Homemade Tooth Powder and Why I Stopped Using Toothpaste
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There are so many synthetic chemicals in personal care products these days and there is a growing concern that exposure to at least some of these chemicals is not good for our health or the environment. One of the best ways to reduce your exposure is to make your own products like moisturizing cream, homemade foaming soap, and homemade hair spray.
Of course, making your own personal care products can be simply a fun and frugal project for the whole family.
Whatever your reasoning, making homemade toothpaste or buying more all-natural toothpaste is something you might consider.
Reasons to Try a More Natural Toothpaste
My decision to find an alternative to toothpaste began when a health crisis forced me to reevaluate my personal care regimen. I knew that if I hoped to turn my health around my product choices needed an overhaul. I learned to read labels.
Thanks to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and other groups, I awakened to the truth that the vast majority of ingredients in toothpaste and other personal care products haven’t been reviewed for safety.
Also influencing my growing aversion to conventional toothpaste was my poor dental health.
Numerous cavities and gum problems haunted me. It only made sense to question my dental protocol.
What's In a Typical Tube of Toothpaste?
1. Sodium fluoride: This is a colorless crystalline salt used to fluoridate our water supply. It is also used as an insecticide as well as in the treatment/prevention of tooth decay. Swallowing fluoridated toothpaste is so hazardous the FDA now requires a poison warning on every tube of toothpaste containing fluoride.
2. Triclosan: This is a chlorinated aromatic compound first registered as a pesticide in 1969. It has been found to be effective against gingivitis but red flags have been raised when it comes to long term health implications. The FDA is currently reassessing its safety.
3. Inactive Ingredients: From propylene glycol to titanium dioxide, to sodium lauryl sulfate, inactive ingredients are added to preserve or facilitate the effectiveness of the active ingredients. The term “inactive” can be misleading as it might be assumed these additives have no implications for our health.
4. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, for example, has been linked to skin and eye irritations, organ toxicity, development toxicity, endocrine disruption and more. While its presence in toothpaste is quite minor, I’d rather clean my teeth with something that carries no risks or poison warnings.
Homemade Tooth Powder
I ended up experimenting and having a lot of success with this homemade tooth powder that I am sharing today.
It’s been 2 years since I stopped using toothpaste and my gums and teeth feel healthier than ever. I’ve had no sign of decay.
At a recent cleaning, my hygienist noted the improvement in my overall dental health and encouraged me to keep doing what I’m doing – advice I intend to follow.
Natural Toothpaste Options
I also tried other natural, chemical-free toothpaste. EWG offers an excellent list of 679 toothpastes and evaluates each for levels of toxicity. I gravitated to Herbodent, an antibacterial formulation utilizing 21 herbs and I still buy this fro my kids.
Adrienne uses a variety of fluoride-free toothpaste including Theodent. Theodent's active ingredient (based on theobromine, from cocoa) has some very interesting data behind it showing it to be as or more effective than fluoride in protecting teeth from decay.
This remineralizing tooth powder has great reviews as well.
Bubble and Bee toothpaste is another great option that has a glycerin base. Glycerin in toothpaste has been the topic of some heated debates, but the concerns don't seem to be valid at all.
Homemade Tooth Powder Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 ounces sea salt (Here's the brand of salt that I use, and here's a pretty reasonable brand of himalayan salt.)
- 6 ounces baking soda
- dried ground stevia leaves or stevia extract powder to taste (Read more about Stevia and How to Use It here.)
- 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon neem powder optional
- 5 drops of peppermint and/or wintergreen essential oil (optional. You can see my series on the best essential oils here.)
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together.
- Stir by hand or use a food processor (if desired) if making in bulk.
- Store in a container of choice, with a lid on.
- You might wish to use a separate container for each member of the family–for sanitary reasons :).
More Non-Toxic DIY Personal Care Products
– Nourishing Lip Scrub
– Homemade Eye Makeup Remover – the best eye makeup remover I've ever used!
– Nourishing Body Scrub – just a few ingredients and wo
– Alcohol-Free Hair Spray – works great!
Please note- Neither Adrienne nor Andrea are dentists so you need to make decisions with your dental professional for your own dental care. Please don't change your toothpaste without consulting your practitioner. Thanks!
What do you use to brush your teeth?
Andrea is a former journalist and the mother of nine children ranging in age from 28 to 12. Following a toxic mold exposure, Andrea and her family discovered the wonders of natural living. Andrea is the founder and president of momsAWARE, an educational organization designed to empower others to live healthy in a toxic world. You can follow her family’s journey at Our Health Journey. She is also the owner of Just SoNatural Products.
HI Adrienne,
Do you have any suggestions for homemade deodorant?
Thanks,
Laura
I have an Easiest Deodorant on my blog. https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/homemade-deodorant-its-easy-i-promise/ But I hope to do an update soon.Sorry for the delay – swamped here.
I think I’m really going to make this but I’m a newbie and need help!
Sea Salt – will any do? Or does it have to be more or less coarse/fine? The Amazon link is for Himalayan Pink Crystal Salt. Is that right?
Dried Ground Stevia Leaves – Is this like Stevia powder? Otherwise, how do I buy it? Can I just go to Whole Foods and ask for that?
Baking Soda – Can I get a store brand from the grocery store?
What does the Neem Powder do? It’s close to $20 on Amazon and you say it’s optional. Wondering if I should just go for it? or do without?
I also see in the comments about coconut oil. I have some – how would you incorporate it? I’m new to that too.
Also in the comments I saw that you mentioned altering the amounts if there’s sensitivity. How would you advise starting? and then working up to the amounts you have listed here?
