Make your own natural toothpaste

Why would you want to make your own toothpaste?

“Normal” toothpaste contains fluoride and a bunch of other stuff you can’t pronounce!

I just heard recently heard about a chemical spill/accident where Fluoride was involved. There was a mandatory evacuation for all of the surrounding areas. There were 3 people sent to the hospital because they inhaled too much fluoride. Hmm… This is the same stuff in our toothpaste – Did you ever notice the poison control warnings on your tube of Colgate?

Dentists argue that it is safe in moderation – which it is to some extent, because people don’t drop dead after brushing their teeth, but no one really knows the long-term effects (Fluorosis) that is is having on our bodies. So anyway, fluoride is a key ingredient in most tubes of toothpaste that you find in the grocery store and I try to avoid it whenever possible. It also gets added to the local water supplies in most parts of the U.S. – if you want to find out more about the Fluoride issue in the U.S. – watch this video.

Other Junk

Regardless of where you stand on the flouride issue, there are many other artificial ingredients contained in commercial toothpaste, like sweeteners (usually saccharin), emulsifiers, preservatives, artificial flavors and other things difficult to pronounce.

I can just buy natural toothpaste at the store – can’t I?

Yes you can, but be sure to check the ingredients. Most of Tom’s of Maine toothpastes contain Fluoride, they do make a few versions that do not – but just make sure you check your ingredients.

So why not just make your own all-natural toothpaste?

It really is pretty easy and just requires a few cheap and easy to find ingredients. And it may just be what will get your young child excited about brushing his teeth!

Ingredients needed to make natural toothpaste

1. Baking soda (works as a natural cleansing agent and it polishes and whitens your teeth as well!)
2. Table salt
3. Hydrogen Peroxide (can you believe some people drink hydrogen peroxide?)
4. Stevia (optional as sweetener)
5. Peppermint oil (optional)

Combining your ingredients

1. Pour 1/2 cup baking soda into a mixing bowl
2. Add a dash of salt
3. Add 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide
4. Add 1 drop of peppermint oil
5. Add a dash of stevia (more if you want it sweeter)
6. Mix it all up until it becomes paste like. You may have to add more hydrogen peroxide to get the right consistency.

A few more things…

This is one of those things you might have to make a few times before you get it just right. But when you do, store it in some kind of air-tight container so it doesn’t dry out. And if peppermint is not your flavor of choice – try cinnamon, vanilla, or who knows maybe anise.