, which is a natural method of protecting teeth.
- The essential oil brings taste.
- Water brings consistency.
Step 2. Mix the glass 2/3 full of baking soda with a teaspoon of sea salt
Make sure these two ingredients are well mixed. When you look closely at the mixture, you shouldn't see any salt aggregate in the baking soda. The salt should be sufficiently dispersed that it is difficult to separate it from the bicarbonate.
To break up the salt aggregates, you can use a fork or a mixer
Step 3. Add a few drops of the essential oil of your choice
Many people choose peppermint or spearmint essential oil because they are used to using them. However, you can try other flavors.
Other commonly used essential oils are lavender, known for its oral calming effects, orange, known to decrease anxiety, and eucalyptus, which has antiseptic and antibacterial properties
Step 4. Start mixing the water
Pour a few drops at a time and mix well after each addition. You can make a thin or thick dough as you like. Be aware, however, that if it is too thin, it will be difficult to spread on the toothbrush.
Step 5. Store the toothpaste in a glass jar
Essential oils should be stored in glass containers, so if you have put essential oil in your paste, it is important that you follow the storage method. Store the paste near your toothbrush, out of direct sunlight, and in a cool, dry place.
Step 6. Place some toothpaste on your brush
If you wish, you can immerse your brush directly in the paste or use a teaspoon to remove it. Try different amounts. Start with a pea-sized dab, then add more if you feel like there isn't enough.
Method 2 of 3: Make toothpaste with coconut oil
Step 1. Collect your ingredients
For this recipe, you need equal proportions of coconut oil and baking soda, depending on how much toothpaste you want to use. You can for example start with 6 tablespoons of coconut oil and 6 tablespoons of baking soda. You can add essential oil for taste and stevia if you fancy a little sweet taste.
- Coconut oil is known to be effective against the bacteria Streptococcus mutans, a bacteria that often causes cavities, which lives in sugar and clings to teeth.
- Stevia is a natural sweetener that comes from the plant of the same name. It has antibacterial properties known to fight against cavities.
Step 2. Start by mixing the coconut oil and baking soda
Mix them until the baking soda is completely incorporated into the oil. This means that you will have a wet mixture of baking soda and coconut oil. It is best to use a mixer, but a fork can also do the trick.
Step 3. Add a few drops of essential oil
Mix after each addition and place a small amount of paste on your tongue to taste it.
Step 4. If you want, you can add stevia to taste sweet
If you want your toothpaste to be a little more appetizing, add a few drops of stevia, then mix well. Then start tasting a small amount of dough again before adding more. Stevia is sweeter than industrial sugar, so be careful! Your dough should not be too sweet!
Step 5. Store the toothpaste in a glass jar
Essential oils should always be stored in glass containers, so this is very important if you have chosen to put essential oil. Store the paste near your toothbrush, out of direct sunlight, and in a cool, dry place.
Step 6. Apply some paste on your toothbrush
You could dip the brush directly into the paste or use a small spoon to apply it to the brush. Try different amounts. Start with a pea-sized amount and add more if you think it's not enough.
Method 3 of 3: Make powdered toothpaste
Step 1. Collect your ingredients
For this powder, you only need three servings of baking soda, for one serving of salt and a few drops of essential oil (optional).
- Be aware that this is a powder, not a paste. If you prefer a paste, choose one of the other recipes or add a little filtered water to the powder. Be aware, however, that the effectiveness is the same in both cases.
- One portion corresponds to the quantity you want, it is the respect of the proportions that is important. For example, if you are using 3 tablespoons of baking soda, you will need to use a tablespoon of salt. If you are using 6 tablespoons of baking soda, you will be using 2 tablespoons of salt.
Step 2. Mix the baking soda and salt
You can mix them together or place them in an airtight container, then shake vigorously.
Shaking the container is a good method to ensure that the two ingredients are well mixed
Step 3. Add essential oil
If you want to add essential oil for the aroma, you can do that now. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the powder and mix or shake.
Step 4. Store your powder
If you added essential oil, you should store the powder in a glass jar. If you haven't added one, you can store it in a plastic bag or in a glass jar. In any case, store it in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight.
Step 5. Use your powder
You can wet your brush under running water, then dip it in the powder until you have a good layer of toothpaste on the brush. You could also do without water. If you want to do this, simply place some powder on the brush (without wetting it first) or in your mouth and brush your teeth normally.
Try with water and without water to determine which method you prefer
Advice
- If baking soda is found to be abrasive to your teeth or gums, be aware that you may get similar effects by rinsing your mouth with a very light solution of baking soda after brushing your teeth with a blank brush. Salt is a less strong abrasive.
- Children might enjoy adding food coloring to toothpaste to make it more attractive. Maybe this would be a good time to teach them how to mix colors in order to create new ones. Try to avoid artificial dyes like Red 40, as it is associated with health problems in children who ingest it, such as ADHD.
Warnings
- Do not ingest toothpaste. Also avoid swallowing it. The small amount that you use to brush your teeth is usually not harmful when accidentally swallowed, unless you are extremely sensitive to sodium.
- Toothpaste that does not contain fluoride may not protect enamel as well as toothpaste with fluoride and does not provide the same mineralization for decayed teeth. Consult your dentist before changing toothpaste for you or your child.
- If you have a lot of metal in your mouth (rings, fillings), avoid using salt in your toothpaste, as it may corrode the metal.
- If you're using a recipe that uses glycerin, consider replacing it with xylitol. Some people think that glycerin creates a residue on the surface of your teeth that prevents mineralization and is difficult to remove.
- Children who use toothpaste containing fluoride and swallow it regularly are at high risk of developing fluorosis.
- When you ingest fluoride, it does not leave your body. It stays and grows. Fluoride is associated with bone cancer. Using baking soda and making your own toothpaste are healthier options, as long as you don't eat a lot of sweets every day.