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.
Homemade Toothpaste DIY
Equipment
- mixing bowl
- air tight container
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.
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.
Nutrition
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:
What size mason jar are you using for this?
Hey Liana,
For this recipe we are using an 8oz wide mouth mason jar.
Awesome! You can also order 10oz jars of coconut oil from brandless.com for only $3!
Hey Robyn,
Thank you for sharing that awesome tip! We hope you enjoyed this recipe for all natural toothpaste 🙂
Hi,
I’m planning to make this toothpaste tomorrow and was wondering whether the stevia is a must? Could I make it without any sweetener??
Thank you!!
Hi Sasha,
You can totally leave the Stevia out, it’s just a little added sweetness for your toothpaste!
That’s great! No stevia or sweetners for me either. I practice intermittent fasting and avoid any type of sweetness hitting my tongue during my fasting period.
What brand of essential oil did you use and where did you get it from
I use a variety of brands. I really like Mountain Rose Herbs, Plant Therapy and Ancient Nutrition has a line now too you can buy online. Those are my go-to’s.
What is the ‘shelf life’ of this mixture
Hi Chris,
There actually isn’t a shelf-life end date. Well, I’m sure they do at some point, but not for a long, long time. I’m sure you’ll use up the toothpaste long before it ever “expires.” There’s no water added to the recipe, which means there is no breeding ground for bacteria to grow either.
Hi. Love making my own products, it’s empowering! Particularly as I age. I like your recipe, I also use clay from herb store (also for face masks) and less baking soda. Please share research regarding pure glycerine and re-enamilization. I love sweetness and texture of glycerin.
Hi Lola! So glad you like this recipe. I think you mean “remineralization” and we have a link to a great article that talks about healing teeth naturally. I encourage you to read it. You can find the link in the body of this article or you can copy + paste this into your browser:
Hi Lola, do you mean you added clay to this recipe to use less of the baking soda? Would love to try that. Never worked with clay though. What kind of clay did you use?
How about tee tree oil? And given how “potent” it is, if used, I presume I’d use less of it?
Hey Mila. Tea tree (a.k.a. melaleuca) essential oil is one of the EOs that should never be taken orally. If swallowed, it can cause serious symptoms. It’s meant for topical use or diffusion only. Do not use tea tree oil in homemade toothpaste.
I was wondering what the ph level is of your homemade toothpaste?
Hi Carolyn,
I’m not 100% sure on the total PH level, but I do know that baking soda has a pH of 9 to 11 (alkaline), so it helps to neutralize acids while not being too abrasive to teeth.
Want to check your homemade tooth pastes PH level before brushing? Pick up pH strips from Amazon to test the acidity of any homemade toothpaste. Anything you make and use should ideally have a pH of 7 (neutral) or higher.
Hi All! I decided after researching all the crap in toothpaste even Tom’s Flouride Free products to make my own. I also oil pull, use a bamboo toothbrush with BPA free bristles, and avoid floss- it has Teflon in it. My recipe is modified and in the process of being refined. equal parts coconut oil, sodium bicarbonate, hymilayan salt, and 20 drops peppermint oil stored in glass at room temperature spooned with bamboo. When I make my recipe the next time I will reduce the salt and increase the oil. This recipe called for xylitol, but I avoid corn products because of the high occurrence of GMOs and the imbalance of Omega 3s and 6s.
I had my first dental cleaning appointment about six months after I started my new regime and both the hygenist and dentist raved about the health of my gums and teeth. First in a long time. I typically have high deposits of plaque on the back of my front and lower teeth where the salivary glands are that requires the electric scaler for removal. I love how my teeth feel and look. Best of luck with your mouth health. Gum health reflects heart health, happy brushing.
Hi Rebecca,
Thank you for taking the time to reach out + share your experience using coconut oil natural tooth paste! Cheers to health, happiness + happy dentist appointments!
For those looking for a more natural toothpaste, Tom’s is great and fluoride free. I won’t use stevia anything due to the taste and bad things I’ve heard about it. Most toothpaste causes gum bleeding and/or sensitivity of the teeth for me. Coconut oil pulling paired with a natural toothpaste works great for me. Just a suggestion for some 🙂
Thanks for sharing Jess! We love learning about different natural toothpaste options!
Hi Jess, I was wondering you said this coconut oil toothpaste helped with your teeth being sensitive I’m in need of help I’ve tried everything possible for my teeth and nothing seems to work for the sensitive can you please help me out with your best recipe for sensitive teeth or if you just use the one posted on this website. I would greatly appreciate your help.
Thank you, Charmin Skaggs
I tried this recipe, but personally think it (the baking soda) is too abrasive for my sensitive teeth. I can’t really use common toothpastes since they hurted my teeth and made my gum bleed.
