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My remineralizing toothpaste is one of my most visited posts and I’ve gotten a lot of emails from people who have switched and love it. After my husband and I both remineralized our teeth and reversed cavities, I definitely became a convert to natural toothpastes and a supportive diet.
The only downfall to my homemade toothpaste is that it can leave a residue on sinks and there can be some concerns with the coconut oil if you have a septic system (as we do).
I’ve also recently discovered the many benefits of healing clays and wanted to figure out how to incorporate this into our oral health regimen, but there were some definite texture issues with the clays and coconut oil.
I wondered if a healing tooth powder would work and I couldn’t be happier with the results. It is easier to make than the toothpaste and you can use ground herbs and spices instead of the essential oils, which saves money.
Why Tooth Powder?
The main ingredient in this tooth powder is bentonite clay, which I’ve recently become a huge fan of. Not only does it bind to and draw out heavy metals and toxins (a huge plus for the mouth!), but it is alkaline and full of minerals.
It can be taken internally to help with toxin removal, so it is safe for use in the mouth and it contains calcium, magnesium, and silica which are nourishing for the teeth! According to Mountain Rose Herbs:
Bentonite is very unusual in the fact that once it becomes hydrated, the electrical and molecular components of the clay rapidly change and produce an “electrical charge”. Its highest power lies in the ability to absorb toxins, impurities, heavy metals and other internal contaminants. Bentonite clay’s structure assists it in attracting and soaking up poisons on its exterior wall and then slowly drawing them into the interior center of the clay where it is held in a sort of repository.
To state it another way…
Bentonite is a swelling clay. When it becomes mixed with water it rapidly swells open like a highly porous sponge. From here the toxins are drawn into the sponge through electrical attraction and once there, they are bound.
It is also extremely gentle and has a milder taste for kids. I also use bentonite clay for facial masks, healing poultices, and when drying hair naturally to keep color on.
The other ingredients are supportive of the mouth as well:
- Baking soda is alkaline and contains minerals. It also helps remove stains.
- Calcium powder provides extra calcium to provide minerals and whiten.
- Ground cloves are naturally antibacterial and gives a great taste.
- Cinnamon is also antibacterial, tastes great, and helps discourage bacterial growth in the mouth.
- Mint tastes great and is soothing to the gums.
- Xylitol is completely optional and adds sweetness.
Remineralizing Tooth Powder Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 TBSP dried mint leaf (or a few drops peppermint essential oil, optional)
- ¼ cup bentonite clay
- 3 TBSP calcium carbonate powder
- 1 TBSP baking soda (optional)
- 1 TBSP cinnamon
- 1-3 tsp ground cloves
- 1 TBSP xylitol powder (or more to taste)
- essential oils (such as peppermint, spearmint, or cinnamon, optional)
Instructions
- If using, mint leaf, powder in a blender, food processor, or coffee grinder.
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl or pint size mason jar and store in a small glass jar with a lid.
- To use, wet the toothbrush, dip into the powder, brush, and rinse.
Notes
How to Use Tooth Powder
Wet the toothbrush (I use a Bass brush from OraWellness since it is super gentle on the gums and cleans better) and dip into the powder. I also add a few drops of OraWellness Brushing Blend. Brush using the Bass Brushing Technique until teeth are clean. Rinse with cool water. Can be used daily (or multiple times daily) and is fine for adults and kids.
My Oral Health Regimen
My teeth have never been whiter or healthier (according to my dentist) thanks to my oral health regimen. It includes a healthy diet that supports oral health and a specific brushing regimen. This is what I do daily (which reversed cavities for both my husband and me):
- Brush with activated charcoal powder to kill bacteria, remove toxins and whiten. Don’t do this everyday, but every couple of days.
- Brush with tooth powder or remineralizing toothpaste with a few drops of OraWellness Brushing Blend.
- Rinse mouth.
