Natural Toothpaste

About This Project

One of the first things I learned when I started to detox and de-plastic my bathroom was about homemade all natural toothpaste.

When I looked at the commercial brands of toothpaste, I started I to uncover some ingredients that I thought shouldn’t be things you put in your mouth twice a day, everyday. On the outside of one box of toothpaste it actually stated ‘Do no ingest’. If we shouldn’t ingest it, then we really shouldn’t smudge it all around our mouth and gums daily.

I looked into natural toothpastes as well, and then I got confused. When one all natural toothpaste had Titanium Dioxide in it, I really didn’t know what to believe, or what they considered natural.

There is also the fact that the average home goes through 1 to 2 tubes of toothpaste a month. Worldwide over 1 billion tubes of toothpaste head to landfill, they can’t be recycled. By making my own, I can know what is in it and reduce the plastic I put into landfill… Double bonus.

I researched a few ingredients to avoid in store bought toothpaste… It’s not comprehensive (that would be a lot longer list), but these are a few key ingredients to avoid:

• Flouride – hot debate over this one, but research shows it impacts the reproductive system and brain development
• Proplyen Glycol – this ingredient is also found in anti-freeze… That was enough for me.
• BHT – which is allergenic and can have a immuno-toxic affect
• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate – it makes things foam, it’s in our soaps, shampoos and most body products, from all reading I have done its an allergen and can cause skin irritation. In your mouth…not to sure what it would do, but can’t be good.

So the list does go on, but by this point… I was a bit over having to wonder what is in my toothpaste.  

For a year now I have been making my own natural toothpaste. I got my dentist’s tick of approval and for someone that is cavity prone,  I’ve had no cavities this year!

* Warning: Do not expect it to taste just like commercial toothpaste… it doesn’t. It took a while to get used to the difference, but now I don’t mind it at all.

I’ve tried many recipes and this is the most palatable one so far for me

Ingredients

2 parts baking soda

1 part coconut oil

Plant glycerol enough to make a paste, it’s optional but it improves the taste

8-10 drops of peppermint essential oil

Melt Coconut oil, mix together and store in a small jar.

Use a knife or the head of your toothbrush to dig do some out.

Another tip, if you do buy all natural toothpaste, just do your research on what is in it.

xx

Jamie