Homemade natural toothpaste : Green and easy recipes !

As ecology becomes a recurring topic and we seek to adopt more nature-friendly behaviors, making our own toothpaste is becoming a common practice.

Making your own toothpaste is simple and economical, so why not get started? Here's everything you need to know about homemade toothpaste.

The Importance of brushing your teeth with toothpaste!

The mouth is a moist environment full of cavities where bacteria thrive. They find the best conditions to develop. In addition to the food we ingest, our behaviors encourage their proliferation: putting our fingers to our mouths, chewing on a pen, biting into an unwashed fruit…

Dental plaque

Plaque is a mixture of tartar, saliva and food debris that solidifies and attaches to the teeth. Its porous composition provides a dream refuge for bacteria. It must be brushed off immediately, before it hardens. The use ofa dental moisturizer is useful to fight plaque.

The repercussions of damaged teeth

Poorly maintained teeth deteriorate. In addition to suffering and losing your beautiful smile, your breath may be affected and the bacteria in your mouth will circulate throughout your body.

Brushing your teeth is important, as is the choice of toothpaste.

Industrial toothpastes: what to think?

The shelves of supermarkets and drugstores offer extensive ranges of toothpastes that promise you a star smile, but their composition is questionable.

Chemicals

Like any industrial product, toothpaste contains many chemicals, even in toothpastes labeled “organic”. Preservatives and dyes are everywhere, but they are not the only ones. Other ingredients are extremely controversial.

Titanium dioxide

Although it is considered a potential carcinogen, titanium dioxide is found in two-thirds of commercially available toothpastes. There is talk of banning it, but in the meantime, you can hardly escape it.

Fluorine

Fluoride has long been praised for its ability to fight cavities, but it is increasingly challenged, even by the WHO, the World Health Organization. Used in too large quantities, it is accused of causing dental fluorosis, which stains the teeth, or bone fluorosis, which modifies the structure of the bones and weakens them.

See our guide to the best organic fluoride-free toothpastes

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is also accused of being carcinogenic and polluting the environment, as well as irritating mucous membranes.

The consequences on the environment

If some products are bad for your teeth, they are also bad for the fauna and flora. Anything that passes through your sink's trap goes on to the wild.

Finally, there is the pollution involved in producing the toothpaste, packaging it and getting it to the point of sale.

Why make your own toothpaste?

Rest assured, making your own toothpaste is simple and economical. You can easily find the right equipment at home and the ingredients are easy to find in pharmacies, organic stores, and even supermarkets.

No unnecessary chemical components

When you make your own toothpaste, you know what's in it. You avoid chemical components.

A homemade toothpaste to your liking and adapted to your needs

Making toothpaste is also a matter of gastronomy. After all, even if you don't swallow it, you can taste it during and after brushing! This is your chance to create a toothpaste that suits your taste and needs.

For the sensation during brushing and the breath afterwards, you choose your scent: essential mint, lemon, peppermint, thyme…

You can target the desired effects more precisely. If your saliva is particularly loaded with tartar, you can force the substance with polishing power. If you are prone to cavities, you will use more biocides…

You can even choose the consistency of your homemade toothpaste: powder, paste or solid.

An ecological gesture for several reasons

The use of natural ingredients is an ecological guarantee. By doing without, you reduce the consumption, and therefore the manufacturing of these products. You also avoid water pollution which is a major factor in the deterioration of nature.

Even filtered by wastewater treatment plants, Chemicals end up in our water tables, lakes and rivers. The influence on flora and fauna is dramatic, with mutations in fish that are worrying to say the least, to name only the tip of the iceberg.

The ecological impact of manufacturing and transportation is also favorable to the toothpaste. Industrial toothpaste is costly to nature in energy consumption for its manufacture, in synthetic materials for its packaging, and in carbon footprint for its transportation from the manufacturer to the wholesaler, then to the retailer, then to you.

A source of savings

You don't have to buy any specific equipment, just a few common kitchen utensils. The raw materials that you use to make your homemade toothpaste are easy to find in local stores. There is no need to bring them from far away with the packaging and fuel that this implies.

To store your homemade toothpaste, simply collect an empty container that you can reuse over and over.

An educational and fun activity

Making your own toothpaste is simple, quick and fun. This is a good opportunity to educate your children at an early age. You show them that there is an alternative to industrial products and you teach them the importance of brushing their teeth properly.

Tooth brushing should be taught from an early age, even on baby teeth that will be replaced. The consequences on poorly maintained teeth are lifelong. Tooth decay is an irreversible damage. Teaching your children to brush their teeth after each meal quickly becomes a reflex.

