Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
I’ve talked before about the link between nutrition and oral health and the ability of teeth to remineralize and regenerate and shared my own experience with reversing a cavity. The approach I used was two-part: addressing mineral levels in the body/saliva and using a natural remineralizing toothpaste that provided minerals to the surface of the teeth.
A Remineralizing Toothpaste
There is a lot of emerging information about tooth remineralization, a process that many dentists previously thought was impossible. This article goes into detail about the science behind tooth remineralization and the dietary steps necessary. (It also explains why ingredients in most toothpastes, even natural ones, are not optimal!) I also did a podcast interview with a dentist who explains the science of remineralization (listen here).
The information I found in researching this was mirrored by my own experience over the last few years with natural toothpastes and a remineralizing diet.
Natural Toothpaste
I’ve noticed definite changes in my teeth over the last few years of using this toothpaste. My teeth are whiter than they’ve ever been and everyone who I’ve asked to try this remineralizing toothpaste has remarked that it makes their teeth feel very clean.
The most surprising change in my teeth, however, was that they are no longer sensitive to cold! For as long as I can remember, biting into anything cold (or even thinking of it!) made me shudder and hurt my front teeth. After switching toothpaste, I noticed that I could eat cold foods without my teeth hurting at all. I have never been able to do that before!
This toothpaste recipe is kid-approved, and since it has no fluoride, it is safe on babies, toddlers, and those with thyroid problems.
Remineralizing Toothpaste Recipe
Yield
Materials
- 5 parts calcium carbonate powder (you can use cleaned powdered egg shells!)
- 1 part diatomaceous earth (optional, contains trace minerals and silica. UPDATE: A reader noted that DE can be abrasive and is not needed with the baking soda, so if you don’t have DE… no worries!)
- 2 parts baking soda
- 3 parts xylitol powder (optional, helps with taste)
- 3-5 parts coconut oil
- essential oils (such as mint, cinnamon, orange, and myrrh, optional)
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together the calcium powder, diatomaceous earth, baking soda, and xylitol.
- Add the coconut oil one part at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
- Add any optional essential oils for flavor.
- Store in small container such as a ½ pint glass jar.
- To use, either dip a clean toothbrush into it, or use a popsicle stick or small spoon to scoop it onto the toothbrush.
Notes
The Internal Side of Remineralization
It is really important to note that remineralization is not a process that happens only in the mouth and that simply using a toothpaste (like the one above) with a higher concentration of minerals will not likely be enough to help teeth. Remineralization is a whole-body process and in order for it to happen, the body must have adequate levels of certain nutrients, especially fat-soluble vitamins and certain minerals.
When I was actively working on remineralizing my teeth, I focused on consuming a very specific nutrient-rich diet, reducing mineral binders like phytic acid in the foods I ate, and adding other lifestyle factors that boosted nutrient levels.
You can read my daily oral health routine in this post.
These additional factors like consuming enough minerals and fat-soluble vitamins are important not only because they support the body as a whole, but also because they create more mineral-rich saliva, which is the body’s delivery system for necessary nutrients to the teeth.
How Saliva Benefits Oral Health
In short: Saliva is the way teeth remineralize!
On a practical level, teeth are remineralized through the saliva being washed over the teeth. Without proper nutrient levels in the body, saliva will also be deficient in the minerals teeth need for optimal strength. Clearly, we must have sufficient nutrition in our diet in order to have the necessary minerals present in the saliva to support remineralization.
The importance of enough saliva for the prevention of tooth decay is well established. There are multiple theories about the origin of tooth decay:
- That decay occurs due to acids from bacteria in the mouth digesting sugars; or
- That tooth decay occurs when there is an imbalance between the demineralization of the enamel surface and remineralization produced by the return of mineral ions into enamel (as explained by Rami Nagel in his book, Cure Tooth Decay)
Whichever theory is correct, saliva is important, as the frequent stimulation of saliva, especially after the intake of sugars, will help to dilute and buffer plaque acid, bring extra mineral ions into the plaque fluid and thereby promote remineralization.
Saliva Reduces Bacteria that Cause Gum Disease and Tooth Decay
Research shows a clear relationship between declining saliva production with age and the increased risk of gum disease with age. Saliva contains a whole host of vital substances for our immune system.
For example, lactoferrin is one compound naturally found in saliva. Lactoferrin is part of our innate immune system and is one of our key front lines of defense. Lactoferrin binds iron in the mouth depriving the gum-damaging bacteria the iron necessary for them to flourish.
