I am not a conspiracy theorist. I do not believe our government is purposely trying to poison us or that our schools are trying to brainwash our children or that our doctors are purposely trying to make us sick (though I do believe some decisions they make have that side effect but that’s a whole different story!). I do wonder about dentists sometimes though.
While I was growing up I was meticulous about my teeth. I brushed at least twice a day and flossed a few times a week. I thought all my hard work was paying off when my siblings and I went to the dentist and only my sister had cavities. I figured it was because she ate too many candies. Because candies cause cavities, right? My brother didn’t have any in spite of the fact that he was not as meticulous about his dental hygiene as I was. I figured he just got lucky (he figured it was because he chewed a lot of gum).
A few years later, with no change in my dental routine, I came home from the dentist with about 3-4 new fillings. So much for my perfect dental routine! I have since learned that cavities are caused by bacteria, not sugar. Bad bacteria plants itself on your teeth and feeds off sugar to multiply so leaving sugar (natural or artificial) on your teeth certainly isn’t a good thing, but sugar in itself doesn’t cause cavities. With my dental routine I had been fighting the sugar, not the bacteria.
Interesting fact: we are not born with this bacteria. It is given to us through someone else’s spit, usually before our second birthday. Usually by our mother. Not on purpose but through loving actions such as sharing utensils or food or spit cleaning a pacifier. (I can’t remember where I read that but I believe it was in one of Dr. Sear’s books)
So, back to the dentists. I have a theory:
- Toothpaste is supposed to help prevent cavities.
- Dentists promote certain brands of toothpaste.
- Dentists make more money when people have cavities than when their teeth are healthy.
- It would make no logical sense for a dentist to promote something that would put him/her out of business.
- Therefore those toothpastes probably don’t do what the advertisements and packaging claims. In fact, they may be part of the problem.
Is it a conspiracy? Maybe not. But it certainly seems like a conflict of interests.
I have eliminated chemicals in a lot of areas of my life so it would make sense that the toothpaste had to go. I haven’t brushed with toothpaste in almost a year. My cavities haven’t magically healed themselves (darn!) but they haven’t gotten any worse either. The good news: my teeth feel great! They seem to stay clean longer and my breath is still fresh. I also don’t have to coax my son to spit out his yummy bubblegum or fruit burst flavoured toothpaste because it is too dangerous to swallow.
Here’s what I use:
- Coconut Oil: antifungal, antibacterial, and helps stop tooth decay
- Peppermint Essential Oil: antiseptic and minty fresh
- Bentonite Clay(a recent addition and not neccesary): mild abrasive, detoxing agent, and has been said to help remineralize teeth
I have found many different recipes online but a lot of them are way to complicated for me. I know people use plain baking soda but, to be perfectly honest, it tastes really gross. It’s also quite abrasive and it is not usually recommended for daily use so I certainly don’t want to use it for my little men.
So I have just been using coconut oil with peppermint essential oil. Simple. I like simple. If this is all you have then it will work perfectly fine. Just mix together and dip your toothbrush in to brush. The hardest part is realizing that it is still cleaning, even if it’s not foaming. I also found that I didn’t have to rinse after brushing (helpful when you have little people that want to splash as soon as you turn on the tap!) so you can brush without water.
My recent addition of the Bentonite Clay is because I’m going to try my hand at remineralizing my teeth. I’m taking cell salts (Calc Fluor
So there is a very simple toothpaste recipe that is safe and gentle enough for a child! C will be very happy to brush his teeth tonight because he was looking forward to being done our baking soda mix too.
Linked up at: Frugally Sustainable
Edit: People have been asking me about the quantities of each: I use about two parts oil to 1 part clay. Then essential oil to taste (my jar took about 10 drops). But you can experiment and mix it until it is a consistency that you like.
Also, for the first photo my house was too hot for my coconut oil to be solid. By the time I had mixed it up and moved it to my bathroom the cool night air solidified it again. But because the clay was mixed it I still find that, even at solid state, it is the perfect consistency to use.
Hope that clears some things up!
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I completely agree about most of the recipes on the internet being a bit difficult. I just bought my son Earthpaste, but I think I might try your recipe for me! Once I can afford to get some EOs that are safe to take internally 🙂
You could choose to make some coconut infused oil by growing your own fresh mint. It would be a bit more work (and time because you’d need to grow the mint) but it would be great for toothpaste and totally safe to ingest. Oh boy, I’m getting ideas for my own mint plant now!
