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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
Ingredients
- 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!
Thanks for this recipe I will definitely be making this…may I add that the diatomaceous earth should be FOOD grade…and I love the info in the comments too. Cheers!!
https://askthedentist.com/diy-toothpaste/
I’m just gona leave This here for anyone who’s confused about the safety of the ingredients
Can you use fractionated coconut oil in this recipe? I have use coconut oil and it ends up clumping and getting hard. Still good but just harder to use. I also use green stevia instead of the xylitol cause it bothers my gut. The green is a little earthy but still good and not overpowering.
Hi Katie Wells, what does the coconut oil do? Can I skip it all together?
It provides a lot of the volume of the base of the recipe. You can omit, but it will completely change the texture. Coconut oil is also naturally antibacterial so it can help battle bacteria in the mouth.
Hi wellnessmama thank you so much for the great teeth remineralization ideas and tips. I use the coconut oil+oregano essential swishing for 15min and then brushing the teeth using the above remineralizing tooth paste that I have made since 1 to 2 yrs continuously and earlier on amd off. Now i found that my front teeth are turning yellow and also black discoloration between the teeth. So I underwent light scaling and now i find that its again turning yellow Please help me
You should actually be brushing first and then oil pulling because the oil pulling temporarily softens the enamel. You don’t want to brush afterwards. I have a hunch that might be why you’re having the issues you stated.
Like elsewhere there’s good bacteria and bad bacteria.. some bacteria cause cavities, but the good bacteria, on the tongue, creates nitric oxide which is extremely healthy for your heart and arteries..
Hey wellness mama ? any methods for keeping the paste from solidifying? I love it but it’s a little difficult to use once the coconut oil cooled (I warmed it to mix initially) and solidified.
Thanks for all you do, been following you for 9 years!
You can replace some of the coconut oil with liquid fractionated coconut oil to keep it from hardening so much.
Does this have a shelf life?
Thank you for this recipe!!!! It is amazing!!!
I used a tsp for my ratio, and I added 1/2 of orange flavor (trying to make it kid approved).
I didn’t get my Xyitol to a fine powder, so I added a tsp of vodka that way it would dissolve.
This is the absolute best recipe for toothpaste!
Is it safe to use baking soda twice a day ?
As a dental hygienist and orofacial myofunctional therapist, I say that there is alot of very abrasive ingredients. I would put a caution on using the antacids as they are bad if you swallow and you will swallow some. I would not use the DE if using Baking soda. Use the DE separate internally for removing the mercury from your body and other minerals but take organic minerals in the morning. Chalk is not good these days. But I do think you can make your own calcium from egg shells if you have well grown eggs. So use that. I love the coconut oil and just spit all out as it draws out toxins. Xylitol is good and will sweeten so no need for stevia. Castille soap ok or use the Master Miracle II soap. We want white teeth along with good oral hygiene so the oil will whiten and you can use some food grade peroxide along with grapefruit seed extract just a tad will whiten and clean. We do not want to remove the enzymes in the mouth for digestion, however, so eat later is you use the peroxide.
Melinda, what do you use to brush with?
I was just about to ask if using powdered eggs shells will work. I raise ducks and always have a bucket of egg shells that I feed back to the ducks or use in the garden. I thought using the leftover shells from hardboiling might work.
How much food grade hydrogen peroxide would you add?
Can’t use peroxide if you have amalgam fillings
I like this information you share! It’s always great to get professional opinions. From my own experience, I would like to share the results of this toothpaste (and I don’t know the author of this page). I have been using this toothpaste recipe for almost 3 years and my gum recession is completely reversed. Every time I go to the dentist, they rave about how healthy my teeth and gums are… my mom said she can’t use any other toothpaste except this one because it controls her sensitive teeth. I would absolutely recommend the Diatomaceous Earth and the baking soda together. It is not too abrasive for my mouth. I had sensitive teeth and receding gums prior to using this, so I am a huge advocate for this recipe.
Do you mind if I re-post your article om my facebook?
not at all 🙂
Instead of purchasing calcuim and diatomaceous earth, try grinding organic egg shells. They have a large mineral content, along with 26 other trace minerals that our bodies need.