Saliva is also a rich source of necessary enzymes. Of the salivary enzymes involved in maintaining the ecology of the mouth, one of the first to be recognized was the enzyme lysozyme, which appears to work by destabilizing the cell wall of bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease.
Saliva Reestablishes Healthy pH in the Mouth
The mouth has its own complex ecology that must be kept in balance for optimal oral health. This includes a bacterial aspect, the presence of enough minerals, and maintaining the proper pH. While we can most effectively address optimizing the pH of the mouth through immune supporting protocols like a nutrient dense diet, restful sleep, and healthy coping tools for stress, saliva clearly plays a key role in the actual mechanism of establishing what the pH of our mouth is going to be at any given time.
How to Increase Saliva Production
The principle “Use it or Lose it” applies when discussing saliva production. We must exercise our ability to produce saliva or deal with a dry mouth and all the ails that come with decreased saliva production.
While we naturally produce additional saliva when eating, the extra benefits to our health of the increased saliva are offset by the main job of saliva during eating, to begin the digestion process. Therefore, it can be helpful to increase saliva production through other methods, like this:
Step 1: Gather any saliva in your mouth into a pool on your tongue. Now using the musculature of the throat, draw the saliva back and forth from the back of the tongue to just behind the front teeth then back again several times (we recommend 30-50 repetitions). With practice, this action will increase the amount of saliva present in the mouth.
Step 2: Once you have a large pool of saliva on your tongue, give your teeth and gums a bath with your increased saliva! We call swishing with saliva “swashing” because it’s like you are swishing and washing at the same time. Swash with the increased saliva for a minute or two then swallow it down and let the saliva now support greater digestion in the stomach!
This is such a simple technique even young children can do it. This video explains more:
Using a natural toothpaste can also help increase saliva production. I’ve noticed a saliva increase with this remineralizing toothpaste, and also with the OraWellness Brushing Blend.
Ever made your own toothpaste? Share your recipe and thoughts below!
Love it! Cleans really well.
Thank you for your valuable information! I am very interested in natural sciences and even What so called Dentist do not know these types of information. All they know is plucking out you teeth when you have cavities! They even say cavities can only be treated by filling and root canal! You are doing great job by helping millions of people!
Hello Wellness Mama! I have been reading your blog for a while now and it is truly a treasure trove of health information! I am currently trying to remineralize my teeth and was wondering if it’s absolutely necessary to use a homemade toothpaste? Or at least use a glycerin-free toothpaste? Last year, my dentist said I have a soft spot on one of my teeth. I suspect that the pH of my mouth turned more acidic after a VERY stressful period last year, which caused the soft spot, and my dentist agrees with me. Since then I’ve been monitoring the pH of my saliva daily with pH strips. The pH level seems under control now, but I’m still looking for ways to remineralize my soft spot. I’ve been following a Weston A. Price-style diet for the past year to remineralize it, but so far no luck. I’ve been soaking nuts and grains, eliminating sugar and processed foods, drinking bone broth, consuming high-quality fats, etc. as well as oil pulling daily and drinking horsetail tea regularly (for the silica content) but at my last dental visit, the soft spot was still there. So disheartening! I’m currently still using conventional toothpaste (Colgate Cavity Protection), so I’m starting to think that the glycerin in the toothpaste is preventing proper remineralization. However, other research claims that it has no effect! I’m confused and at a loss as to what to do. I’d like to make my own remineralizing toothpaste, but there are so many claims about the abrasiveness of baking soda, diatomaceous earth and bentonite clay that I’m still a little concerned. Can anyone clear up if they’re safe to use?? Thank you so much for all the knowledge and tutorials you bring to us!
If you don’t make your own, this is the only one I’d personally recommend using: https://wellnesse.com/products/toothpaste
Thank you, I will definitely be checking out this toothpaste! 🙂
Could powdered calcium citrate be substituted? I have this on hand already. Thanks
Also, I’ve been using a recipe that calls for bentonite clay with most of these other ingredients. But apparently you shouldn’t use it if you have metal fillings, and have to mis it in without metal.
Hi
Can I use MCT oil instead of coconut oil?
MCT oil doesn’t have the same nutrient profile as unrefined virgin coconut oil and is lacking the beneficial lauric acid. Also, because it’s a liquid instead of a solid it would likely make the toothpaste much too runny.