Have you tried adding honey to your coconut and peppermint oil? I used that and I loved it! I’ve also read that baking soda is less abrasive than regular toothpaste though, so I wouldn’t rule that out.
I mostly don’t like the taste of baking soda. And I don’t like the thought of using it on my kids’ teeth either.
I haven’t tried honey. The whole thought of leaving sugar on my teeth doesn’t appeal to me. But we do have really fabulous organic, raw, wildflower honey that we eat on a regular basis. Going to look some more into using it on teeth though. Thanks for the suggestion.
I definitely don’t like the taste of baking soda either! 😀 Here’s a couple links about honey that I just found:
http://mizar5.com/honey.html
http://www.bees-online.com/HealthBenefitsOfHoney.htm
BTW – sharing on my FB page. 🙂
Hi -any word on how the remineralizing is going? I’d love to know.
I don’t think it’s remineralizing but it certainly hasn’t gotten any worse. Hard to tell without xrays though. But not getting worse is a good step 🙂
Cavities are not caused by sugar???? There is no conclusive proof, as of yet, that coconut oil prevents tooth decay.
You are giving some incredibly bad advice and information here.
If coconut oil DOES prevent tooth decay, it would be great but, at this point, telling your readers this is a bit irresponsible.
First of all, there is a lot of information that states that coconut oil can help prevent tooth decay. And second, I’m sorry that you find it irresponsible for me to give my (research based) opinion on my personal blog. I feel that my readers are intelligent enough to make decisions for themselves.
Cavities are cause by bacteria and sugar feeds of the bacteria. So the sugar itself does not cause cavities.
Even purchased toothpaste is abrasive – much of it contains diatomaceous earth, the skeletal remains of diatoms. It is used in fertilizers, floor polishers, etc. Not something I want to use.
Diatoms have been used for a very long time. 100% natural abrasive substance. You are freaking out by the word “dirt” and the idea that diatoms are used in many products. You are acting scared of the wrong ingredients.
This sounds great. Were there any concerns about the shelf life of this, especially if stored in the bathroom?
I’m not sure on shelf life. I make a small amount and then use it before I have any issues with it. If it is in a sealed container then it should last for a decent amount of time.
Do you know of any substitutes for the coconut oil as I have a coconut allergy and am afraid using the oil would cause me to have a reaction
You could just use the clay. Or There is a great recipe for tooth powder here: http://frugallysustainable.com/2012/03/the-benefits-of-brushing-with-tooth-powder-and-a-make-your-own-recipe/
It’s worth researching if you aren’t sure- but most people who are allergic to coconut aren’t actually allergic to the oil.
Do you spit this out in the sink? Many people have said it can cause a buildup in the drain pipes. I just made up a batch and can’t wait to try it!
I do spit it in the sink. We live in the country so the piping is a little different (namely shorter). Interesting thought. I wonder if you would have to treat it like other oils “store it, don’t pour it.” It’s a small amount though so I wonder how much effect it would have. Use your own discretion I guess!
I use a homemade coconut oil toothpaste as well and I do spit down the sink, but I run hot water as I spit. I do oil cleansing every morning and when I’m done steaming my face, I pour the boiling water down the bathroom sink drain to help move the coconut oil through the pipes. Anytime I have extra boiling water, I pour it down the bathroom sink!
For those worried about the safety of dipping your toothbrush into the paste, you could do what we do. 🙂 We keep our brushes in a cup with hydrogen peroxide, and I change it about once a week. Keeps the brushes sterile.
Metal utensils or lids should not be used with bentonite clay.
Interesting. I actually took the lid off because it was an old garlic jar and the lid still had some garlic smell to it. I’m going to have to look into this further
I will have to try this, cause I’m new to make things your self and I just made a recipe for a toothpaste with baking soda but my teeth are really sensitive and kind of hurt after using it and don’t know if the baking soda too much for my teeth or this is a normal reacting to cleaning the mouth and will go away after a while! But I didn’t wanna go back to the florid and chemical toothpastes! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
I haven’t bothered drinking tap water for years because of the fluoride…which is highly toxic and harmful. I’m just starting to consider not using tooth paste. Your theory is correct about dentists and how they make their money. It also applies to our healthcare system and having the world’s highest obesity rate, highest heart attack rate etc. Anytime you have a system that is “for profit”….
