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Recently, I stumbled across an article that talked about toothpaste ingredients and the issues they can actually cause rather than prevent— and it startled me. I know there are TONS of natural toothpaste companies out there nowadays… yet they’re a bit pricey. If I can make something simple + effective at home for a fraction of the price, why not? Here’s my very own homemade toothpaste recipe… full of only the good stuff.
I can honestly say this is the best natural toothpaste I’ve tried, and that’s saying something since I’ve been on the hunt for a great option for a while!
Note: There is no fluoride in this recipe. Depending on your stance with this, feel free to add in a fluoride product or use a fluoride mouthwash afterwards.
Common toothpaste ingredients
Two ingredients that have a pretty bad wrap are:
1. Glycerin: It gives toothpaste a nice creamy texture and coats the teeth for “protection”, yet at the same time it also stops re-enamalization (so cavities can’t self-heal.)
2. Sodium fluoride: A by-product of aluminum manufacturing that is found in rat poisons and industrial pesticides).
Scary stuff, huh? Well, rather than freak out about it every time I brush my teeth, I decided to make some homemade toothpaste sans weird stuff. And yes— I threw in some wonderful coconut oil that I’m beyond obsessed with and it’s millions of effective uses.
Natural toothpaste recipe
Once I started experimenting with a homemade toothpaste recipe, I was pleasantly surprised to find out how few ingredients I actually needed. My recipe has 4 ingredients, with an optional 5th if you add in activated charcoal. Not only is this recipe simple, it contains only plant based ingredients that are common. No weird chemical compounds or additives here!
When whipping up a batch of this homemade toothpaste, I typically triple the batch. That way each bathroom has its own container, so there’s no family fights over the jar. To keep the ingredients light and airy, I use an immersion blender rather than mixing with a blender or food processor.
Antibacterial essential oils
If you choose the right essential oils, then you can create a strong antibacterial toothpaste. I suggest these essential oils, which I typically purchase from Plant Therapy:
- Grapefruit Oil
- Peppermint Oil
- Tea Tree Oil
- Orange Oil
- Lemongrass Oil
I am thrilled to have found a homemade toothpaste replacement that I actually enjoy using as well as have fun making. I like that I can tweak the recipe depending on my personal preference at the time (sweeter, minty, fruity, etc— it’s all about what essential oils I put in it). This summer I made a batch with grapefruit oil and it has a citrus-tang to it, which was refreshing. Now I am using eucalyptus oil and I love the minty taste.
How to store DIY toothpaste
I like to store homemade toothpaste in a wide-mouth mason jar or leak-proof metal tin. Use a popsicle stick to dip into the toothpaste and and then spread your toothbrush. You can also use a squirt bottle and cut a wide tip on it to help it come out.
Homemade Dog Toothpaste
YES… I made this recipe for me and my family… yet it also works with dogs! Since my sweet dog (Barrett the Huskador), cannot resist licking and swallowing everything in his face, I made this for him too. Since they are completely natural ingredients, there’s no harm if he licks it while I brush.
Other DIY recipes
If this natural recipe has piqued your interest in more natural products you can use in your home, then I’ve got some more great recipes for you. These recipes are plant based versions that seriously work, just like this homemade toothpaste recipe:
- Homemade chest rub
- Fire cider
- Ginger lemon honey tea
- Homemade deodorant
- Elderberry syrup
- Anti-inflammatory smoothie cubes
- Bloat-fighting smoothie
- DIY lip scrub
Homemade Toothpaste DIY
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp coconut oil
- 6 tbsp baking soda
- 25 drops essential oil eucalyptus, grapefruit, peppermint
- 1 tsp stevia or more if you like it sweeter
- activated charcoal optional
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. I used my to whip it really well and give it a light creamy texture.
- Pour into a mason jar and seal it up until ready to use.
Equipment
Notes
- Getting it out of the mason jar can be an adjustment. Use a popsicle stick to dip into the toothpaste and spread nicely onto the toothbrush. You can also use a squirt bottle (you will need to cut the pointed tip wider).
- Adding activated charcoal can be a gentle way to whiten your teeth.
How can it be used as a deep conditioner for your hair before you wash it?
Hi Michelle,
For a deep conditioning treatment, massage a couple of tablespoons of the coconut oil into your clean, damp hair + scalp (if your hair is thinner or gets greasy easily, you may choose to skip the scalp as the oil could weigh your hair down). Allow the oil to sit on your hair for 20-30 minutes after application. Because the oil is very heavy, you will need to shampoo the oil out of your hair well after the treatment.
I thought I posted this earlier today, but it doesn’t show. If there are Walgreens Stores in your area, try there. The ones in Anchorage, Alaska carry it in the vitamins/natural supplements area. They sell fairly nice-sized containers for around $8.50. Best of luck!
Thanks James!
hi its not readily available in uk………..find it here and there Holland and barratt use to have face coconut oil, now that’s been removed, Some stores do it but often they don’t re order …..the oil I get is SOLID……..soft ones not available. So how do u use this on your toothbrush???
Hi Mrs. Miller,
Is the coconut oil hard that you’re coming across, as you would not be able to spoon it from the container?
Please let me know, and we’ll work on helping you with our homemade toothpaste recipe!
Cheers 🙂
It softens with touch. Use a spoon or popcycle stick to put it on ur brush.
