How to Make a Simple Natural Toothpaste

Do you use natural toothpaste yet? For many, going natural with toothpaste is the last item of their personal care products to change. I think it's because many people are worried it won't clean their teeth as well, or perhaps their dentist wants them to use fluoridated toothpaste. I'm here to convince you otherwise :)

As you might have guessed, I'm all about natural toothpaste! And I'm proof it works. I've only ever had one cavity in my adult life (none as a child/teen) and that cavity happened when I was using toxic, chemical-filled toothpaste. I've been using natural toothpaste for years. My teeth aren't yellow (as you've probably noticed) and I never ever have issues with my teeth or gums at the dentist (other than when I was pregnant, more on that below). I could tell you story after story of others I know personally with similar experiences to mine. 

And did you know that cavities can actually heal themselves? Not on a diet of sugar, grains, and fast food, of course. You can read more about that here. For even more holistic dental care, be sure to check out the information on oil pulling below.

I made the switch about 8 years ago and I've never looked back. Recently, however, I had to use chemical-filled toothpaste one night staying in a hotel while on vacation because I forgot my toothpaste at home. It was so gross and tasted like chemicals. You'll know what I mean when you make the switch. You don't really realize until you've been using clean toothpaste for a while how terrible conventional toothpaste tastes.

There's a reason it says "do not ingest" on the tube. Do you really want to put something like that in your mouth, which you WILL swallow small amounts of every time you brush, whether you're advised to or not? How does this even make sense?

Furthermore, toothpaste is actually considered a drug, so all the ingredients do not have to be disclosed other than the "active" ingredients, which usually means fluoride, which – not surprisingly – I don't recommend either. We have a filter that removes all the fluoride from our water at home. Now that Vienna is drinking water to practice with her sippy cup, I'm not about to give her city tap water. You can learn more about fluoride in this article. 

These are typical ingredients in conventional toothpaste: Fluoride, Glycerin, Hydrated Silica, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Propylene Glycol, PEG-6, Water, Zinc Lactate, Trisodium Phosphate, Flavor, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Gluconate, Carrageenan, Sodium Saccharin, Xanthan Gum, Polyethylene, Titanium Dioxide, Blue 1 Lake, Blue 1. 

I have many concerns with these ingredients. Many of these ingredients are on the Dirty Dozen list and linked to hormonal imbalance problems, such as infertility and reproductive challenges, and may even be contaminated with other compounds known to cause cancer. Why, oh why, you might be thinking does the government allow these products to be on the market? 

According to Dr. Mark Burhenne, here are some of the problems with ingredients in conventional toothpaste:

• Triclosan, a pesticide and hormone disruptor.
• Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) which causes canker sores for many people (myself included!).
• Artificial color linked to ADHD and hyperactivity in children. Toothpaste does not need to be blue!
• Fluoride, which can be toxic if swallowed and doesn’t even work in toothpaste.
• Titanium dioxide, which is added to make a toothpaste white. Most of the data shows it’s safe and is not absorbed by the skin, but I have yet to find a study done to measure absorption by oral tissues. The EWG has a good list of safety concerns around titanium dioxide, but the take-home message is that it’s just there to make toothpaste white, not improve your health. So why bother with it?
• Glycerin, which isn’t toxic, but has no place in the mouth because it’s a soap that strips your body’s natural oral mucosa and leaves a film. This film could coat the teeth, messing with the structure of the biofilm, which could alter the microbiome in your mouth and impact the natural remineralization process — your body’s natural cavity-fighting mechanism.
• Highly abrasive ingredients that damage enamel, making teeth sensitive and more prone to gum recession and cavities. Toothpaste should be only a little bit abrasive — this graininess aids the brushing motion to remove the biofilm of the tooth.

Nothing to worry about with these ingredients. 

Here's the recipe for my simple natural toothpaste.

• Coconut oil is one of the main ingredients in this toothpaste. Coconut oil is anti-fungal (candida-fighter), anti-bacterial and incredible for reducing inflammation of the gums. 
• Baking soda has a positive effect on the pH in your mouth and helps to neutralize acids and it is a very mild abrasive
• Sea or rock salt helps to remineralize your teeth. 
• Peppermint oil helps to freshen up your breath. 

I know you're probably going to ask me what essential oil brand I recommend. I suggest you go to your local health food store and buy some peppermint oil there. Let the sales associate know you are using it for toothpaste. If you are pregnant and concerned about using any essential oil, then you can simply omit it. 

When I was pregnant with Vienna my gums got inflamed. I was really worried because I've never had issues with my gums or teeth. I went for a teeth cleaning in my second trimester and it was like a blood bath. Sorry! I know, super gross. But this is apparently extremely common when you're pregnant. Anyhow, after the dental cleaning I thought to myself I really need to do something. So, I started oil pulling again. Within less than two weeks, my gums totally healed and looked healthy. You can learn more about oil pulling in this article.

Have I convinced you to give up your conventional toothpaste yet? I hope so!