Dentist make money out of everything… Did you know that we r not suppose to Have metal in our mouth? Is poison and Kill our brain, They know it , but they don’t care. Get information about it (they don’t want you to know). Peroxide and a little bit or Baking soda is GR-8 ( You kill bacterias and they don’t spread with oxigen) and Get Peppermint leave and bite from it…Is healthy anyway For your stomach. 🙂 Look for information to make Sure.
Fluoride is actually not harmful in small amounts. It’s more the fact that they add it to water on purpose (or used to, not sure if they still do), and then you use it in toothpaste too, etc. So if it’s in a high enough concentration, then yes, it is not good for you. But the EPA has guidelines for it (not sure how well that’s working, but we can hope).
I noticed you said you were trying to refill the cavities in kyour teeth. I had read an article not too long ago about a woman whose son had a big cavity, She gave him fermented fish oil and high quality butter oil (basically clarified butter). Here’s the article. http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/how-i-healed-my-childs-cavity/
Hope this heals.
I have use Coconut oil alone with baking soda and the bentonite clay. The Ben clay hurt my teeth so bad after just one day I could not continue using it. Perhaps I got the wrong kind. I will continue with the baking soda and coconut oil.
Do you use refined or un-refined CO? Also, did you say to just dip your toothbrush in it to brush? Wouldn’t that put germs from your brush into the paste, or would the coconut oil just kill it anyway?
Try xylitol to rebuild your teeth. http://Www.cleanwhiteteeth.com
I am glad someone asked about the cleanliness of dipping into the jar. I have a suggestion. If the consistency is not to thick you could add it to one of those condiment jars or a clear one from Sallys Beauty Supply they use for coloring your hair.. nice pointy tip to add to the brush.
Ooh, that is a great idea. I am going to put my mixture in a squeeze bottle. you are pretty smart:)
Really liked your recipe! I was just wondering if we could add more stuff to it. Like I know my grandmother used pure mustard oil+salt and scrub her teeth with it. Mustard oil has anti bacterial properties too, so could we add tht too and maybe a bit of salt or even baking soda?
If you want to use mustard and salt to your toothpaste then go for it. The options are endless. This is just the super simple recipe that works for my family
I have a child who hates mint, I’m just wondering if anyone has tried a different EO?
I’ve only ever done mint but I know many people just use the coconut oil without and EO. Maybe your chid would like the taste of the oil. It’s pretty yummy on it’s own!
My son also didn’t like mint so we used sweet orange EO… I make a similar recipe with coconut oil, Dr. Bronner’s pure castile soap (peppermint), either peppermint EO or sweet orange EO and a tiny bit of stevia. Initially it tastes like soap but you get used to it pretty quickly and our teeth feel amazing… no cavities for my 10-year-old!!!
Anise is a nice flavor … cinnamon is nice … fennel is nice too…
You can use cinnamon or even orange EO. I’ve used both in tooth powder/paste and they taste good. You could also try all-natural vanilla for a little added flavor.
You could try doing half honey and half coconut oil. It’s delicious and leaves your teeth feeling really clean!
I have never heard of reminerialsing your teeth. What exactly is cell salt and how does it help? I am very excited to try this recipe. Thanks
I’m not an expert by any means. My friend told me that she was using them for her son’s teeth (he was 2 at the time and had fallen and broke a couple teeth) so I decided to give them a try.
Here is a link to some more information: http://www.forresthealth.com/cell-salt-remedy-guide/
I have concerns about using the clay, since clays are from the ground. How do you ensure that the clay you purchase is Pharmaceutical grade? Do you order if from a pharmacy? The mucous membranes of the mouth are delicate and as many of know gums are fragile and can bleed. If the clay is not sterile when purchased an accidental breach in the mucous membrane can create serious health problems. If anyone is trying this, keep this in mind.
I would hope that people order from reputable sources.
As for it being sterile, we often put things in our mouths that are not sterile. Seems like kind of a strange thing to be concerned about. Even conventional toothpaste isn’t necessarily sterile. And, even if it is when first purchased, as soon as you open it to use it, it no longer is. :et’s not forget the amount of germs that can be found on toothbrushes.
So yes, make sure the ingredients you are using are what they claim to be but I’m not sure I would agree that our mouths are delicate enough to warrant using sterile anything.
where do you get the clay?