That should have read large calcium content 😉 Also, I have to ask…why the soap?
The soap just helps break down the oil and makes it “foam” a little
like “regular” toothpaste.
Have I missed something? There is no castille soap listed in the recipe ??
Thats another great idea. I can also vouch for the other methods I’ve
tried: ground up chalk, calcium tablets or Tums.
I’d think that Tums would NOT be a good addition to anything. I just found this online:
Active Ingredients: Calcium Carbonate USP (500 mg) (Antacid)
Inactive Ingredients: Sucrose, Calcium Carbonate, Corn Starch, Talc, Mineral Oil, Natural & Artificial Flavors, Adipic Acid, Sodium Polyphosphate, Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, FD&C Yellow 5 Lake (Tartrazine), Blue 1 Lake.
Oh yah, no. Tums are very unhealthy. Good call 7LibertyForAll.
I agree. Tums ( and other antacids) actually draw calcium out of the body.
or coral calcium!!!
dolomite powder
You said, “or coral calcium!!!”.
I came back to read the comments, after reading the original post years ago, because I was looking to make some more and while looking for the calcium I came across coral calcium and wanted to make sure it was okay to use this. But, it seems you’re suggesting not to and I really would like to know why –if you don’t mind responding, it is really appreciated.
Peace,
Deitra
Where do you get the castille soap and diatomaceous earth?
You can find liquid castille soap in most grocery stores now, or
order online. Dr. Bronners is a popular brand. Diatomaceous Earth
can be a little harder to find, but it is even available on Amazon
now. Just make sure the DE is food grade and it should be fine.
Go to a pet store that sells lizards, they have the best DE.
Great idea… would never have thought of that!
the only problem i see with that, is it’s for animals not humans.
But even food grade can mean just for animals. And not human.
I found some food grade DE at Walmart 😀
That seems like a great recipe too. I tried a few versions like that,
and just had trouble getting past the color… but they do work well.
The difference would be the addition of the calcium/minerals in this
recipe, especially if decay/cavities/sensitivity are a problem for you.
I’ve been using a version of a recipe like this:
http://frugalgranola.com/2011/05/frugal-natural-homemade-toothpaste/
Its the first homemade toothpaste I’ve done and it’s worked well. The first couple days I had to adjust to the saltiness I wasn’t used to, but since than no problems at all. Seems to work very well.
Not that I plan on eating it, but how does it taste? I have a sensitive gag reflex!
Me too right now, lol!
It isn’t bad at all. The xylitol/stevia counteracts any bitterness
from the baking soda, and the calcium is pretty tasteless. The
toughest part to get used to is the mild coconut texture/flavor.
Also, adding the essential oils helps a lot with the taste.
Am I doing something wrong? I am following the recipe and the taste of the toothpaste is shocking. That’s the only way I can describe it. There is no way my kids are going to put this in their mouths more than once.
I’m interested if you got any response to this. I made this and it is positively gross. The saltiness from the baking soda and the sweetness from the xylitol is intolerable. I am so bummed. What is the problem?
Try adding miracle fruit powder
The recipe says xylitol powder. The xylitol I got is granulated. Do I need to grind it to powder or will the granulated sugar melt?
I made two batches of this during the week. I ended up making the second batch because the granules didn’t dissolve. I liked it much better after I used a grinder on the xylitol.
Do the other ingredients eliminate the flavor of the castile soap? I tried a mix between unflavored/unscented castile soap and baking soda recently, and they soap flavor that lingered in my mouth afterwards was too much. I had to brush with conventional toothpaste to get rid of it. 🙁
Yeah, they mask it well. I’ve tried different mixes of just the soap
and baking soda, and I agree… its bad! Even my one year old doesn’t
mind the taste of this one, and it is a HUGE improvement over the
soap/baking soda mix!
What am I missing? I don’t see castille soap in the recipe? Been a long week… maybe my eyes are just too tired 🙂
That was in the recipe before it was updated…
Is there some way to see the original recipe that contained the castle soap? I’ve been searching all over your site for it & was beginning to think I’d gone crazy & that it was never here to begin with, lol!
