How to Make Your Own Toothpaste

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Have you ever thought about making your own toothpaste, or just want a recipe as a quick backup in case you run out of your favorite store bought toothpaste at bedtime? I love the low-waste aspect of just refilling the same glass jar or tin when you run out instead of throwing away the plastic.

Whatever your reason is for trying something different, this recipe for homemade tooth powder is a very simple swap.

2022 Update: After not being allowed to go to the dentist while I was married, I finally got an appointment and I have one cavity. That’s it. One. And while I have used a wide variety of toothpastes and powders over my 8 year dentist-free life, my dental hygienist and dentist both commented on how clean and healthy my mouth was. I will forever recommend oil pulling and healthy toothpaste. 

My adventures in making my own toothpaste started in 2013 when I thought I was getting a cavity.  I consulted the internet for a homemade toothpaste recipe and ran to the health food store for the ingredients. I kept it as a tooth powder instead of a paste because the pipes in my apartment were questionable and I didn’t want to clog them with coconut oil.  After using it in conjunction with oil pulling (which you spit into the toilet or the trash can, out of respect for the afore-mentioned pipes),  my teeth were not only healed and felt stronger, but the dental hygienist spent 20 minutes at my appointment looking for any signs of plaque or tartar and found NONE.  Natural health for the win!

The downside to the recipe that I used was that it left a brown residue in the sink from the cinnamon and cloves.  So, when I FINALLY (about 8 months later) ran out last week, I consulted Pinterest and after not finding anything I liked enough to copy, I made my own.

Recipe:

4 TBSP Bentonite clay

2 TBSP baking soda

1/2 TBSP sea salt

The result?  A silky-smooth tooth powder that doesn’t leave a nasty brown residue in the sink.    I keep it in a jar by the sink and dip my wetted toothbrush. This is by far the easiest recipe I have found.  The ingredients are simple and it doesn’t take any special prep!