Homemade Natural Whitening Toothpaste Recipe (Simple Version)

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Natural whitening toothpaste
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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:

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
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4.32 from 29 votes

Natural Whitening Toothpaste

This recipe uses a weird ingredient (activated charcoal) to whiten teeth. The calcium, xylitol, and coconut oil combine to maintain healthy gums and deter cavities.
Prep Time10 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Yield: 7 ounces
Author: Katie Wells

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.

Notes

NOTE: For easy blender clean-up, add a few drops of soap to the blender and then fill one-third full with warm water. Put the lid on tightly and blend on high. Dump out the suds and rinse well. 
Storage and Shelf Life: Keep away from very warm areas and don’t allow water to get in the toothpaste jar. For longer shelf life use a clean popsicle stick or other utensil instead of dipping the toothbrush directly into the jar. 
Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

179 responses to “Homemade Natural Whitening Toothpaste Recipe (Simple Version)”

  1. Cami Avatar

    Why the calcium powder topically but not taking the supplement calcium internally? Is topical absorption different?

  2. Elaine Pyer Avatar
    Elaine Pyer

    Which essential oils would you recommend and how many drops for each (if more than one)

  3. Salania Evans Avatar
    Salania Evans

    I made this toothpaste but with olive oil as suggested in one of the comments, does anyone else have an issue with the ingredients not staying mixed once you start brushing? And my toothbrush was full of oily mess that took forever to get off. Any suggestions??? Thanks

  4. Christy Avatar
    Christy

    Please remind everyone that the Xylitol is toxic to animals so keep it out of their reach.

  5. Hannah Avatar

    Hi, I live in England so am looking at amazon.co.uk.. I searched for calcium carbonate and this came up.. Is it the same thing?

    Thankyou!

  6. Lindsey Avatar

    My final product is gray. I purchased pure calcium carbonate powder. The website says great for homemade toothpaste. It also feels coarser than my friends sample she gave me. Should I be alarmed that I purchased the wrong thing? Also, I’m left with a ‘just polished at the dentist feeling’ and my dentist said it’s possible it’s too of that’s my feeling after every brushing. Are there any long term users out there that can attest to this being ok for teeth? So far, my teeth feel amazing, and surprisingly white. I like it, but nervous that I’ll do permanent damage. Thanks to all who respond.

  7. Rani Avatar

    Is this toothpaste remineralising as well? Or would I have to make the remineralising toothpaste formula if my kids have cavities?

    Thanks 🙂

  8. Wendy Avatar

    I have been using this toothpaste for several months now. I like it but I just looked at my teeth in the mirror and my bottom teeth are yellow at the base. It’s almost like I can see through them. This has never been the case before and I am freaking out. I am going to call my dentist tomorrow but do you have any thoughts?

  9. Happy Avatar

    Just wanted to congratulate you on your pregnancy! I’m sure your family is thrilled!
    Thank you for all you do to help all families to stay healthy. All the best to you all!!!

  10. Kim Avatar

    Hi Katie

    I am ordering the pure calcium carbonate for this recipe. Is it just the basic stuff that they say can be used for animals?

    Thanks!

    Love your blog by the way!

    Kim

  11. Grace Avatar

    I was wondering if there is anything I can do to make this toothpaste more palatable for my children. I made it following the directions, even adding orange essential oil for flavor, and it’s not very good. Even I don’t like the taste very much. I know baking soda toothpastes have a very different flavor than the commercial kids’ toothpastes, but I was wondering if there are any suggestions for improving the taste and texture.

    Thanks!

  12. Betty lou Avatar
    Betty lou

    Hi! Um I have a few questions. If I have 2 really really bad cavities will this remineralizing help my teeth fix themselves? How long will I have to use the paste to see a difference? I have already changed my diet and bought all the ingredients to make my own tooth paste. I have noticed my teeth are less sensitive eith the diet change. I’m just curious to know how fast it works. Obviously I’m not going to wake up tomorrow with the cavities gone.