Kuwanna, I use the baby castile bar soap. What makes it very doable is that I use 1/4 tsp xylitol with it. I put the xylitol in my mouth first, run my toothbrush over the bar soap, and then brush – you’ll get lots of foam. Sometimes, I’ll add a few drops of peppermint oil, but it’s really nice with just the soap and xylitol. For the xylitol to be effective, it’s recommended that we leave it on our teeth 5 minutes at least 3 times per day so I try to do that.
I agree with JM that Xylitol is not a healthy option
Rather than using the Castile soap , if you want the foamy feature try putting a few drops of food grade hydrogen peroxide on your brush before adding your toothpaste. I soak my tooth brushes in H P to sanitize them and even after rinsing before using, it will foam up. Has a whitening affect as well. You could just dip your brush in diluted H P and water before adding your paste. I ran this by my Dentist and he said as long as it is diluted it will harm the teeth.
Correction
Sorry, I meant to say that my dentist said that diluted Hydrogen peroxide will not harm the teeth
why in the world would you brush with castille soap?
The baking soda and DE aren’t too abrasive?
Nope. I’ve emailed this question to several dentists, and they aren’t
the DE is certainly optional, but everyone I’ve talked to agreed that
in those amounts, they wouldn’t be abrasive. In fact, my natural
dentist actually recommended just brushing with baking soda (i just
hate the taste!)
I used to brush with just baking soda and I did find it much too abrasive. I’d be willing to try this recipe but I won’t go back to exlusive use of just baking soda.
Baking soda is not abrasive at all if you dissolve it in water first. I keep my mix dry and don’t make it into paste, so no coconut oil or liquid ingredients except essential oils are in my mix. I just take about a about a quarter teaspoon of powder in a shot glass and mix with water. I dip my toothbrush in the liquid and brush. The leftover is used as a mouthwash. It works really well. Stores forever. The dentist has had several watch spots in my mouth for the last three years. He says I’ve been doing really well. I know why they stopped decaying. I quit using commercial toothpaste.
A pinch of this powder is awesome anytime of the day to freshen the mouth and neutralize mouth ph.
So, Jen, you don’t follow the recipe above using coconut oil or castile soap? A little confused…
Hi veronica, I think she is saying that she makes it more like this: https://wellnessmama.com/5252/remineralizing-tooth-powder/ and then adds water each night as she uses it.
The problem with baking soda comes over time: when combined with water, free radicals are released (they can cause cancer) that are able to penetrate the enamel, breaking a certain type of chemical bond in the stains that lets the stains break up and lighten in color as they dissipate. Well, it turns out that it can actually wear away your tooth enamel permanently, and in addition to never being able to get it back, it’ll be more prone to sensitivity and cavities.
I’d highly suggest the book Cure Tooth Decay (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1434810607/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wellnessmama-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1434810607) for some great information about remineralizing enamel and what actually causes it to break down.
maybe the type of baking soda is the problem, commercial supermarket stuff has an aluminium content, try organic.
Common confusion:
Baking SODA does not have aluminum in it.
It’s baking POWDER that the store-bought variety has aluminum. (at home it is easily made with baking soda and cream of tartar)
my dad has used salt and soda for over 70 years, his dentist has always remarked at the lack of tartar build up and general health of his mouth so…….
Great input.
Thanks for sharing your method.I have been driving myself crazy as I transition to baking soda trying to shake it on toothbrush unsuccessfully. I don’t want to contaminate the jar with my nasty toothbrush. Also I want to start using a baking soda rinse after I eat acidic foods/beverages. So simple, so brilliant!
Rebecca, Dr. Tullio Simoncini is a medical doctor in Italy who has done more than anyone to explore the uses of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) as an alkaline therapy against cancer. It is known that cancer creates and favors an acid environment and because of this, Dr. Simoncini and others have used baking soda as an alkaline therapeutic agent.
Hi
I have just found out the amazing benefits of xylitol for gum protection and healing. You have noted that it is only for taste- NO!