- Finish by rubbing a few drops of Brushing Blend on my gums and tongue to discourage bacterial growth, especially at night (and because it tastes great!).
- Repeat one or more times a day!
What is your oral health routine? Ever used a natural product? Reversed a cavity? I’d love to hear about it below!
On Women & Weight: A Manifesto
does the tooth powder remineralize like the one your toothpaste?
It does and the clay actually provides a wider range of minerals. You could use either one…
I accidently purchased Calcium Citrate instead of Calcium Mag powder! I probably need to exchange that don’t I? The “Citrate” is citric acid…probably not a good thing for teeth!? Ooof. Back to the store!!! I can’t wait to try this!!!
You can actual use the calcium citrate but the mag is a good addition…
I would think calcium carbonate or calcium lactate would be the only ones good for teeth because they are alkaline. I don’t think brushing your teeth with something acidic is a good idea.
Here is a quick link to how to make magnesium carbonate at home for fraction of the price. Carbonic acid goes into air as carbon dioxide increasing the ph of the medium. Yields sodium sulphate and mag/carb…sulphur is good for joints and teeth as well. Let it dehydrate after water.
I was going to post that it doesn’t matter with citrate but I checked ph of carbonic acid 3.8ph vs. citric acid 2.2ph. Seems a lot better if you research the how much more caustic on a scale it is from 3.8 to 2.2. It starts going exponentially as it goes lower.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjkX6YRtM6w
Hi, here is the proper link from Amazon so that folks can get the correct item in your ingredients list. (I also bought the Calcium Citrate and much preferred not to.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002PU648/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=wellnessmama-20&linkId=469c9b3002869d636bcb16f44bd4e180&language=en_US
But, for the record, both products are a “citrate” – an ester or derivative of citric acid.
One should use products that s/he has researched if one is at all skeptical. I just prefer the benefits of the combination of calcium and magnesium, so would like to have the Cal/Mag powder.
Thank you for the recipe!
I purchased the same item and am not using it because it is citrate. I could not find a calcium magnesium carbonate powder so I purchased them separately. The calcium carbonate powder is the Now brand. And this is the mag. carbonate powder I found, which I really like:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EOWINR2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=wellnessmama-20&linkId=626622f78596fd446145668d59f4bdaf&language=en_US
The ingredients list says to use Cal Mag but the link is to Calcium Citrate. Did you mean that it’s okay to use either one?
Absolutely, either one is fine… must have copied the wrong link from Amazon… thanks
Does the bentonite clay have to be food grade???
Is the Brushing Blend an optional product, or is it a part of the whole tooth powder deal?
It’s optional, just part of my personal regimen.
I recently heard that essential oils may harm the oral microbiome-any thoughts? thanks
They won’t harm it at all, IMHO.
Great info! I was brushing with Young Living Oils Theives blend diluted in a bit of coconut oil due to gum irritation and it worked wonderfully! I’ve also applied that oil neat on sore gums and it numbs it straight away.
I’d previously used baking soda, but as others stated I had concerns about the abrasiveness. I love bentonite clay and use it often (recently pulled splinters with it and added to cats’ water during an episode of diarrhea). I’d considered using it for brushing but had concerns due to the way it can behave when introduced to water. Now, I have something to experiment with!
Some people use bentonite for cat litter. Do not do this with kittens or animals who eat their litter because it will kill them. I found out the hard way.
Young Living Oil Of Thieves may have Eucalyptus oil in it. Euc is very poisonous and should NOT be ingested. Also, a proper Oil of Thieves blend would have Juniper in it. Juniper was the main erb they “thieves” or graverobbers used in the Middle Ages for protection.
I just want to say that I use YL Thieves blend and have no issues with it. I don’t drink it or take large amounts of it, but have rubbed it on a bum tooth or swollen gums and put some on my finger and put it on my tongue for a scratchy throat and have had good results. I also use their toothpaste with Thieves blend and love it! My teeth are whiter and had great results with my dental checkups.