  13. Hanna Avatar

    I currently use the recipe with the coconut oil but I have the opposite problem right now because of it being summer. The toothpaste is totally liquid and it spills out all over the counter with the little ones. Other than keep it in the fridge, do you have any other suggestions?

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar

      Hm… Maybe in a cool dark place? Like a cabinet, perhaps? You have to find somewhere to store it that is going to be less 75 degrees or so. The fridge works best, but if oyu have a cool pantry or some such that may work.

  14. Jennifer Avatar
    Jennifer

    5 stars
    Are you interested in making some for me and shipping it 🙂 The only free time I get is when I sleep

  15. Alba Avatar

    5 stars
    (I know it’s optional) but do I use one of the essential oils (e.g. orange) PLUS myrrh AND trace minerals?? and if so, how much should I use?
    Sorry, don’t know what myrrh and trace minerals are……This is the first time I’m doing this….. please, thank you!

  16. Nicky Avatar

    Hi Katie, I recently made one of the remineralizing toothpastes you had on your site – but I think the cinnamon and cloves powder may not be whitening the teeth more but I read that cinnamon powder at least, can stain the teeth…Hm, I want to remineralize the teeth but also whiten them, so I think I’ll make another lot with only the essential oils (i.e. peppermint, cloves, cinnamon), calcium and magnesium powder, baking soda and coconut oil. One thing Im just wondering though with the calcium powder – I wasn’t able to access ‘calcium carbonate’ powder…but the calcium is derived from seaweed….would this be just as good as calcium powder? Also, would baking soda add to remineralizing the teeth or does this only help to whiten, with the possibility of making the teeth more sensitive? Thank you!

  17. Andrea Avatar
    Andrea

    This is not to be purposely rude or antogonistic, but I am sincerely curious…I’m really interested in switching my family over to healthier products but I look at a recipe like this one for tooth whitening and questions start popping up in my mind like, what is Calcium Carbonate and how do we know it’s good for us? I mean how do we know that extended use over a long period of time won’t cause cancer or some other adverse effect? Same with Xylitol or activated Charcoal. Just bc its on a “natural” website doesn’t necessitate goodness. Same with the outdoors. Just bc something occurs naturally in nature doesn’t mean it’s good to eat. I once asked a doctor I knew about Stevia and how we know it’s good for us. His response was that it occurs naturally in nature, it is a plant. Poisonous berries occur naturally but we can’t eat them. Sugar occurs naturally but we know that consuming too much of it will cause adverse effects. And I could go on. There are many new natural substances coming out and I guess I’m just a tad conscientious that they really are just making their grand entrance on the stage of history.

    1. Katie - Wellness Mama Avatar

      Great points Andrea. Cyanide is also natural, and just being natural is not a guarantee of safety at all. Calcium carbonate is found in many foods and drinks (dairy, fish bones etc) and considered safe to consume as a supplement (though I don’t recommend taking calcium). Xylitol is actually well studied and recommended for oral use by many dentists. Charcoal is used in the ER to help with food poisoning. Definitely do your own research on anything you use, but I researched these specific ingredients and found them safe enough for my family.

  18. cri Avatar

    Have you considered using castile soap instead of oils in the recipe (for the liquid)? and adding propolis?

  19. Pete Avatar

    3 stars
    An even easier natural whitening method is turmeric. Just put about a few tablespoons of turmeric powder and mix with water. Make it really thick. Use a brush you don’t mind getting yellow stained. At first it seems like this will just stain your teeth yellow, but actually turmeric has the ability to attach to plaque and tartar and dislodge it.
    Brush it around your mouth for 10-15 minutes then rinse. Be sure to take before/after pics, you’ll be amazed!

    Also, you all should check out TruthPaste…search it on Amazon. Best natural toothpaste on the market, by far. Best ingredients you could ever imagine in a toothpaste.

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