I work at a dental office and our dentist tells people that you don’t really need tooth paste. The bacteria just needs to be broken apart mechanically, at least once every 24 hours. If not the bacteria forms together and becomes harder, to the point that it can no longer be brushed off. A wet tooth brush would do the job but we have all been used to using it that it feels weird without. It also has a lot to do with the way you brush too, most people brush the serf aces but do not angle into the gum line and massage the Bacteria away from under the gum. This is a nice solution for those who want a natural product because baking soda is really harsh and wears the enamel away if you use too much or too often. Thanks for sharing!
Just my couple of cents here…I noticed at my last dental cleaning visit–the hygenist gave me a sample of a “national” paste that touted it killed germs…I read the ingredients and besides the chemicals and flouride (not thinking flouride is too safe either) it listed ” Triclosan” !! Thats what is in Dial germ soap!!! The soap ingredient that NOW they are saying might not be the best to use ALL THE TIME–because of germ resistance. I think your recipe is great–reminds me of the tooth powder my Grandma used…thanks for sharing! 🙂
I would like to make a suggestion. The brand of EO you have is not a good brand to take internally. Essential oils bought from a supermarket usually are not pure and are combined with other ingredients. This can cause irritation and other issues. I would suggest using only essential oils that are pure and will have great medicinal qualities. A great place to find these are at Mountainroseherbs.com.
I don’t get my EOs at the supermarket. I have a 100% pure brand that I love.
MountainRoseHerb.com is an awesome site isn’t it?
Is the clay less abrasive than baking soda?
It is much less abrasive. Smaller, softer particles but still scrubby enough to get the job done.
Do you use food grade essential oil or just the regular stuff? This looks interesting….BTW, all of those free samples at the dentist’s office are likely from salespeople. So…it’s not actually the dentist trying to “kill” us, its the big pharmaceutical companies. If we are not dying of some ailment that they can throw drugs at then they don’t make their profit.
I don’t believe the EO I use is technically considered food grade. They are very pure though and I use such a small amount that I’m not personally concerned. MOst of it is spit out in a few minutes anyway.
I actually really like my dentist but I do know that he’s paid to give out the samples. And I remember many TV commercials promoting “dentist recommended” toothpastes but it’s funny (in an ironic sort of way) that they never mention why the dentist recommend it. Maybe they truly believe it’s a good product but maybe they recommend it because they get paid to say that?
This is good. My grandmother has only used baking soda and salt, ground into a fine powder. She hasnt had a cavity in the 40 years I have been alive, and she still has all of her teeth! Her Dentist was in shock to learn what she had been using!
I love this and can’t wait to try! Thanks for sharing! I use Young Living EO’s as they are pure, undiluted and non-toxic….so only 1-2 drops are necessary (saving $ in the end w/EO’s is great too!)
So I understand why you wouldnt swallow when using the clay. But what if I would just use the C oil w/peppermint eo. Since mouth bacteria probally already gets swallowed you think its that big of deal if I swaloow so I have the benefit of the C oil ?
It is safe to swallow (even with the clay) but I think that spitting might just be nicer considering the fact that you’re brushing for bacteria and plaque etc. If you want internal benefits from the oil then you might want to use it for cooking and such since there is such a small amount used when you brush.
Thank you for our input !
This is a great simple recipe. I would recomend you rinse though since bentonite clay draws out toxins you want to spit those out. Blessings
Yes, spitting all that bacteria out is a must. But it’s nice to have the option to not rinse for times when you don’t have water, like camping or power outages.
Coconut oil draws toxins out as well. I have been oil pulling for a while now using coconut oil and it really does make your mouth feel healthy! Gums, teeth and everything else in there!
I have oil pulled a few times as well. I like to do it while I wash dishes. It does feel great doesn’t it?
I want to use natural toothpaste but none of the recipes I find say what the ingredients are for… what do they do? In this case, you explained the purpose of the clay, but could you tell me what the coconut oil is for? Thanks!
The main reason why I use it for toothpaste is that I like the consistency. But it also has antibacterial properties which is a great reason in itself because the mouth is so full of bacteria. It can also help leave a barrier on teeth to help fight bacterial infections (think gum disease and tooth decay) in between brushings.
I have issues with tooth sensitivity and have long suspected that it’s a combination of chemical loaded toothpast and my addiction to Mountain Dew. I got over the Dew cravings just fine and have been searching for a natural toothpaste that won’t add to the sensitivity. I can’t wait to try this!
But my question is, does everyone in your household just dip their brush in the jar? How do you deal with the “ick” factor of everyon’es mouth germs landing in the communal jar?