Humans can ingest eucalyptus, they use it in teas and it is very good for you.
I like this toothpaste but developed tooth sensitivity after using for two weeks. Any idea which ingredients I could try to swap out to make it less irritating?
Thanks for replying!
Where do you find the ratings for the clay and mineral powder? Does the seller tell you what they are? (I suppose there must be different ratings for the same clays depending on particle sizes.)
This PDF (from a dentist) has the abrasivity ratings of common toothpastes and baking soda https://docs.google.com/a/wellnessmama.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:gfU0tNV9spIJ:www.levysmiles.com/docs/Abrasiveness_of_Common_Toothpase.pdf+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjeXQoTCCiOTAA0muWMY8qaUzAs0iWZwwjaBHPIfCWRWMNp53HzPJl8O74-vxW7m3nPZRDuvA9jNShXhU3Q2OXibd-_zMweIdPYbmK4gVRjqAb8mistmiJv_-cuM8iYhYjXj9nz&sig=AHIEtbR9cjuersWFml7abAMjFpzCbstJKQ and when I emailed him and called my own dentist, they both said that clays are not on the rating scale because they are not abrasive.
That’s really interesting, thank you!
Any clay can be used for toothbrushing? i have green clay
24 oct’19 now and that link for the PDF doesn’t exist anymore? … can’t find anything
Can you use liquid bentonite in any of the toothpaste recipes ?
I haven’t tried that but I bet it would work… It’s obviously going to change the texture, but liquid bentonite is just powdered bentonite mixed with water. Let us know how it works!
I went to the link for calcium magnesium powder and it only linked to calcium powder. Is that the one you use or is their a combo that’s better. Thank you!
Kim
That is the one…they stopped carrying the calcium magnesium that was not citrate form, and the one available now is harsh in the mouth.
Harsh in the mouth as in not good for the mouth, fizzy/burning sensation or both? I used cal/mag powder (NOW brand) and we have all noticed the initial fizzy/burning sensation, and I think I may have developed some tooth sensitivity from it.
If you are having trouble finding a Cal-Mag that is not citrate, try Dolomite Powder. I got the KAL brand – it’s a natural source of both Calcium Carbonate (1100mg/tsp) & Magnesium Carbonate (630mg/tsp.) I found mine at Vitamin Shoppe and they have it here on amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/KAL-Dolomite-Unflv-1730mg-16/dp/B00020HVU0/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1430370184&sr=1-1&keywords=kal+dolomite+powder.
I got it because it matched the ratios of a Cal-Mag powder that was recommended either here or on another site, I can’t remember. On amazon a reviewer mentions using it in her homemade toothpaste 🙂
Will the addition of the essential oils affect the shelf life since it’s a liquid?
Shouldn’t. In fact, essential oils are shelf stable themselves and will completely evaporate, leaving only a scent if left in the air for a short time.
So how many drops of essential oils should i use? And how do i mix it in? I love essential oils, but haven’t added any yet to make sure it won’t make it all lumpy or something. I like the powder. And so do my kids! We just spent 15 min having fun brushing our teeth with this after making it. Thank you! Also, I didn’t have any calcium magnesium powder, I plan to get some and add it later but instead I added a TBS of sea salt. Is there a reason you didn’t include sea salt in it? Also, I wanted to add like a tsp of activated charcoal powder to it, a little bit like that shouldn’t hurt right? Thanks! Been meaning to make my own toothpaste for years, I am so glad your recipe encourage me to do it finally
I’m curious about how much essential oil to use too – and if it will make it lumpy.
Beka – how did you like it with the clove & cinnamon? I’m a bit skeptical about the flavor for them.
Could you share how many drops you would use of essential oils for this recipe?
So, is there anything you recommend in place of cinnamon powder? I am allergic to cinnamon, but would still like to use this?
Just use extra cloves or mint powder… cinnamon is optional…
Hi there.
