Your teeth are something you'll use for your whole life - so it's important to care for them! Toothpaste traditionally comes in a plastic tube though that is almost impossible to recycle or reuse in any way. Many people have started opting to make their own toothpaste at home for that very reason!
When making your own toothpaste, it's important to understand what goes into it and the health impacts for your teeth. Fluoride, for example, isn't in this recipe. I'll let you do your own research on what feels safe and comfortable for you and your family (I'm no dentist for sure!). For now though, I’ll just get down to the nitty gritty stuff and give you the recipe.
Homemade Toothpaste:
Ingredients:
3 TBS Coconut Oil
3 TBS Baking Soda
25 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
¼ TSP Xylitol (optional)
Instructions:
This part is easy.
Mix it all together! I chose to heat the coconut oil first to allow it all to mix easier but that’s up to you!
Set it in the fridge for a few minutes (5 or so) to solidify.
Before it is completely solid however, make sure the mixture has not separated. This is really important if the coconut oil was completely liquid. Give it a little stir and set it back in the fridge for another 10-15 minutes.
Remove when solid and use!
Serving:
The recipe yields one small jar of toothpaste. I have not finished my first jar yet and estimate it will last me around two months.
I have found that the taste for this recipe is really quite pleasant. You can try using unscented coconut oil if you would prefer not to smell it but I just used regular! It is naturally quite sweet with the coconut actually so the xylitol is optional. You may want to try a batch with and a batch without and see how you like it!
Additionally, the recipe can be tweaked depending on taste and preference. Some people like more abrasive toothpaste (and need it) so the ratio of coconut oil and baking soda can be adjusted. For now, this one works well for me!
Now get brushing!