Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
We all want to know how to whiten teeth naturally, but getting it done is another matter. Harsh whitening strips and pastes are a no-go for me. This whitening toothpaste recipe with charcoal is an easy, gentler way to get a brighter smile.
Avoiding Harsh Whitening Treatments
Those slick ads with gorgeous smiles can be pretty tempting, but our family avoids artificial whitening. Chemical whiteners like chlorine dioxide can cause sensitivity, gum irritation and burning, and permanent enamel damage. Scientists aren’t entirely sure how tooth bleaching even works or the full scope of its effects.
A Natural Way to Whiten Teeth
I write a lot about oral health, and I’m fascinated with how it really does affect the whole body! I’ve spent years working on creating natural toothpastes and oral care. I wanted something that was safe enough for my kids to use and also not aggravate my health issues.
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!). It’s my favorite toothpaste recipe so far and the least expensive. It’s also the best whitening toothpaste I’ve used, especially when combined with oil pulling.
Natural Oral Care Options
Some of my favorite healthy mouth 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 necessary. Since the other recipes use coconut oil, some people complain the toothpaste is too hard to use when it’s cool.
This whitening toothpaste recipe is simpler and uses only the most beneficial ingredients. It’s the same consistency at any temperature, works well, and tastes great. Even my kids like the taste, and I don’t have to freak out if they swallow some.
How Does Natural Whitening Toothpaste Taste?
Natural toothpaste may not be as sweet as conventional, and it doesn’t have the foaming action. This recipe doesn’t have any baking soda in it, so it’s not salty like some natural options. I add a blend of essential oils to our toothpaste to customize the flavor. The essential oils also have antimicrobial properties that help with oral health.
Essential Oils for Toothpaste
Not every essential oil is safe to put in your mouth, and some that are safe for adults aren’t safe for kids. We also have to consider how much of each oil we’re using. Irritating essential oils like cinnamon and peppermint should be used more sparingly than something like orange. Essential oils are optional, but they really help improve the taste. Peppermint, cinnamon, and clove can be too harsh for young kids, but mine really love grapefruit or lemon!
Here are some safe essential oils choices for your whitening toothpaste: You can find quality essential oils at Plant Therapy.
- Peppermint
- Spearmint
- Orange
- Grapefruit
- Lemon
- Tangerine
- Bergamot
- Kumquat
- Lime
- Myrrh
- Cinnamon (use sparingly)
- Clove (use sparingly)
A Weird Way to Whiten Teeth
I’ve found calcium and MCT oil do a good job of whitening on their own, but there’s a way to boost the whitening power. Activated charcoal (AC) is one of my favorite ways to whiten teeth. I was pretty skeptical at first, but it’s really grown on me. AC is good at removing surface stains from foods like coffee and tea.
From the research I’ve done I’ve found AC is safe to use with fillings and veneers and won’t leach minerals from teeth. Charcoal actually benefits teeth by improving mouth pH to help prevent cavities and gingivitis. That’s why it’s one of the main ingredients in my Wellnesse Charcoal Toothpaste.
If you have any concerns about using it with your dental work though, then be sure to check with your dentist first!
Benefits and Cautions of Xylitol
If I add something sweet to our meals I go for natural options like honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar. Sweeteners like xylitol aren’t something you’re going to see in my recipes. So why use it in toothpaste?
There is some evidence that xylitol benefits oral health. Specifically, it helps reduce plaque and cavities while it kills bacteria. Big caution here though… xylitol even in small amounts can be deadly to dogs. So don’t keep your toothpaste where Fido can eat it!
The xylitol I use is a little course so I ran it through the blender first. You could also use a coffee grinder. The second time I made the toothpaste, I just put all of the ingredients in the blender and it came out all creamy.
The blender was tough to clean after my experiment, but a quick wipe with the paper towel helped. Once I got the residue, out I washed my blender as usual.
MCT Oil for Teeth
Medium-chain triglyceride or MCT oil is my secret ingredient in this recipe. It’s derived from coconut or palm oil but stays liquid at different temperatures so it’s easier to work with. Fractionated coconut oil is similar to MCT oil, but it’s usually for skincare only and isn’t safe to eat.
It can get confusing because sometimes manufacturers use terms like liquid coconut oil or fractionated MCT oil. Bottom line, we’re using liquid coconut oil that’s high in MCTs and food grade.
How to Store Natural Whitening Toothpaste
When I make toothpaste, each person in our family gets their own jar. This helps prevent bacteria from being swapped back and forth and everyone gets their favorite flavor. We just dip our toothbrushes in the jar but a popsicle stick is another option. A clean popsicle stick can help prevent microbes from growing in the toothpaste. If you’re using essential oils these also have some preservative properties.