To keep it cheap but safe and effective can you use just use baking soda and coconut oil? And if so how would this recipe be mixed.
I use Dr. Bronner’s organic bar soap for brushing. Is this good?
I have been using it since many months continuously now. I find that my teeth are turning yellow on front surface and black in between teeth and required scaling. Please do help me
I’m enjoying this discussion, too. I’ve been using sea salt when I brush, which is less often than I used to. Since plaque tends to push plaque under the gums, it can actually cause more problems. I’m using a blotting brush on the gumline, though, which I found on http://www.curetoothdecay.com. The sea salt works well for that, too. That’s because I have a lot of recession in my gums and don’t want to make it worse. I also do some swishing with sea salt and some oil pulling. I want to get some dental tape, which is supposed to be better than floss.
I’m intrigued with the idea of subbing Celtic sea salt for the baking soda in this recipe. Thoughts?
it should work as long as it is finely powdered enough…
I just made up a small batch to try, and I didn’t actually follow the above ratios, I just kinda threw it all together to see whether it would be palatable. First, since my Celtic is coarse ground, I mostly dissolved it in water (b/c I was too impatient to wait for full dissolution, lol). My cal-mag powder is gritty, plus I added DE, so I figured that covered my abrasives. Then coconut oil, stevia, and clove essential oil. The water used to dissolve the salt, mixed in well, and kept it from being too coconut oily. I will have to use less salt, though, as it is overpowering. I mostly wanted it for the added minerals.
I’m interested in adding myrrh, at a later time, as I’ve been reading about its great properties.
It tastes similar to my tooth cleanser from Tropical Traditions.
Natural sea Salt is good……….. but try the King of Salts….Himilayan pink rock salt….its even got extra minerals for re-mineralisation!
I mixed a basic one and I’m almost positive it was half and half and I used only a drop or two of peppermint essential oil (therapeutic, and a little goes a long way!). I actually use a baby spoon to get some out and put it on my toothbrush. It lasts a really long time!
Side note: I do NOT spit my toothpaste made with coconut oil down the drain! I use a small bowl or spit it into some toilet paper and throw it away. Yes, it is a liquid in warm weather, but you really do NOT want it gathering with other things at any point in your drainage system, especially once it starts getting colder. That is a recipe for disaster. I actually run hot water while I’m brushing to get the pipes further down warm. I have been trying DIY face and hair and body cleansers in the shower, but still worry about the pipes. We live in the country and they are our own problem if they bust. 🙁
My dentist, who was amazing and just retired (I have fibro and all of the horrible teeth problems that come with it and the meds) and he insisted that I stop using anything but a water pic on the low setting. My gums are also receding and my bruxism is so bad that I’ve broken my own teeth too many times for me to remember. He said that only the water pic would effectively help remove the food that was getting pushed and packed between my teeth and under my gums without further harming them. He said it didn’t need to be anything fancy or expensive, just a basic water pic. It has definitely helped!!! It feels weird at first and it was hard for me to remember to lab over the sink with my mouth only barely open to let the water come out and not choke me, but not quite enough to spray water around the bathroom. 🙂
I can totally relate to what you are saying. I have started to use re-mineralizing homemade tooth paste with an electric tooth brush and after 3 uses I see a difference already. I do not use the water pic anymore. Heck there is fluoride in our drinking water…it is going on my teeth and harming them. The pic really did not help that much. I also got rid of all the grains from my diet ( a big adjustment but worth it) and that is reattaching my teeth and helping my bleeding gums. I expect to rebuild my gums and teeth with my good diet and re-mineralizing…
Two years ago I suddenly started having a bizarre dryness reaction in my mouth. It was so bad that my mouth completely dried out and the lips, cheeks & soft tissues would adhere to my teeth. It was horribly uncomfortable. Not knowing what to do, I stopped using any and all mouth products and began brushing with just plain baking soda. Unlike others, I find the taste to be sweet and not bitter. Within a short time the condition disappeared. And as an extra bonus, happily, when I had my teeth cleaned professionally after 2 years there was little plaque build up! I now still use only the baking soda but add a drop of an immune building essential oil called Spice-C to the brush. I may try to combine it with coconut oil which is strangely the same mixture I mix up for natural deodorizer!! Who knew I could make the same recipe for armpits AND teeth!! lol
I, too, had that dry mouth problem and when I ceased using Dessert Essence treat oil toothpaste with wintergreen, and substituted another Perhaps you did too?
