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I write often about oral health and I’m fascinated how oral health really does affect the health of the entire body! I’ve been working on finding (or making) natural toothpaste and oral care options for years so that I would have options that were safe for kids to use and would not aggravate my thyroid disease.
How to Make Natural Whitening Toothpaste
Some of my favorite recipes to date are:
- Homemade Remineralizing Toothpaste
- Remineralizing Tooth Powder Recipe
- Homemade Mouthwash
- Whitening Teeth With Charcoal
- Oil Pulling
My other toothpaste recipes get a lot of comments about substitutions, and if certain ingredients are really necessary. Since the other recipes also include coconut oil, some people have complained about the toothpaste being too hard to use when it is cool.
Enter this new recipe…
One day (out of laziness as much as ingenuity), I decided to create a simpler recipe with all the most beneficial ingredients. I wanted a recipe that would be the same consistency at any temperature and would work well and taste great for my kids (and be safe for them to eat).
While there are many excellent natural toothpastes you can buy (one from yours truly!), for years I used this cost-effective DIY recipe. (Because, um, 6 kids!)
The resulting recipe is actually my favorite variation to date and the least expensive. Incidentally, it also seems to be the best whitening toothpaste I’ve used, especially when combined with oil pulling and/or charcoal (not at the same time).
How Does Natural Toothpaste Taste?
I also use various essential oils to taste. I usually end up using a mix and using quite a bit. Essential oils provide some extra cleansing power, but are not really necessary in this recipe.
Tips
I found that the xylitol is naturally a little coarse so I ran it through the blender to make a really fine powder before making this recipe.
The second time I made this, I just added the other ingredients to the blender and used it to mix and it came out with a perfect creamy consistency. The blender was a little tough to clean but I found that wiping it with a paper towel worked great for removing the residue and then washing as normal.
I store this in small glass jars and each person gets his/her own jar of toothpaste. I’ve also used these reusable tubes in the past. They are a little more time consuming to fill but they also work really well with this recipe.
Natural Whitening Toothpaste Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup calcium carbonate powder
- 3 TBSP xylitol powder
- ¼ cup MCT oil (plus more for thinning if needed)
- essential oils of choice (optional)
Instructions
- Make sure the xylitol is finely ground and not coarse, grinding it in the blender if necessary.
- Mix all the ingredients by hand or with a blender until incorporated.
- Store in a glass jar and use as you would regular toothpaste.
Notes
Ever made your own toothpaste or oral health products? Share your version below!
Herb Infused Compound Butter Recipes
Do you ever use powdered egg shells in these mixtures?
What a great recipe! I have one question!
I already have some coconut oil at home, do you think I could you that instead of MCT oil??
You could certainly try it…
Wow, MCT oil is expensive! How much does this recipe make? Is it about the same as a store bought tube? Is it worth using such an expensive oil in a recipe that we are not eating? Could another oi, such as extra light olive oil be used instead with the same results and health benefits?
I’m actually trying sesame oil now (non-toasted) and it seems to work well and not have a strong flavor as long as enough essential oils are used, btu olive oil would be another option.
How many drops of essential oils and what kind have you used
I use 20-25 for 3 oz and 40 for 6 oz. I like peppermint.
I love that you posted this! I often tell my patients to make a homemade paste very much like this one instead of buying commercial paste ( I am a dental hygienist). I can now just refer them to your site. 🙂
Catherine,
My dental hygienist told me not to use baking soda to brush with as I have receding gums and it would be too rough (I guess). What are your thoughts? What might be a good substitution? I love that you are in to healthy options!
Believe it or not…paste isn’t really needed. Biofilm (plaque) just needs to be physically broken for removal. You can just use a soft tooth brush along your gum line for biofilm and stain removal. If you Google Modified Bass method…it will demonstrate how to angle the brush to remove plaque from under the gums and also help with angulation so you are not too rough on those areas. The reason baking soda might be just a little too abrasive for those areas is because they are no longer protected by enamel. The tissue you see that looks just a little more yellow is called dentin and is much softer. If you brush gently daily….you can keep stains away just fine without any outside abrasive. I find that my patients really just feel better with something to brush with…and everyone likes a little help with morning breath..haha. 🙂 Personally, I have tried a daily made paste with diatomaceous earth and it worked okay…but as far as the actual molecular abrasive quality of it compared to baking soda…I am not really sure. Hope this helps.. 🙂
I am a retired dental hygienst and I have tried various recipes (and will try a few more!) but at the moment I use a mix of diatomateous earth, bicarb and xylitol.(blended finer) When I want to brush my teeth I put a bit of powder in a small container, add a tiny amount of water and brush. My teeth feels so clean and stay clean for longer than when I used toothpaste. Once a week I add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide and one drop of peppermint oil ( because it taste terrible)
Any healthy natural suggestions for someone with little to no enamel left on the teeth? Baking powder would be too rough I assume…I started rinsing with peroxide. I want to whiten my teeth and make my own tooth paste..
Hi Jina 🙂
How do you know you have very little enamel left on your teeth? I am in no way saying you are wrong, it’s just if the wording is a little off then I can have different advice. 🙂 In any event, if your enamel is really thin, I would suggest actually not using any abrasive at all. Most people actually do not need an added abrasive to remove plaque. A soft toothbrush is all you really need. The main benefit to commercial paste is the added fluoride, but for someone trying to avoid fluoride…there is no reason at all to purchase any. I have found personally that any benefit to ready made easy abrasives found in stores is far outweighed by all the “extra” ingredients in the tube. I make my own abrasive paste because I just really like the slick feeling it gives afterwards. You can achieve this by using a dry washcloth believe it or not. 🙂 Your tongue will tell you if you have successfully removed all the plaque attached to the surface…the trick is in keeping everything dry. haha. I have seen some really neat essential oil recipes you can dip your toothbrush in for the added freshness you might desire from a toothpaste.