What are the utensils and ingredients needed to make your own toothpaste?

The utensils to make your own toothpaste

A bowl, a whisk, a spoon, it's hard to get more simple equipment! In principle, everyone has these utensils in their kitchen.

The basic ingredients of homemade toothpaste

Here are the three essential ingredients to make your own toothpaste. We will add a few other ingredients in the recipes detailed below.

The clay

White or green, clay is the basis of all toothpastes. Clay is used for wounds, dermatological problems, purifying masks… For dental hygiene, clay makes you benefit from its antiseptic, analgesic, healing, anti-inflammatory properties…

It's what helps you eradicate the bacteria that are nesting in your mouth.

Baking soda or calcium carbonate

Baking soda is used in homemade toothpaste to polish the teeth without damaging them. It loosens the haze – formed by saliva, mixed with the tartar it naturally contains and food debris – before it turns into solid plaque.

If you don't like the salty taste of baking soda, you can replace it with calcium carbonate – otherwise known as blanc de Meudon – which has similar properties.

Essential oils

Essential oils are used for their antiseptic properties, but also to give flavor to your homemade toothpaste. You choose according to your tastes: the essential oil of mint and peppermint are the most common, but you can also turn to lemon or thyme for example.

Essential oils contribute to fresh breath. Mint essential oil is the one we recommend.

Be careful though, as they are not recommended for pregnant women and children under 6 years old. If you are concernedIn this case, you can use powdered cloves (in small quantities, because the taste is strong), menthol crystals, xylitol (extracted from birch bark) with a slightly sweet taste or other organic flavors that you can find in organic stores.

3 Recipes to make your own natural toothpaste

Here are three easy-to-make natural toothpaste recipes to choose from, depending on the consistency you prefer: powder, paste or solid.

For each of these recipes, use a whisk until you obtain a perfectly homogeneous result. We explain how to do this in the following parts of this article.

The simple recipe for homemade toothpaste powder

This is the easiest and fastest way to make your own toothpaste. This recipe is also the one that foams the least.

Mix 2 teaspoons (a little less than a tablespoon) of baking soda, 2 teaspoons of white or green clay and 5 drops of essential oil.

Use your brush to collect the powder and brush your teeth without adding water.

Recipe for homemade paste toothpaste

This is the formula that most closely resembles industrial toothpastes.

Mix 20 grams of calcium carbonate, 8 grams of white clay, 15 grams of mineral water or hydrosol and 5 drops of essential oil.

Add xanthan gum, a natural thickener that helps to gel the mixture. To further improve the consistency of the paste, add 5 grams of vegetable glycerin.

If you like foaming toothpaste, add 2 grams of Babassu foam. It comes in a small bottle, similar to the containers of essential oils.

Finally, add 9 drops of Cosgard which is a natural preservative that you can find in organic stores.

See our homemade mouthwash recipes.

Recipe for solid homemade toothpaste

Of a less common consistency, you can make your own toothpaste in solid form. You must rub your toothbrush on the surface of the formed loaf to collect the necessary amount.

Mix 30 grams of baking soda, 10 grams of white or green clay, 20 grams of SCI surfactant (granulated powder derived from coconut oil), 15 grams of coconut oil and 10 drops of essential oil in a heatproof bowl.

Coconut oil is biocide and helps to fight against bacteria.

Heat the bowl in a double boiler while stirring to obtain a homogeneous paste and then place it in the refrigerator to solidify.

The bonus recipe for your own activated charcoal toothpaste

If you want to exploit the whitening properties of vegetable charcoal, we have prepared the following recipe based on coconut oil and essential oil to whiten teeth at home.

Melt a teaspoon of virgin coconut oil, before adding a teaspoon of vegetable charcoal and 8 to 10 drops of lemon essential oil (which you can also replace by peppermint essential oil). Then mix everything together before placing the solution in a container.

Some additional recipes for homemade toothpaste

In the following section, we will suggest several different recipes for natural homemade toothpaste. You can try them out one by one to select the one that will suit you best. In any case, you'll have plenty to alternate with so you'll never get bored!

Homemade toothpaste with aloe vera

Do your gums a world of good with the wonderful moisturizing, soothing and healing properties of aloe vera. To make a natural homemade toothpaste with aloe vera, simply follow these 4 steps:

1. Heat 4 tablespoons of coconut oil in a water bath to melt it (you can also use the microwave);
2. Add to the heated coconut oil 4 tablespoons of aloe vera gel, 2 tablespoons of white clay and a few drops of essential oil of your choice (mint for example);
3. Mix the whole to homogenize well;
4. Put the mixture in a closed container to keep it in a cool place and it's ready!

