Coconut Oil Toothpaste
One of the easiest modifications you can make in your home is to make your own toothpaste. All it takes is a few ingredients, a small jar and about five minutes and Voila, you are on the road to less waste!
Mainstream toothpaste contains controversial additives that may be harmful to oral health. Ingredients such as glycerin, fluoride, triclosan and sodium lauryl sulfate concerned me before I embarked on our Zero Waste journey. After researching homemade options and seeing the results in my own family, I am now convinced homemade, natural toothpaste is the best choice. I am not a dentist, nor am I saying my regimen will work best for everyone. I have simply found a recipe for natural toothpaste that eliminates excess packaging and provides tangible results.
I’m going to put this recipe and my teeth to a public test. With only two visits to the dentist in six years, I can be described as a lazy dental patient. My first visit back was 18 months ago. I was still using conventional toothpaste at this time. During this examination I was informed that my teeth had a few areas of weakened enamel. My dentist recommended fluoride treatments in combination with fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash. As human nature goes, I was diligent for awhile but slowly fell back into old habits of simple brushing and flossing. At my most recent visit eight weeks ago, I advised my dentist that I had started making my own toothpaste, and while she is supportive, she still encourages me to use a fluoride-based toothpaste or mouthwash. She believes without implementing these preventative measures my weakened enamel will turn into cavities. I disagree, and with a daily regime of oil pulling, and using remineralizing toothpaste I hope to strengthen my enamel and prove her wrong.
You may already be scratching your head wondering, what is oil pulling and remineralization?
Oil Pulling: It is the simple act of swishing oil around in your mouth. Essentially you “pull” it through your teeth to kill bacteria and remove toxins. Oils most often recommended for oil pulling are organic virgin coconut oil or raw sesame oil. I have read, however, that organic sunflower oil or extra virgin olive oil are legitimate substitutes. The act of oil pulling should be done first thing in the morning before consuming food or water. Aim for 15 – 20 minutes and remember to spit into the compost and rinse with warm salt water. Some articles on oil pulling recommend it as a part ofyour daily regime. I oil pull two to three times a week and have noticed a positive change in the color of my teeth, reduced gum bleeding when flossing and reduced halitosis.
Remineralization: The good news! Contrary to what most dentists will tell you, remineralization of tooth enamel is possible. Most store-bought toothpastes contain the ingredient glycerin or glycerol. This ingredient is the sweet tasting thick liquid that gives your toothpaste sheen, texture and acts as a preservative. Glycerin coats the teeth for a period of time after brushing which inhibits enamel from remineralizing and strengthening. By eliminating glycerin and adding trace minerals to your homemade toothpaste you can actually strengthen your enamel. To further aid remineralization I swish with a Celtic salt water rinse after oil pulling and brushing.
I will keep you posted on how successful I am with remineralizing my teeth, particularly strengthening their enamel.
Recipe:
1 tsp salt. I recommend Himalayan or Celtic sea salt as these varieties contain the highest levels of trace minerals calcium, potassium, zinc and iron.
4 Tbsp baking soda. ( In the summer months and because I have become accustom to the taste – I add more baking soda to avoid having the toothpaste melt in the heat – I use 1:1 ratio with coconut oil or even greater).
8 Tbsp organic virgin coconut oil.
20-30 drops,food grade, essential oil of choice.
1 Tbsp warm water (I dissolve my salt in the water. You can start with a larger quantity of water and boil down to approximately 1 tablespoon). *during warmer months I forgo this step and blend the salt directly into the recipe.
Xylitol or Stevia for added sweetness…or should I say “to cut the saltiness”! If you choose to use these I recommend boiling in a very small amount of water with salt and then combining with hand blender.
Some essential oils you may consider:
Eucalyptus: co
oling, rejuvenating properties, antimicrobial, antibacterial. Germicidal properties make it beneficial in plaque and cavity prevention and gingivitis. Eucalyptus essential oil is often found as an active ingredient in mouthwash and natural toothpastes for these reasons.
Orange: Anti-inflammatory (internal or external), boosts immunity, promotes elimination of toxins.
Clove: Aids in tooth pain (numbing agent), digestive support, antioxidant support, antimicrobial and antiviral properties.
Peppermint: Supports circulation to gums and teeth, cures bad breath, aids with digestion and nausea.
I have read that adding bentonite clay, trace minerals and vitamin K2 to your recipe will further aid remineralization. However, as I have not found these items in bulk and believe my current product works well, I have left them out. If you do experiment with additional ingredients, please drop us a line and let us know your results!
You can simply mix all ingredients together with a fork or spoon, but I recommend using a hand blender. Using the hand blender incorporates all the ingredients easily. If you find the resulting paste is too hard, simply add more water. If it is too soft, add more coconut oil and baking soda at the ratio of 2:1. But remember, if you have used warm or hot water, the toothpaste is likely to gradually harden. Perhaps pop it into the fridge for 30 minutes or allow it too cool before adding more ingredients.
This recipe fits nicely into a short eight ounce wide mouth mason jar, but any jar will do. You can use a small spoon to scoop out your desired amount of paste or simply dip your brush into the jar. The toothpaste will soften with warm weather. Depending on the climate you live in, you may prefer to keep it in the fridge to avoid separation.
The biggest hurdle to this recipe is the saltiness. My husband, and biggest critic, was skeptical, but after a few weeks using the toothpaste he is getting used to the taste and is very pleased with how white his teeth are.
If you are someone who simply cannot stomach the saltiness of this recipe but are committed to reducing waste, check out Tom’s Toothpaste. Tom’s is a natural toothpaste and the company believes in full circle manufacturing. You can mail back empty tubes (and other toilette packaging) to the manufacturer to be upcycled. While this option is pricier, it is an alternative to sending your trash to directly to the landfill. We have homemade and compostable alternatives to practically all other bathroom essentials coming out next month on the blog.