Super excited to try this out. Especially for the kiddies! Just curious though, I see it has been awhile since you posted this and had some comments on it. Do you still follow this routine? If not, how have you changed it? 🙂
Thank you 🙂
have you considered using mint flavored chlorophyll as a liquid to make it a paste instead of coconut oil? course still has many of the same qualities of BentoNite clay because it is a liquid supplement i don’t think bacterial growth would be an issue and with the Clove and cinnamon i bet the somewhat unpleasant taste would be mostly hidden also it is a natural breath freshener because it attacks the odor causing radicals in your mouth.
I had cinnamon in my teeth after brushing, is that normal? Maybe I didn’t rinse well enough?
If you haven’t tried REAL cinnamon (Ceylon cinnamon – Cinnamomum Zeylanicum aka Cinnamomum verum) you might only be allergic to the common variety (Cinnamomum cassia) sold in stores as spice and even as OTC supplements. Common cinnamon contains a liver toxin called couramin (spp?), which may be what bothers you. If you’re not dangerously allergic to cinnamon you might consider trying Ceylon cinnamon… or not. I have no idea how cinnamon affects you.
BTW I’m not claiming the tiny amount that would be in tooth powder would be poisonous even if you used common instead of Ceylon cinnamon.
Can I add diatomecous earth food grade to this recip? If so how much?
Yes. I have. It is a little more abrasive, but it works well. I have also made this without the cinnamon and clove powders. I add Myrrh to mine, as well as several drops of trace minerals.
I just did a little more research into this question as I had the same question and whereas you can indeed us D.E. there is a big difference. Bentonite clay is a clay that is mined from the earth, and it’s formed after volcanic ash has weathered and aged in the presence of water. It has a strong negative electromagnetic charge, and when activated by water, it acts like a magnet in and on our bodies, pulling metals and toxins to it., while diatomaceous earth is a powder made from fossilized phytoplankton.
You can use myrrh, it has great antibacterial properties.
I tried using Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint and baking soda two days this week and my teeth HURT! I am back to using Colgate Sensitive for now…
Dr Bronner’s? That’s soap, not essential oil!
Dr Bronners now makes toothpaste.
Dr. Bronners soaps all contain Citric Acid, which is very, very erosive. Never use this on your teeth!
I had the same problem but made my own version of this recipe and I love it! No more Sensodyne for me! I mix a small amount of turmeric in mine and instead of using plain water to get bristles wet, I use hydrogen peroxide…no more sensitive teeth!!
I have sensitive teeth! Can you give me your full recipe with the turmeric?
Question – how do you test your powder for abrasiveness? I was using a home-made powder including mineral supplements ground to a fine powder, most of it so fine it floats in the air like steam. Then I thought to feel the powder between a damp finger and thumb. *Yikes*. After the water-soluble parts are dissolved, some of what’s left feels like scouring powder. I feel very very stupid… I know that hard-bristled brushes can cause damage, and even abrasive whitening toothpastes, so why have I been scouring my teeth?? I just hope I haven’t done irreversible damage to the enamel.
So… how do you test, or what precautions do you take?
According to the abrasive ratings, this wouldn’t even be on the charts. Baking soda is actually very low abrasivity compared to most toothpastes and all the other ingredients are less abrasive than baking soda.
I went to the store today (Vitamin Shoppe) to buy the bentonite powder you link to and they told me that it was for external use-is this just a corporate precaution?
Which is better for this tooth powder, the sodium or calcium bentonite?
Calcium bentonite clay, for sure!
Katie, please define which Bentonite Clay you use in your recipe……
Sodium vs Calcium
There is a difference in ‘Bentonite Clays’ and both have different functions.
Sodium Bentonite Clay has a swelling action. (external)…good for sealing ponds.
Calcium Bentonite Clay has a detox action. (internal, non-swelling)
The Redmond Bentonite Clay is SODIUM Bentonite and most western states mine Sodium Bentonite Clay.