To use it, simply moisten your toothbrush and put a dab of aloe vera toothpaste on it with a small spoon (never dip the toothbrush directly into the mixture or use your finger, as this may stain it with various micro-organisms). Then brush your teeth as usual!

Homemade toothpaste with sage, thyme and mint

This homemade toothpaste recipe is particularly effective for fresh breath and healthy gums. It is a toothpaste in the form of paste for which you will need :

• 3 tsp white clay (or kaolin) ;
• 1 tsp of dried sage and thyme leaves that you will first crumble;
• 3 drops of peppermint or spearmint essential oil, depending on your preference.

You will just have to mix these 3 ingredients until you obtain a homogeneous paste and to put the whole in a glass jar. You can keep this toothpaste for a long time in a dry, cool place, away from the sun.

Homemade toothpaste with siwak

This plant which comes to us from India is known for its purifying and bleaching properties for the teeth. It is widely used in many countries to maintain good oral hygiene. Here is a small recipe for a natural toothpaste made of Siwak powder:

Note: For this recipe, you will need a mortar and pestle to crush the different ingredients.

Put the following ingredients in the mortar:

• Cornstarch: 3 tbsp;
• Calcium carbonate: 5 tbsp;
• Baking soda: half a teaspoon;
• Siwak powder: half a tsp:
• Coconut oil: half a teaspoon;
• Spearmint essential oil: 17 drops.

Once all the ingredients have been put in the mortar, crush and mix them with the pestle until you get a very homogeneous powder. Then put the mixture in a closed container to store it (the advantage is that the powder keeps better than the paste).

To use this homemade toothpaste with Siwak, nothing could be simpler, moisten your toothbrush and put a small amount of powder with a small utensil (teaspoon, small spatula …). Then, brush your teeth as you are used to and enjoy all the benefits of this ancestral plant which is the Siwak.

Homemade turmeric toothpaste

Turmeric is an excellent natural remedy for white teeth and healthy gums. It is therefore very interesting to incorporate it in a recipe for homemade toothpaste. So here is a little recipe you can try:

1. Take one teaspoon of turmeric powder
2. Mix it with a few drops of olive oil to form a small paste and it's ready!

Put some of this paste on your toothbrush and brush for 3 minutes. Rinse thoroughly while using your brush to remove the last of the turmeric debris from your mouth.

You can use this method one week a month for whiter teeth.

Making and using homemade toothpaste: what precautions should be taken?

Dental health professionals have a somewhat mixed opinion regarding the use of homemade toothpastes. Indeed, the latter may contain substances that are too abrasive and may damage your tooth enamel and weaken your teeth. It is therefore essential to take certain precautions for a safe use of your homemade toothpaste:

• The preparation of the toothpaste must respect the rules of hygiene: washing of the hands, sterilization of the utensils and the container with alcohol.
• The conservation must be in a dry, fresh place and protected from the sun (in the refrigerator for example). You can keep it for about ten days, so you should avoid preparing too large quantities.
• Avoid essential oils in pregnant women and children;
• Avoid overdosing with baking soda or other abrasive substances.

Which essential oils for your home-made toothpaste?

An essential oil is an active principle of a plant in very high concentration. For your homemade toothpaste, choose those with soothing, antibacterial, healing, refreshing properties, etc. In short, anything that can do your teeth and gums good. So here is a small selection of the best essential oils to add to your own homemade toothpaste:

• Spearmint or peppermint essential oil;
• Clary sage essential oil;
• Lemon essential oil;
• Clove essential oil;
• Tea tree essential oil;
• Essential oil of thyme.

Homemade toothpaste: what alternatives for essential oils?

Essential oils are highly concentrated substances. They must be used in very small quantities and are even contraindicated in pregnant women and children. So here's what you can replace essential oils with for your homemade toothpaste:

• Concentrated infusions of mint, thyme, sage…
• Lemon juice;
• Cinnamon powder;
• Turmeric powder;
• Clove powder (excellent for teeth and gums!);
• Xylitol;
• Aromatic extracts…

Conclusion

Making your own toothpaste is a simple matter of motivation, we hope you have found some inspiration to take care of your teeth.

You see, making your own toothpaste is really quick and easy. With this article, you are now ready to face bacteria with a bright smile and fresh breath!