By the way, tea tree oil toothpaste is said to prevent gum disease, and so far so good!
just be careful with tea tree oil products-they can dissolve the glue in your crowns
And be careful if you have cats. Tea Tree Oil is deadly to cats
My mum used salt rinse and bi carb rinses when going through radiation therapy and Chemo, because of dry mouth and it really did help. It also helped with the excess mucus from her nasal passages that dripped into her throat, as she had a nasopharyngeal carcinoma. I was wondering if you could use Bentonite clay instead of DE?
What is Bi-carb? I’ll be starting radiation treatment soon.
Do you wonder if this is due to toxins coming out? I and my partner both had this painful dry mouth canker sore condition and we wonder if the solution is too basic in pH.
Hahaha. I know! Thanks for sharing!
Interesting. I’ve just started using my deodorant for toothpaste, too! 🙂
My holistic Dentist, recommends baking soda mixed with salt and to finish up with aloe gel 🙂
What do you do with the aloe gel? Brush it on?
I’ve used DE on my teeth and it was great at removing stains but I am concerned about every day use. I keep hearing that DE will wear away the enamel because it is like broken glass. Do you still feel the DE is not too abrasive in this amount? Do you use DE in your own toothpaste recipe and how is your enamel? Sorry for so many questions.
teeth were designed to eat/chew abraisive things, have faith in your body. 3 min of brushing on healthy teeth………no problem-:)
OK but what about 1000 minutes a year?
DE IS NOT broken glass. You are hearing completely incorrect information and this is a pretty big fallacy that I see going around. DE and glass are both made from the mostly the same substance (amorphous silica), but then again Humans and the Ocean are also made from mostly the same substance (water) so that must mean we are the same right?
Diatomecous Earth is mined from large chunks of rock that are made from millions of years of fossilized phyto-plankton called Diatoms and then ground down into a fine powder. It is not made by grinding down glass. Glass is made by superheating Silica (generally from sand) along with Calcium Carbonate and Sodium Carbonate to temperatures in excess of 1000 degrees Celsius (and as high as 1700 Celsius or 3000 Fahrenheit).
Diatomecous earth is only about as abrasive as light sand paper. The reason it “cuts” parasites up in the digestion tract is because of how sensitive parasites and worms bodies are and not because of how sharp D.E. is.
I wouldn’t use it powdered in a toothpaste though, as it contains a small amount of crystalline silica. When inhaled, it can cause silicosis in your lungs which can kill you. Doesn’t seem like a good risk to take in my opinion.
Hi wellnessmama i made this toothpaste and really like how it works. But is it suppose to get hard after i make it.? Its really hard to get out when it hardens. What am i doing wrong. Thanks.
Coconut oil hardens in a low room temperature, in summer or a more heated room it will stay pretty liquid. I cook with it all the time and it’s so much easier in the summer! You could microwave it a few seconds or put the container in a dish of hot water to soften it up.
I keep my coconut oil in the cupboard with the water heater. it melts only a couple of tablespoons
Definitely don’t microwave things you want to keep healthy?
Microwaves aren’t “unhealthy” they occur naturally all around us all the time, nor do the microwave ovens make foods or other things inside them unhealthy. Take a science class or research microwaves on science websites. Don’t trust me or especially someone called Ingrid who isn’t even explaining why they have come to believe microwaves are somehow unhealthy. Even a quick look on wiki will provide some explanations and more importantly links to scientific articles. People just don’t understand things but they feel obligated to warn people?!? How does the saying go? The only thing we have to fear is fear itself…using a microwave oven to cook with is not only the safest way to cook but for most(not all!) food it will keep/enhance the nutrients and won’t creat any carcinogens like cooking in a toaster/over electric/ over fire all does. Yes the burnt charred ness of food that’s been cooked(even toast in a toaster) has undergone a chemical reaction and now has minute amounts of carcinogens!! Don’t just believe me google chose a high school girl for one of the winners of its science fair and she did her project on this topic because she learned about it from an article she read in her doctors offices waiting room about people suing the fast food industry over the carcinogen. There is other research about it too. Js.