Lastly, when it’s all mixed together, do you just barely dip your toothbrush in it for brushing?
THANK YOU!!!
I love this post- thank you for sharing…especially the homemade recipe!! So easy!! I’m wondering if the salt would sting any wound inside the mouth, including mild gingivitis or something. People with mouth issues might be weary of the recipe. Anyway, I happily shared this on my Facebook page. 🙂
I think Andrea will get back to you. 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Roz.
Roz,
The salt does sting a bit. As my gums have improved I no longer feel any discomfort. You can start with more baking soda than salt and then see how things progress. I can also say that Dr. Huggins speaks highly of the benefit of swishing your gums with Vitamin C for gum health. (Just another thought for you.)
That’s a great point, Andrea. I just bought some amla which I heard is really good for gum health–and it has tons of Vitamin C.
I’ve had a lot of moderate teeth issues, along with a receding gum line (I am 21!!!), so I thought about making my own toothpowder. It seems too much of a hassle to find ingredients (I live in Sweden), make it, figure out a way to store it without causing bacterial growth and use it without causing a mess, travel with it. I ended up bying HealThy Mouth Blend (that’s about the cheesiest name I’ve ever seen, but they seem serious anyway) from OraWellness instead. It’s an oil, which feels more convenient for me than a powder. I’ve only used it for about 2 weeks, so I haven’t seen any real results, but my mouth smells nice after brushing at least 🙂
So sorry for the delay in responding. Trying to go through old comments that I missed. I love that line and am going to be working with them. I just met one of the owners this past week!
I’ve read about tooth powders and have been meaning to make my own for ages. . . for now, still using (holistic) toothpaste. Thanks for the “recipe”! 🙂
Can I add coconut oil to this?
I would think so. Hopefully Andrea will chime in…
Absolutely! There’s no right or wrong way to incorporate these natural ingredients. I use coconut for oil pulling prior to brushing my teeth.
Fascinating post! I too have been working on switching to safer and safer body products. It’s a work in progress! Is the Neem Powder necessary? I just want to get using this right away so thought I could make a batch without it for now? Thanks for sharing!
Neem is not necessary. Other options include Aalgo seaweed (which I really like), or clove powder. The basic recipe is salt and baking soda. Add whatever you’re comfortable with. There is some controversy about baking soda being too harsh. I haven’t found it to be so. You can always try for a period of time and see how it works for you.
Won’t the baking soda make abrasions on the teeth leading to more bacteria adhering to the teeth?
It’s true that baking soda is abrasive, but nowhere near conventional tooth paste. Baking soda on an average brush has an abrasiveness of 7 (brush and water is 4). Colgate total is 70 and Colgate Luminous 175.
Hope that helps! 🙂
Source: epinions.com/content_3128664196?sb=1
Wow – really?!
I just went on WebMD about Neem Powder. This seems just as chemically dangerous.. it said:
Neem is a tree. The bark, leaves, and seeds are used to make medicine. Less frequently, the root, flower, and fruit are also used.
Neem leaf is used for leprosy, eye disorders, bloody nose, intestinal worms, stomach upset, loss of appetite, skin ulcers, diseases of the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease), fever, diabetes, gum disease (gingivitis), and liver problems. The leaf is also used for birth control and to cause abortions.
The bark is used for malaria, stomach and intestinal ulcers, skin diseases, pain, and fever.
The flower is used for reducing bile, controlling phlegm, and treating intestinal worms.
The fruit is used for hemorrhoids, intestinal worms, urinary tract disorders, bloody nose, phlegm, eye disorders, diabetes, wounds, and leprosy.
Neem twigs are used for cough, asthma, hemorrhoids, intestinal worms, low sperm levels, urinary disorders, and diabetes. People in the tropics sometimes chew neem twigs instead of using toothbrushes, but this can cause illness; neem twigs are often contaminated with fungi within 2 weeks of harvest and should be avoided.
The seed and seed oil are used for leprosy and intestinal worms. They are also used for birth control and to cause abortions.
The stem, root bark, and fruit are used as a tonic and astringent.
Some people apply neem directly to the skin to treat head lice, skin diseases, wounds, and skin ulcers; as a mosquito repellent; and as a skin softener.
Inside the vagina, neem is used for birth control.
Neem is also used as an insecticide.
How does it work?
Neem contains chemicals that might help reduce blood sugar levels, heal ulcers in the digestive tract, prevent conception, kill bacteria and prevent plaque formation in the mouth.
Hi Becky!!
Thanks for looking up Neem on MDWeb. I knew that Neem has many medicinal uses but didn’t realize there were so many. I’m not sure Neem is a chemical (wrong word to use here as it is not a chemical, it is natural). There are many trees, bushes, flowers that have many medicinal uses to heal the body. Andrea states that using Neem is optional but, with its noted benefit to heal gingivitis & bacteria in the mouth. It makes it a very good addition to the tooth powder. We all need healing from these things in our mouths. Don’t you think?
Everything is a chemical because everything is a result of chemistry; everything has a chemical make up. Therefore, neem is a chemical. Both naturally occurring and synthetic chemicals can be good or bad, especially depending on how they are used. So, be careful throwing the word “chemical” around as bad thing. I, for one, am thankful for the “chemical” H20. It is necessary for life, but drinking too much can result in water intoxication. Just an example.
I’m pretty sure “chemical” typically means man made. Maybe we need to add “synthetic” to make it a phrase?
There are rather too many unnecessary synthetic chemicals in personal care products these days but, as your recipe shows, toothpaste can be simple. I like EarthPaste which is bentonite clay and remarkably effective! We are wise to avoid triclosan not least as it washes down into the drain and into our water supply.