So I experimented by mixing regular toothpaste, salt water, natural oil, and cocoa butter (I don’t have coconut oil in my kitchen so I just used anything I had). Ha! Turned out it works well on me. I have used it for nearly 2 months and my sensitivity has been decreased anf my gums are healthier. I don’t know whether it heals cavities, but I have 3 teeth with it and somehow I don’t feel them hurt anymore.
The recipe is:
1 part toothpaste
1 part salt water
1 part oil
1 part cocoa butter
Hi Andin,
YAY! We’re so excited to hear you found something that works for you!
Cheers 🙂
About coconut oil and winter. I’m in Wisconsin. Whip the coconut oil, you’ll need to whip it for about 7 minutes… till soft peaks form. I do this for my face moisturizer. I know it’s easier if you can whip with a stand mixer. I do it by hand.
My question is how is the best way to keep your toothbrush soft after brushing? It gets hard even rinsed in hot water. Thanks
Hi Mary,
Great question! Need to give your toothbrush some extra cleaning? Try soaking your toothbrush in vinegar and warm water.
Cheers 😉
I love coconut oil too and so am interested in this recipe (great post BTW). My potential problem would be the nature of coconut oil, since it solidifies at 76 degrees F. In winter, our house is much colder than that and my coconut oil is quite hard. I’m assuming my toothpaste would therefore be quite hard too. Any experience with this?
Hi Leigh,
I’m up north in Minnesota, so I’m pretty sure my coconut oil is frozen all year. Hahaha. I usually keep my homemade toothpaste in a mason jar with a small spoon and just scoop a small amount onto my toothbrush in the morning. The warmth of your mouth softens the coconut oil very quickly!
Hope this helps!
If you are looking for coconut oil in the uk you try other health food stores. I’ve seen it plenty at waitrose or the cultural food section at tesco.
As far as essential oils you can order them online. I use doterra essential oils to make my toothpaste.
Thank you so much for sharing, Belle!
Iceland sell coconut oil and so does Lidls. i buy Lidls it’s organic and 340 mg jar for around £1.65 briliant! I buy about 3 jars at a time! Yup i’m also from the East End of london UK. I do use the baking soda and coconut oil and peppermint oil, sadly i had to throw it away due to adding the sea salt! Never ever again! It stung all my gums and i got an ulcer and could taste the sea salt, so i threw it away just an hour ago, i wonder why no one has thought of ADDING A FEW DROPS OF CBD OIL??? You can’t get anything healthier than that? I’ve made that too, but this time i am going to add the cbd oil but defiinitely will never ever use sea salt in it again. I wanted to add a little hydrogen peroxide which no one appears to have mentioned? But google isn’t answering me? lol Rosina Lock x
Hey Rosina! I’m not sure about adding CBD oil, I think that is probably a personal preference. You’re not eating the toothpaste so I don’t know what benefits you’re looking to get from brushing with CBD oil. As far as hydrogen peroxide, it’s not an ingredient in our toothpaste. If you want to include it in your homemade toothpaste or use it as a mouthwash, I encourage you to speak with your dentist about it first. 🙂
New to this but can you purchase essential oils at walmart? walgreens? etc thank U
Hi Dee,
You might have luck at Walmart! I often pick-up essential oils at Whole Foods or Amazon.com.
Cheers 🙂
Whitney is mostly correct. As a former dental assistant with over 14 years experience I’ve learned that toothpaste is a commercial sales gimmick. It’s mostly to freshen the breath, temporarily. Whitney is correct in the matter of the physical action of brushing your teeth with a SOFT toothbrush with or without toothpaste and I’ll add to that…..Your diet, flossing and routine visits to your Dental Hygienist every 6 months are the real preventative measures! They now have manufactured remineralization pastes that have came on the market since I’ve left dentistry so I have no experience as to the validity of their claim. I do know that there are prescription remineralization pastes that you massage onto your teeth that do work so it’s possible that this has been introduced to the OTC market by now. Regarding Coconut oil, it has many wonderful health benefits so I don’t personally see any harm in using it in the mouth but I don’t know exactly how it benefits the actual teeth other than it doesn’t contain the harmful chemicals that may be in most toothpaste. Suggestion: Tom’s All Natural Toothpaste is available at Walmart and most other retailers. Thanks for reading my little 2¢!!!!
Hi Tabatha,
Thank you so much for reaching out and sharing your expertise + experience! We greatly appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge with our SGS tribe! We personally love homemade coconut oil toothpaste because it’s biocidal properties fight against the bacteria responsible for tooth decay, while having no chemicals or foaming agents.
Cheers to healthy teeth!