As for whitening, I really wouldn’t suggest trying to do that by chemical or physical means. If your enamel is truly thin, then the yellow color you are seeing on your teeth is actually the underlying tissue called dentin. It can’t be changed to be more white, and that process actually might really make your teeth sensitive. Don’t be too hard on yourself though!…I actually work for a cosmetic dentist, and we tell our patients that if their tooth shade is the same color as the sclera of their eye..then they are actually just fine. Everyone isn’t supposed to have super white bright chompers. We all have different tooth shades just like each person has a different skin tone. The beauty is in the difference. 🙂 Also, you can try playing with different shades of lipstick…the cool tones tend to weaken the warm yellow color and can actually make your teeth look about two shades whiter. 🙂
The peroxide is a great idea when diluted with equal parts water. It is such a fantastic inexpensive resource when you need a little extra help with gingivitis. If you see any bleeding when brushing or flossing, just swish with it a couple times a day. I wouldn’t try to use it to help with whitening though. If you do not have any blood pressure problems, you can try warm water and sea salt for the same problem. The salt water helps kill bacteria by reducing the acidity in the mouth and the warmth of the water mixed with it helps pull out the infection and bring healthy cells to the area faster. Plus, any movement of liquid can dislodge soft debris that might be causing an issue. Traditional mouthwash is the most useless creation in the dental world in my opinion..haha.
I hope this was helpful, and I answered the questions you had. 🙂 Best wishes.
Catherine, fantastic information! Do you have any idea if coconut oil will loosen a crown attached to an implant? I’ve searched far and wide for this information with no luck. I’d love your opinion.
Hi Cate. 🙂
I haven’t had much experience with removal of implant crowns. I do not think coconut oil would loosen it simply because an implant crown is cemented to an abutment (the metal piece that twists into the screw-like implant) and that bond is not exposed….but I am really not sure. If you would like to remove the crown…having a dentist cut it off is probably the most safe way..just so there is not too much stress on the actual implant. If you are trying to figure out why a crown keeps coming off, then that can possibly be the cement the dentist is using, or the crown and the abutment are not fitting properly. I know the dentist I work for uses a less adhesive cement for implant crowns..just so if there ever is an issue..he can remove it more easily. Hope this helps. 🙂
Thank you SO much for your comments! I love that you are a dental hygienist who loves natural remedies. This is super helpful to me. Thanks for taking the time to write this. 🙂
Watched a video about the wonders of peroxide. He said you can use to remove plaque, but not too often, can separate gums from teeth I think. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HL9HcRHidM
Just something you might want to research just in case he’s right
Hi, Katie
Questions:
1. MCT oil is in fact the name of the oil; not a category of oils? i.e., almond, coconut, etc. oils aren’t MCT?
2. Do you get MCT oil and the other 2 ingredients at a health food store? Walgreen’s?
3. I do oil pulling with coconut oil – my 3rd week. I guess my teeth are as white as they are going to get, right? So using the toothpaste vs. my usual isn’t going to whiten them any further, right?
Thanks!!
Lisa
1. MCT is medium chain triglyceride oil which is the concentrated fats from coconut oil.
2. I get them online since our local store does not carry much.
3. This might still help since it is providing mineral externally and oil pulling continues to work over time.
Also looking at the reviews of the less expensive product your link goes too, I don’t think I would recommend it!
I love using the coconut oil. I also use the tubes. If it gets too cold to squeeze easily, I just hold it in my hand for a bit wrapping my fingers around it. Works great!
Is this ok to use if you have sensitive teeth? How much essential oil would you use?
I’ve used a similar blend with peppermint, spearmint, maybe some cinnamon (not sure whether leaf or bark) or clove oil.
At any rate, since switching, my formerly-sensitive teeth aren’t sensitive anymore. I know the coconut oil has something to do with that, maybe the oils and oils do too.
I think you’ll probably be fine. I’d give it a shot 🙂
Please be very careful when using essential oil in your toothpaste. Peppermint and cinnamon can be very hard on your gums. You must be very careful to not use too much!
Please be cautious with essential oils, many are not safe to be used orally and peppermint in particular can be dangerouse however it is used. Peppermint essential oil is known to cause epileptic seizures in those who are susceptible, particularly in children.
What if I use a peppermint oil that is safe to digest instead of an essential oil? Could I use that on my teeth?
I’ve found that my teeth have become MORE sensitive since using it the past week. Is there something I’m missing or doing wrong? Thanks!
I love that MCT oil is I’m this! My daughter has several heart defects and receives MCT oil through her feeding tube to help her gain weight. Finally I have another use for it!
What is MCT oil? Thx!
Medium-chain triglycerides
Where might I get this MCT oil? I need a good, healthy toothpaste!
Whole Foods, Sprouts, Natural Grocers all carry MCT oil. I actually give MCT oil to my mom who is 83 and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 5 years ago. It is beneficial for a number of things.
Your link above to the MCT oil is directing me to the wrong link (a link to buy coffee). Can you please tell me where you buy your MCT oil? Thanks!
Sorry about that, here you go! https://www.amazon.com/Viva-Labs-Concentrated-Performance-Absorption/dp/B00MGW5UVY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=wellnessmama-20&linkId=d93b5353fd93a483f8a54e552de23364&language=en_US
Has anyone tried adding the crushed charcoal straight into the remineralizing toothpaste? If yes, any feedback?
I would not be tempted to try it as then I would have nothing with which to take off the charcoal.
The charcoal rinses right off your teeth! You do not need anything but water to get it out of your mouth.
Yes, and we love it!
I have. It works very well and easily rinses clean. Keeps the teeth whiter too.