What about using fractionated coconut oil?
Hi Jaime and Wellness Mama,
I use baking soda, coconut oi, grapefruit essential oil and peppermint extract. It’s been working amazingly. I’ve also quit eating sugars, starches, and high phytic acid foods. I’ve noticed a huge difference. Cavities I’ve had in impacted teeth, are literally disappearing. I make my own garlic salve. I us organic olive oil with coconut oil, which really helps to make the coconut oil more pliable. i’ve read that olive oil can stain teeth, so I wouldn’t recommend using it on teeth. I have read other articles that recommend unrefined, untoasted pure organic sesame seed oil, grapeseed oil or walnut oil. I haven’t tried it yet, but I would image it would work the same as my garlic salve does to make the coconut oil more oily. Any thoughts?
I use baking soda, coconut oi, grapefruit essential oil and peppermint extract. It’s been working amazingly. I’ve also quit eating sugars, starches, and high phytic acid foods. I’ve noticed a huge difference. Cavities I’ve had in impacted teeth, are literally disappearing. I make my own garlic salve. I us organic olive oil with coconut oil, which really helps to make the coconut oil more pliable. i’ve read that olive oil can stain teeth, so I wouldn’t recommend using it on teeth. I have read other articles that recommend unrefined, untoasted pure organic sesame seed oil, grapeseed oil or walnut oil. I haven’t tried it yet, but I would image it would work the same as my garlic salve does to make the coconut oil more oily. Any thoughts?
if you use MTC oil it doesn’t harden
I know what your on about in terms of “MCT Oil” but Coconut oil is an MCT oil too (Medium Chain Triglyceride).
Hi, I use the “liquid” coconut oil that you can find in any health food store, and the toothpaste stays in a soft form like traditional toothpaste. You want to make sure you get the liquid form that is ingestible, as I think the fractionated coconut oil is used for topical applications.
I also run all my powder ingredients ( I also add Himalayan pink salt for extra mineralization) through my Vitamix to make it into a superfine powder before mixing it with the liquid coconut oil. I absolutely LOVE this toothpaste and will never buy commercial toothpaste ever again. My teeth have never felt so clean. After I brush with my electric toothbrush, I use the Waterpik with added solè (concentrated pink Himalayan salt solution) and when I wake up in the morning, my teeth are still super smooth and clean feeling. A million thanks to you Wellness Mama for this incredible recipe! Blessings!
I made the recipe exactly as it is in the article (minus the DE) last night, and the coconut oil hardened over night. How do I keep the paste pastey?
And thank you so much for your website. I just found it and have already implemented several new things into my life (remineralization, oil pulling, increased use of coconut oil, leveling my Leptin, etc) and have noticed quite a difference so far. It is so easy as long as you are willing to put in an extra step to see it through.
Thanks so much for reading. Unfortunately, since this recipe is natural, the coconut oil will harden or soften with temperature changes. I use a small spoon or popsicle stick to get on a toothbrush and it melts quickly in the mouth.
I make my toothpaste on the brush itself. Start with a little coconut oil dripped or pasted on, then add a good sprinkle of Bi-carb Of Soda. I keep containers of both ingredients with mini plastic spoons in them, near the bathroom sink. Tastes fine.
Would the same benefits and results if fractionated coconut oil was used?
Why don’t you make the tooth paste yourself? I will buy 12 tubes myself
Seniors would love it as they Spend a Lot of money on Dental care
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Katie my names Alisha I’m from the UK. I really need some advice, 4 of my daughters adult teeth have grown through however I noticed chalky white stains on the front and slightly at the tips of her teeth. I took her to the dentist who advised me that she has dental fluorosis which he explained is not treatable but when she’s older she could get dental bleaching to lighten the stains. I am desperate to find an alternative solution so I’m hoping your home made toothpaste recipe will work, if you have any other suggestions that would be highly appreciated.