Like most of my toothpaste recipes, I like making this in small batches because the shelf life isn’t as long as store-bought. If your family is a lot smaller than mine you could also cut the recipe in half. Be sure to pitch your whitening toothpaste if you notice any off-smell or color.
The shelf life depends on several factors but mine typically lasts for several weeks at least. If you’re not down with the jar, then a squeeze tube like this one is another option.
Natural Whitening Toothpaste
Materials
- ¼ cup calcium carbonate powder
- 3 TBSP xylitol powder
- ¼ cup MCT oil
- 2 tsp activated charcoal powder
- 20-30 drops essential oil of choice optional
Instructions
- Make sure the xylitol is finely ground and not coarse, grinding it in the blender or coffee grinder if necessary.
- Mix all the ingredients by hand or with a blender until incorporated.
- Store in a glass jar or squeeze tube and brush as usual.
What is the purpose of MCT oil in this recipe. Reading the benefits from it, it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with helping the teeth by any means. Please educate me before I spend the money on MCT oil as it is really expensive. Thank you, Sherry
I like it because you get good benefits from the coconut oil component, and it is stable such that it does not solidify/liquify in different temperatures.
Ms. Katie, I enjoy your recipes, however, I’m not sure if you’re aware of this or not but Xylitol is toxic to pets, even in small amounts so if any of your followers have pets that follow their children around from room-to-room, you might want to suggest they keep the pets out of the bathroom or at least away from the children while they’re brushing their teeth. We have a little dog that can pick stuff up off the floor faster than you can blink and in this type scenario, it could make for a very, very sick pet. Thank you for your splendid recipes. 🙂
Is fractionated coconut oil the same or similar to MCT oil? Also, I have cal-mag powder. Is that suitable as well?
Those should both work as long as the cal-mag is not in the citrate form, which is more acidic.
What is the concern with using cal-mag citrate powder? Will the acid damage my enamel?
It typically fizzes and the acid can be bad for the teeth.
Love your website and have followed many of your recommendations and recipes. Thank you! We are currently using your remineralizing toothpaste (without the DE). I am concerned about some comments about baking soda being too abrasive. As I have read online the correct way to use baking soda as toothpaste is in solution form (a pinch dissolved in water). Is it considered too abrasive when used in the remineralizing toothpaste?
I recently made a simplified and revised recipe that does not use the baking soda… Baking soda is not considered abrasive, but this is a simpler alternative without it 🙂 https://wellnessmama.com/22618/whitening-toothpaste/
Hi Kate. You mention that your kids eat this paste. Do they swallow it rather than spit after brushing? It seems logical to do that because of all the good, healthy ingredients used, but I wonder if it’s OK to ingest all the stuff is brushed off the teeth? Also do your kids like a mint flavor or do you add an EO that’s more kid-friendly? Is unflavored just “sweet”? My 10 year old won’t even consider any toothpaste that’s mint-flavor. Thanks for sharing!
I try to teach them to spit, but I don’t worry as much if they don’t with this kind. My kids like mint, but they also really like orange and grapefruit essential oils.
Have you checked out this MCT oil as an option? Just wondering…looks the same as bulletproof but half the price. The one you mentioned does have some negative reviews regarding ingredients.
That one looks good too!
Just wondering about how much this recipe makes? 1/2 cup? 1 cup? Thanks. ;0)
Question and a caution: The question is, you mentioned that some toothpastes aggravate your thyroid condition. I have a thyroid problem too and have never heard about this, can you tell me more about what ingredient in toothpaste it is that causes the problem, and what the issue is? Thanks.
Also, the caution: Xylitol is very toxic to dogs. If you are going to do this, PLEASE PLEASE be careful where you store it and make sure the puppies don’t get access. If your kids like to eat this toothpaste, also make sure they know not to feed it to dogs.
I was just about to make the same comment about dogs and xylitol, the smallest amount can be LETHAL to a dog. I have two sons who are on special diets from the hospital, one part of which is anti-fungal (no sugars or yeast) and I bought some xylitol which promptly went into dustbin when I found out from my vet how dangerous it was, not worth the risk to my pooch to keep it in the house!
Love this recipe although I use ordinary coconut oil and a tube, we just run the tube under the warm water tap for a few seconds then squeeze the tube in our hands for a couple of seconds. ????
Love your site and all your recipes,
I would like to make the natural mouthwash but am allergic to alcohol,
Could you recommend a suitable substitute please.
Thank You
Most commercial toothpastes have an expiration date. About how long would this toothpaste last? I suppose if you make it regularly though you wouldn’t have the expiration because you would use it up. Thanks!