Hi, my home made toothpaste consists of coconut oil, bicarb soda, cbd oil and a little peppermint oil. My little jar will either be rock hard or turns to watery. It isn’t such a bad thing! It’s due to the weather! In fact i prefer it harder relly the toothbrush just glides over the solid white concoction which is better in a way than it running and dripping everywhere You could put it in the fridge if it melts too much or take it back out when it is too solid? Me? i just leave it in the cupboard on a dark shelf and use it whichever way it is. As for face coconut oil? I just use the organic coconut oil that i buy from Lidls! I really don’t think it makes a difference, coconut oil is coconut oil! But i prefer to use Rosehip oil, it’s got a gorgeous smell to it it. My one is made by Artnaturals, and mine also came with two free aromatherapy oils i think. I bought it on Amazon.co.uk Hope this is of help to anyone. There is another company that sells this rosehip oil which lasted me around a year and looking for that one again, can’t remember the name at the moment. Rosina x
Thanks, Rosina! Great info. 🙂
My wife just shared your site with me and we plan on using the recipes. I’m concerned about Stevia; I’ve seen much on it being not so great for you.
Feel free to leave it out. 🙂
I just made this, (using spearmint essential oil)- its quite a strong taste in my mouth, and almost makes my tongue a bit numb! It also sort of fizzes in my mouth! Is this normal??
Have you use spearmint before? How does your body react??
Did you use xylitol? I have a similar reaction when I use any toothpaste made with xylitol. It could also be the spearmint, maybe try peppermint essential oil instead. Also, try and use an essential oil that says safe for internal consumption.
Is this toothpaste ok to use with a 3 year old who will no doubt swallow it all rather than spit it out?
Hey Kelly,
Thanks for reaching out. I am not 100% about a 3 year old, but they are 100% edible ingredients. Maybe someone from our community that has a 3 year old that uses it can reply as well. 🙂
I recommend not using peppermint/spearmint on anyone younger than a year it could cause respiratory problems, and cinnamon has given many babies I know diaper rashes under the age of two. Stick to orange and cut the oils in half just in case would be my suggestion. My toddler loves to swallow his toothpaste too.
Love coco toothpaste but I add xylitol to mine as this is the only sweetener I know of that even fights cavities!
Enjoy your DIY toothpaste. 🙂
Does the toothpaste kind of tingle? I made it with calcium and magnesium and a spearmint EO. It fizzes on my tongue.
Hummm…Not sure. I’ll ask the team and see if they have any ideas. 🙂
Thank you! I just don’t want to use it if it going to hurt my teeth. It’s a new sensation so I want to be safe. This is the powder I used, so I’m not sure if this is the problem with the baking soda.
Hey Liz.
Our recipe doesn’t call for Calcium or Magnesium. I would suggest asking your healthcare provider about using that in your tooth paste. 🙂
You may be allergic to a particular ingredient. Individually test… There are multiple variations 🙂
I am sorry but I made this and it was disgusting. And that was putting it nicely. It does not look like yours and tastes horrible. What have I done wrong?
Which Essential Oils did you put in it, Michelle? 🙂
Grapefruit and Euc. The ones listed. It didn’t puff up either. It looked like oil and baking soda not like the picture. I could post a video of us trying it but my mom would kill me 😉
Hey Michelle! You will want to use either Grapefruit EO or Eucalyptus EO, not both in the same toothpaste. And when mixing the ingredients together, we like to use a hand-held blender to whip it really well and give it a light + creamy texture.
One other thing…why not use Xylitol instead of Stevia? It is made from tree bark, all natural, low on the glycemic index and PROMOTES HEALTHY TEETH! Just asking.
From what I have researched Xylitol is tooth friendly, try it let us know how it goes. 🙂
I am definitely trying this. I have a problem with toothpaste. First it seemed it was tarter control, but now it seems to be all toothpaste. It causes this disgusting white phlem like film in my mouth. Ive even tried adding baking soda to the paste. Dentists look at me like I have 2 heads, but I know 2 other people with the same problem.
How did it go?
Hi,
Why did you use coconut oil? I’ve noticed other recipes add it but what’s the purpose of the oil?
Thanks! 🙂
Does this article help, Sammie?
Just wondering if the stevia(or any sugar) is essential for this, because I would prefer not to use it.
It is not essential, Sarah 🙂
Wow, after hearing the rant from the “dentist” the only conspiracy I see is the brainwashing that putting poison in your mouth is better than going the natural way. What a turn off.
If the “dentist” was trying to prove a point, it just proved how obnoxious and limited in thinking they really are. Anyone can vomit out their education but that doesn’t mean they know anything other than what they’re spoon fed in school.
Thank you for weighing in, Andrea. This is truly a more polarizing topic than we anticipated it being. 😉
I have learned in my microbiology class that technically you do not need to use toothpaste to remove plaque at all. The minimal amounts of fluoride in toothpaste do absolutely nothing for your teeth. When you have your teeth professionally cleaned the fluoride is much more concentrated which will help your teeth. The act of movement (brushing) is the only thing that effectively removes your plaque outside of the dentist.
Thanks for your input, Whitney!
I don’t understand about using stevia, for sweetness? How is this differrent from using sugar? It wouldn’t behave like sugar? I’ve not used stevia much, so sorry if this is a dumb question.
It is less harmful to your teeth 🙂