Calcium Bentonite Clay is mined in the SE-USA (Alabama or Mississippi).
Please understand which Bentonite Clay you are using.
Good question I was wondering the same thing
I’ve seen this warning on every bentonite clay. When I’ve called manufacturers, I’ve been told that this is a precaution because there is a trace amount of lead in bentonite (but it is bound within the clay and not released into the body)
Hi Katie!
Redmond Bentonite Clay states unequivocally that it is safe for internal use. I’ve been using this brand for years…
https://www.redmondclay.com/elemental-analysis/
Be well,
Dr. Kim
There are different grades. Make sure you purchase food grade.
I thank you for the wonderful Chritmas gift ideas! I made both your remineralizing tooth powder and lotions bars for my husband and myself for Xmas. I also tried the eye shadow of arrowroot and charcoal-and that’s after 50 years of no makeup whatsoever due to allergies! Fun.. The lotion bars are such fun and we both just tried our individual bottles of tooth powder. We both really liked the feeling after using the powders. You have such fantastic DIY ideas, I thank you so much for creating them all and for sharing! Happy Holidays
Hi, I am wondering if you know if this recipe is safe for kids that have caps and fillings. They are metal and I see the clay pulls metals so I don’t knwo if it would be safe.
I am also curious about the bentonite clay and amalgam (metal) fillings… would this be a problem?
I’d like to know the answer to this too… I’ve been using a bentonite Clay toothpaste I made, and I find that the teeth that have amalgam fillings feel sensitive…
I’ve been using my bentonite toothpaste every day for three years. I have a gold cap and I haven’t had any problems. I use to use a sensitive toothpaste because of the sensitivity when I had cold or sometimes hot beverages. I don’t have that problem with my bentonite paste. Actually I have a hole in my tooth that I have had for about 4 years. Every time I go to the Dentist he says it’s fine, it actually looks like it’s healing itself. Weird, but I don’t have any pain. I haven’t told him I use natural, homemade toothpaste and mouth wash. I think it’s worth a try, it’s all natural and a lot cheaper then purchasing them from the store.
Amalgam fillings eventually pull away from your tooth anyway, and they should be replaced if at all possible, especially in adult teeth. Many people find that they will have cavities around the fillings after several years. Many insurance policies will pay for this, but check before you schedule!
How long does this tooth powder mixture last you? I will be traveling for a while and am hoping to mix up enough before I leave.
Thank you!
Judith
One batch lasts me several months.
I am no sure that is true. Baking soda is VERY abrasive.
Baking soda is not that abrasive at all.
I am using a very similar tooth powder and I was concerned about it being abrasive. I went to the dentist last week and they said my teeth showed no signs of being abraded and to continue using it because my teeth looked great!
Did you know that all toothpastes contain sand? I don’t worry about this type of tooth cleaning. it’s far less abrasive than commercial toothpaste. BTW, soft bristled brushes are always preferable and they get deeper between teeth.
Balking soda is a fine polish. It may be mixed with soap and used to clean any hard surface, without dulling, except for plastic – it will dull plastic. In water, soda can become an emulsion like toothpaste if the water is kept to a minimum. A thick emulsion of soda and soap will strip any grease off the hands in no time.
Therefore baking soda should be safe for teeth because tooth enamel is one of the hardest things.
To prevent cavities, I have resorted to chemical warfare. I have received my first perfect tooth checkup after six months of Oil of Oregano. I first dissolve the bacterial film with a rinse of ascorbic acid and water (Vitamin C). However ascorbic acid cannot be left on the teeth because, I believe, ascorbic acid will dissolve enamel. So after the Vitamin C rinse, I quickly rinse with a baking soda and water solution. Soda neutralizes the C and prevents any damage.
At night, I use a mouthwash of glycerin, Oil of Oregano, and Xylitol. I add 1/2 eyedropper of the Oregano to 1 oz glycerin, preferably organic palm glycerin. I separately mix Xylitol and water until the solution is saturated and will not take any more Xylitol. I then add 1 oz saturated Xylitol to the glycerin and Oregano Oil.