King regards
Alisha
In the winter months I put my jar of coconut oil in warm water for a few minuets and then I have enough to then swish/oil pull with. Perhaps put the toothpaste in a small glass jar with an airtight lid and running warm water over it. Alternatively, you could leave the coconut oil out of the recipe & substitute with another good unrefined oil; maybe sesame seed oil.
Alisha: I have been brushing and “pulling” with activated charcoal to remove the fluorosis in my teeth for a month (now 24 Nov. ’15). It is removing the yellowing. I theorize that somehow the activated charcoal is chemically bonding with calcium fluoride in the enamel and removing it. That would explain why some people get sensitive teeth from using it. Some say that activated charcoal is too abrasive, but that doesn’t make sense because on the mohs hardness scale, it is softer than fingernails. So if you and/or your children use activated charcoal, use this remineralizing toothpaste also. Get your kids off all fluoride. See FAN; fluoride action network, for a list of things that contain fluoride, how to detox from it, and why it’s bad for humans & the environment. I must also reiterate that the book, “Cure Tooth Decay” is a must-have.
You can add activated charcoal into the recipe, but I don’t know how much to use. I brush with one capsule each time (which looks to be about 250 mg or about the same amount of one capsule of extra strength Tylenol). Therefore, if the recipe makes 30 uses, you can try 30 capsules or 7.5 g. Personally, I am going to keep these separate as the activated charcoal may affect the other ingredients.
Katie – Love the recipe. It has worked out great so far. The only thing it seems to be missing in my opinion is a good binding agent to hold it all together so it doesn’t melt away in your mouth. Any suggestions?
Do you melt it to mix with the powders, or do you mash together when it’s solid? Thanks,
What consistency should it be when mixed? I mixed coconut oil, baking soda and peppermint oil and it ios liquidy.
I’ve got two questions, 1- I’ve got calcium ascorbate. I thought that’s what it needed to be. Is that alright in the mix. The second question is I’ve made this several times, however after around 2 weeks the mix gets yellow and tastes and feels zingy… If that’s a thing! So, next batch, I didn’t add the coconut oil just the powder and mixed them as needed. Again the powdered stuff turns yellow and does the zingy thing again. Could it be because of the calcium ascorbate? I’m so disappointed that it doesn’t stay fresh. I love it and use it but my family is rebelling because of the taste. I do add essential oils too. Help….
I’ve only used calcium carbonate and never had this problem, so perhaps it is the calcium?
You could sub in a bit of glycerin (veg) or a liquid oil (grapeseed) in the place of coconut oil- that would keep it softer.
I would NOT recommend using glycerin. That is in regular toothpaste and it sort of seals the tooth, so it can’t get absorb the minerals. At any rate that is the main thing, next to fluoride, that I definitely want to avoid. Maybe try a little sesame oil mixed with the coconut oil – I have a jug in the fridge and it never gets hard!
God bless you, Katie. I am so grateful for your diligence and work in coming up with this recipe. I was having severe tooth sensitivity and the commercial sensitive toothpastes were so harsh I developed mouth ulcers. After I started using your toothpaste, I noticed an improvement after a few days and then after 3 weeks of using your recipe, the tooth sensitivity was completely gone. I love the feel of it and look forward to brushing my teeth!
I ordered the tubes you recommended and filling them is fairly easy and one tube lasts about a month.
For what it’s worth, I used a simplified combination of your 2 recipes and here is what I now use.
7 Tablespoons Now Brand Powdered Calcium Carbonate (make sure it is not citrate form–this will erode tooth enamel)
4-5 Tablespoons melted coconut oil
1 Tablespoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon peppermint oil
1/8 teaspoon liquid trace minerals (I use ConcenTrace Liquid Mineral drops)
3-6 drops Stevia
I find I do not need a blender. I simply mix with a spoon and a paste will form.
Put in the squeezable tube on the link you provided below.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003HH8YCO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003HH8YCO&linkCode=as2&tag=wellnessmama-20
How do you know if the calcium is concentrate?
ooops. I meant citrate form.