Thanks for sharing the recipe!
I used to have sensitivity issues too now that you mention it. I used Sensodyne all the time. I haven’t noticed it for a while though so I think my toothpaste switch is helping! Never even crossed my mind to
I actually had a good friend ask me about the “communal jar” so this is an easy one for me to answer. For now my husband isn’t ready to switch to my homemade toothpaste and my littlest is not quite big enough for toothpaste yet (I could because it is chemical free but he barely lets me brush his teeth so I don’t even bother with paste). It is currently just me and my 4 year old using it. So we just dip into the jar. But coconut oil is antibacterial and bentonite clay is detoxing so I tell myself that not a lot, if any, bacteria will live in there anyway. I also rinse the brushes with very hot water after brushing to disinfect them a bit. I figure that we share spit in things like cups and sandwiches going back and forth so I don’t find it a big deal. My attitude might be different if my kids were older though.
Another thing we tried was to have a little spoon beside the jar to scoop it onto the brush and then just wash it after every use. It worked well but I found it to be a nuisance so we went back to dipping. Another option (if you have the space) is that you could have little jars or plastic containers for each person.
Try it out for a few months and let me know how it works for your sensitivity. I’m curious to know if it’s just my teeth that have improved or if it’s another wonderful perk of natural toothpaste.
I switched from Sensodyne and mainstream toothpastes about 6 months ago and my tooth sensitivity is pretty much gone. I’ve been using Greenbeaver (Canadian brand) but its kind of expensive so I’m planning on trying a homemade recipe. This one looks easy – will give it a try (need to order some bentonite clay – heard other good things about it).
How would you use the cell salts and how much of them do you use?
Thanks!
I just take them 4 times per day (well, sometimes 2-3 depending on my memory) and take 4 each time. I have been slacking lately and have just been taking them when I brush my teeth. I should really put them on my counter or something so I see them more often! Hope that helps 🙂
Great! Thanks! 🙂
Where can I find them? (I have no idea where I should look for them)
Thanks again!
You can buy coconut oil at many grocery stores but I bought my clay and essential oil through a buying co-op so I’m not sure where you’d buy them otherwise. Maybe at a good health food store.
I’m curious about the coconut oil. Did you use solid-at-room-temperature stuff and heat it before mixing the ingredients? I’m just confused because in the one pic the oil looks like a liquid and in the other, your end product looks like a paste. I’m really looking forward to trying this! 🙂
My house was quite warm that day so it started off in a liquid state. By the time that I had mixed things together the evening had gotten cooler and it was a very soft paste. The previous times I used the oil it started at a solid state. I don’t think it really makes much difference to the end product but I did find that the softer/liquid state made it easier to mix ingredients in. You could always just put some in a sink of warm water to get a nicer consistency for mixing. I’ll still notice on hot evening that my toothpaste is much softer than it is on cooler evenings. But now it stays pretty much a paste.
Is it equal parts coconut oil and bentonite clay? How many drops of peppermint oil do you use? So excited to try this since it doesn’t have baking soda in it. I’ve tried to use baking soda but can’t tolerate the taste!
I totally understand not wanting to use baking soda. I don’t know how people can brush with straight soda. Blech!
I’m not exactly sure about measurements but it was about one part clay to two parts oil. That amount allowed it to still be a paste instead of turning crumply. As for the peppemint essential oil, try a few drops and taste it. If you like a really strong peppermint flavour then you’ll put more in and if you like it a little more mild then put a bit less. For my small jar I used about 15 drops of EO. Worst case scenario, you add a little more of one ingredient until you get the texture and taste that you prefer.
Good luck and let me know how it goes when you have tried it out!
Sounds great! Can’t wait to try it. I have 4 kids and cringe every time they brush their teeth. Really hoping they like this since it won’t have baking soda in it!!
I would love to remineralise my teeth too, and was hoping that it would eventually happen with my healthy diet, but I have read that certain toothpastes can stop this process too. It’s hard to know what to believe especially for your children too as you don’t want to do the wrong thing for them.
There is a lot of stuff out there and a lot of people have different opinions. Hopefully you find something that works! I have found that using cell salts and coconut oil toothpaste has been enough to slow, or possibly even stop, the decay in my teeth. Might be worth a try!
http://news.yahoo.com/study-cites-coconut-oil-way-fight-tooth-decay-162500218.html
recent article on coconut oil and teeth….really good for you
Thanks for sharing 🙂