At bedtime, I use about 1/2 eyedropper of the final mix as a mouthwash. Distribute this on the teeth for about 5 minutes. The glycerin will draw lots of moisture into the mouth and create a large bolus. Then spit this out because the Oregano is very potent and should not be swallowed. Oil of Oregano has been studied for killing every type of bacteria, fungus, and mold. Xylitol has been shown to reverse cavities.
Is there any other recommendations for xylitol? It has been ruled out of my diet due to systemic yeast I have been tested for.
I, too, suffer from systematic candida fungal yeast overgrowth in my body. I’m in the middle of a 4-month cleanse program. Anyhow, from my research, xylitol derived from corn IS something that feeds candida. However, xylitol derived from the birch tree does not (it’s extracted from birch cellulose to be exact). In fact, it has some antifungal properties. It has been clinically proven to fight dental cavities, and helps to facilitate the remineralization of tooth enamel. It also helps to stabilize sugar in your body, something we candida overgrowth sufferers have to make sure we keep in check.
Btw, I found some birch-derived xylitol over on Amazon that you can purchase in bulk. Hope that helps you out!
Thanks for the info. I will definitely look into as that is the reason I’m making this powder, for the reversal of cavities.
I’m on my second round of treatment and I’m in sugar bondage ?
Will probably be doing another round. It’s a daily battle, no?
Hey all,
I’ve read that while xylitol doesn’t contribute directly to candida, it can kill off the beneficial bacteria that you need to combat the yeast the way that any sugar alcohol type of product can, so I wouldn’t swallow a lot of it if you’re actively battling candida. Should be okay in toothpaste that you’d just spit out., in my opinion.
By the way, I’ve just recently cleared up a candida situation I had for a number of years. In my case, the problem was related to endometriosis left unmanaged as well various other factors, I’m sure. I tried everything to get rid of the yeast, and the easiest and most successful treatment by far was taking caprylic acid with every meal for a few weeks AND following it up with the “Health-Ade” brand of Kombucha. I’ve tried all kinds of probiotics and I have to emphasize that you need something that contains Saccharomyces boulardii, which is a beneficial alternative strain of yeast found in Lychee and mangosteen. That’s the only thing that ever helped me in a permanent way. This yeast settles in and doesn’t hurt you, and instead excretes caprylic acid as part of its life cycle, which continuously kills off candida overgrowth. This Kombucha has the boulardii and a number of other great probiotics which have helped me tremendously to stabilize my gut flora situation. I think you can also get this strain in a pill form from a number of products, but if you live somewhere in which you’ve seen this Kombucha brand in the stores, snatch it up and you won’t be disappointed. Hope this helps!
I was wondering about the sensitivity issues. Mine are horribly sensitive if I don’t use A&H Sensitive.
I am following up after using this tooth powder for about a month now. I switched from a powder I bought to convert from “healthy” toothpaste. Within a few days a large percentage of my painful sensitivities were gone. I can actually enjoy a couple bites of chocolate or a cookie! I don’t think I’ve used half what this recipe made and most days I brush two or three times. I also LOVE using a four thieves EO blend for sore spots. But careful! It can send ALL facial fluids into overdrive. After a little crying, however, the numbing and healing effects kick in and get to work. I rinse with an herbal dental tincture. Thanks for the recipe!!
One other question. I have a lot of porcelain crowns and mercury fillings, will the clay be a problem with pulling these out? Thanks!
I do know that if you haven’t had the mercury removed, then that is leaching into your body and probably being deposited into your organs. There are only a select number of dentists that can safely remove them and undergo a proper protocol. Many have no idea what they are doing when they are removing mercury, so it is best to do your research and find out which ones have the proper procedures implements and facilities. Therefore benonite clay isn’t going to help completely if you don’t have them replaced.