You can mail your empty tubes to:
Tom’s of Maine
302 Lafayette Center
Attn: Consumer Department
Kennebunk, ME 04043
Be sure to check out Tom’s of Maine Terracycle Brigade as well!
http://1800recycling.com/2013/01/toms-maine-terracycle-recycling-personal-care-products
Hi Katelin,
Love your blog. I live a little ways up Island, and am committed to eliminating as much waste as I can, especially plastic. Just wondering – where do you get your coconut oil? Have you found somewhere to buy it in bulk, or have you found it in glass jars?
Thanks.
Hi Rachel! Thanks for the love! There are a few items we still purchase in plastic. When starting this journey my husband and I made our “top ten” cannot live without lists – meant to ease the transition. The lists can be found here: http://paredownhome.com/my-top-10-cannot-live-without-list/
Coconut oil and vinegar are both items I have on this list. I have found both of these in glass containers, but as I use so much and the smaller containers are much more expensive we have not yet switched. Our goal is to reduce the number if items on our list by the end of the year. I haven’t spent too much time researching large volume coconut oil or vinegar in bulk or glass, but I will before the year is out! I will keep you posted if I find an alternative. If you have local stores in your area that are happy to have you (and other customers) shop zero waste, we would love know who they are so we can add it to our “Where to Shop” page. Also, IF you are okay with small glass jars for coconut oil, I have seen it in Thrifty’s, I think it is a 500 ml glass jar by Spectrum – I have also seen it on Amazon.ca. Good Luck and thanks for the message!!
Did you experience a transition period when you switched from commercial toothpaste to your natural toothpaste? I just started oil pulling and brushing with a similar recipe two days ago and my boyfriend says my breath smells weird… I was wondering if you experienced anything like this?
Thank you!
Hi Tori! I didn’t experience anything like this… sorry… do you rinse with warm salt water after oil pulling? I know it can stir up a lot of toxins. Also, the toothpaste definitely smells different… is your boyfriend using it too? I suspect if he is using traditional toothpaste that it may smell a bit odd to him… What essential oils do you use? I went with Clove as it is antiseptic and has a strong scent similar to cinnamon toothpaste. I personally really like the way it smells and I tend to put a few extra drops in (30-40 for a 500 ml jar). I find my husbands breath quite pleasant after he uses it. Lastly (sorry for the long reply!) I made a mouth rinse using: water, and equal parts vegetable solubilizer [keeps the essential oils and water from separating – but not totally necessary] and essential oils, I use a mix of blood orange and clove, start out with 10 drops of each and then add if you need more… I find this leaves my mouth so fresh! Hope this helps! Also, if you are making the mouth wash make sure you buy food grade essential oils 😉
Hi Tori! That was me replying 😉 signed in as our Admin by mistake!
I made sure and bought food-grade essential oils. I use peppermint in mine and I didn’t rinse with warm salt water… Maybe I’ll try that. And yes, he still uses traditional toothpaste, so that could be why? After doing all this, my mouth feels really fresh and clean too… Maybe it needs more peppermint! Thank you!!! (:
Hi Katelin, I tried oil pulling and have got sores in my mouth. Did you experience that, and if so did it go away after a while or could I be allergic? I didn’t do the salt wash after so maybe I’ll try that next time. Thanks for a fantastic blog. I live in a small town in Northern BC and when we moved here we had no plastic recycling. It forced me to rethink my plastic usage and I’ve converted over to canning jars for just about everything – even my kid’s lunches.
Hi! So I did a little “Google research” once I read your comment. I must admit that I have not experienced mouth sores from oil pulling and until reading your message I had not heard of anyone sharing your experience. The good news is that Google found a lot of people who share your experience 🙂 I read that some people experienced sores in the beginning and reduced the frequency they were oil pulling to 3 times a week and worked up to a daily routine. I read that it could be a symptom of detox or that it could simply be an allergic reaction to the oil. I cannot advise you as to how to proceed as I am not an expert nor do I have the specific details of your experience. Personally, depending on the severity of the sores, (if they are not that bad and in case they are appearing for another reason and it is just a coincidence that it is at the same time you have started your new oral regime) I would stop altogether for a few weeks and start again, slowly at first and build up, to see if the sores reappear. That way you will know for sure if you are having a reaction to the oil or not. Sorry I don’t have anything more definitive for you – good luck on your Zero Waste Journey and thanks for he positive vibes!
How have you found your teeth after a year of using this method? Just curious because I am thinking of trying it out
Thanks
Anika
Hi Annika! My entire family uses the coconut oil toothpaste and has for awhile (my guess would be 2 1/2 – 3 years). No cavities, no additional gum recession, and no other issues to report. My dentist was watching a few weak spots on my teeth to make sure they would not turn into cavities and we are still in the clear. The weak spots were there prior to starting our own toothpaste. The only thing my dentist was cautionary about was fluoride. Where we live it is not in the water so she was concerned that our teeth were not getting the additional protection they needed. At her urging we do get the fluoride treatment at our annual visit. Aside from that the only potential negative would be that I think the coconut oil might make it easier for green smoothies/coffee to stain teeth. I have nothing scientific to go on but since we switched there are times where I feel the need to brush with straight up baking soda as I notice a slight staining on my teeth. However, I didn’t drink coffee regularly before January 2014 either so….. maybe it’s just the coffee! Try it! Let me know how it goes!
What an awesome DIY toothpaste recipe! I got into making my own tooth powder after learning about all the toxic chemicals in store brand toothpaste, and it’s worked so well for my teeth that I now sell it as part of my ethical + eco-friendly self care business, in zero waste packaging of course!