Hi all!! What is a good way to clean egg shells and remove the membrane?? I have read to use a vinegar soak, but with the acidity, would it not deplete the calcium and trace minerals from the shells? Many thanks!!
Question…I would like to use egg shells for the calcium carbonate, but what is the best way to clean them without stripping/depleting the calcium or trace minerals out? I have seen to use a vinegar soak, but vinegar is acidic. Pulling the membrane out after use is time consuming when you have a 1.9 year old lol Many thanks!!
where can i buy a already made version of this that does not have
-essential oils
-baking soda
-i don’t care if it has diatomous earth in it or not
-i am open to it having other remineralizing things such as hydroxyapatite/actually kind of want that, and other non toxic minerals
-i don’t want it to have any glycerin
does anyone know of any? i am also looking for a remineralizing mouthwash with the above mentioned qualifications
Here you go: https://wellnesse.com/products/toothpaste
It doesn’t have baking soda or essential oils right?
Dear God, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don’t use diatomaceous earth!!!! It contains a host of chemicals and is routinely used as a pesticide! It has also been linked to silicosis and as a source of exposure to asbestos both for the consumer as well as the people mining the DE.
It seems irresponsible to recommend people put this chemical in their mouths with the possibility of ingesting these dangerous chemicals. http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html#whatis
Diatomaceus earth is used in pesticides and with chemicals but is not itself filled with them. On its own, if it is food grade, it is just a powder made from the fossilized remains of algae and is largely silica. It can be used as an insecticide because the silica removes the waxy coating from insects and they die of dehydration, but it is a physical action and not a chemical one.
I’ve been using this recipe for a while, and I’m so glad I found it because I have not been able to find a store brand that excludes certain common toothpaste ingredients. I do have one question about this recipe – does “safe for babies and toddlers” translate to “safe if swallowed?”
Yes 🙂
I s there something besides coconut oil I can use? I can’t handle the texture.
You can use MCT oil instead…
Can you please let me know if we can substitute stevia powder for xylitol? And if yes, can you please let me know how much to add?
Thanks very much!
Love this recipe! Been using it for a while! Although every time I make it I wonder how much essential oils to put in that would be safe? Usually your recipes have a suggested number of drops. Thanks!
What is the shelf life on this?
Hey, I was told I have advanced gum disease. My teeth are currently sensitive. I tried brushing with a homemade bentonite clay and essential oils toothpaste from a naturopath but that made my teeth feel more sensitive. Then I tried a toothpowder with bentonite and charcoal from a naturopath, but that made my teeth too sensitive. Then I tried powdered eggshells from organic eggs with the brown shells, that was too gritty and seemed abrasive.
So is it normal for these toothpastes and toothpowder’s to make the teeth feel more sensitive at first? My teeth seemed to do better with the conventional toothpaste but since people who go healthy say all of those chemicals are bad, I have tried the above toothpastes and powders but my teeth are more yellow and translucent looking.
I thought about trying dr bronners or Redmond’s earth paste
Thanks.
I don’t know enough to be able to fully help you with your problem, but I can say that switching toothpastes, including to this recipe, did not make my teeth more sensitive. I only use the coconut oil, baking soda, and calcium carbonate. That mix doesn’t seem overly gritty to me, so you might find it a better texture than with the eggshells. I think I have read that charcoal can take out minerals, as in I think I read that some people feel you shouldn’t use charcoal regularly, so that is something you could research further. If that is true, perhaps that is why you found your sensitivity was increased by that recipe. As far as the store brand pastes, I, personally, was unable to find any that didn’t have undesirable ingredients. One you might want to investigate is glycerin. I had read it also takes minerals away, and it seems it is in all the natural pastes. Sorry to be so discouraging in my reply, but these are the things I’ve come across. I have heard people talk about holistic dentists. I do not have any in my area, but perhaps you can find one near you. My teeth are a bit on the yellow side too, but I think that is a bit of genetics and a bit of coffee staining. If your enamel is damaged, I believe that would make your teeth look more yellow. This article has a link for Ramiel Nagel’s book, Cure Tooth Decay. If you have not investigated that route, I think that would be a good one for you to look into. Good luck to you; I know it is hard to keep pushing forward with trial and error, especially when you are experiencing pain or discomfort at the same time.
Nadia,
If you haven’t found a great toothpaste yet, you could try NFco. It’s natural and made for sensitive teeth. Made with xylitol and no SLS or fluoride. I don’t work for them and haven’t tried it, but remembered it when I read your comment. I hope your teeth are better!