The ingredients panel of the Calcium will identify it as either Calcium Carbonate or Calcium Citrate.
Could you share where to get these ‘tubes’ to fill up with the natural concoction? Thanks
I have found them in travel packs at Dollar Tree, individual tubes at Christmas Tree Shop .99 and other stores where they have travel sized products.
amazon do them too, ive just been looking at ‘airless pupm bottles’. seem like they could be useable? xbet
I am so glad I looked through all the comments to find something on calcium, because as I was making it realized I had the citrate and was wondering if it mattered. Ugh!! I guess I will use everything minus the calcium until I get some next week.
Hi
I have just found out the amazing benefits of xylitol for gum protection and healing. You have removed it and used stevia!!
xylitol is generally made from GMO corn…not a good thing to put into your alimentary canal.
You can also get calcium carbonate when one would buy pottery clay.
Yes, unfortunately, a lot of Xytlitol is now being made from corn, and it’s GMO corn at that. But there’s still plenty of sources that still make it from birch trees. Just make sure that either on the label or the companies’ website it states that it is made from “hard woods” or birch trees.
Can this be spit into the sink? I’m concerned because I have heard not to out coconut oil down the drain. I don’t like the idea of NOT spitting into the sink.
NNNNNNOOOOOO do not spit it in the sink! In my house we either spit into a piece of toilet paper or napkin, I have to admit sometimes in a moment of panic due to not having a napkin (and since the water is always fairly cold ) I have spit it in the loo… But never ever spit it onto the sink!!!! All bad. !!
You are not spitting enough oil down the drain when you brush to do any harm.
I work with plumbing enough to know.
Soap scum build up mix with hair is usually what clogs drains anyway.
How old is you plumbing?
I made mine without the baking soda and just used the DE. Is that okay?
Hello! My family and I love the toothpaste and I know this is a bit gross but I have noticed that after using the toothpaste it doesn’t do much for our breath. Is there anything you recommend that could help with that?
Thank you!
Brittney
Have you tried it with the essential oils? We like mint orange, and it is good for both flavor and freshness.
How many drops of each oil do you use in this recipe? I’ve been experimenting trying to get it right and my kids are HATING that I haven’t gotten it down pat yet. I’m trying to peppermint-wild orange combo – just need to know how may of each to use. Thanks!
Where do I get essential oils and how do I know which ones are ok for my mouth? I have used the NOW brand in diffusers but the label warns against using on the skin.
Sara, there are lots of essential oils that are ok to use internally as well as on the skin. Check out doTerra brand. I love mine and take them internally on a regular basis.
Taking any essential oils internally can be dangerous, no matter the brand. I wrote about the risks and cautions surrounding them here: https://wellnessmama.com/26519/essential-oils-risks/
I just read about someone using organic extracts for flavour in their kids’ toothpaste instead of essential oils – because they may not be able to spit it out.
I also read that someone had made orange infused (with actual oranges) coconut oil for the base of their toothpaste to get the flavour. So many ways to go about this. Phew!
Bad breath is more often than not from your gut not your mouth. You need to take care of the health of you digestive system.
I use a tongue scraper after every brush to remove tongue plaque that is causing the bad breath!
I have veneers on 4 of my teeth, so I’m leery of using DE in the recipe.
Hello there, I was wondering if the calcium carbonate isn’t to abrassive for your enamel. I have sensitive enamel and I want to be sure. Excelent recipes by the way
I, too, wondered if the Calcium Carbonate would be too abrasive, but I bought the NOW Calcium Carbonate powder, and it’s as fine, in consistency, as talcum powder or powdered sugar. It has worked really well, much better than had I tried to crush tablets or something similar. Hope this helps.
I use the NOW one too and haven’t had a problem with it…since I stopped using citrus oils in it. It seemed like the orange and tangerine EO gave me more sensitivity. Now I’m using peppermint and it seems fine. I don’t know if everyone would experience that or just me though.
how much trace minerals to I need? I was going to add that and not DE.
Just baking soda, or baking soda added to my normal toothpaste makes me get mouth sores. ?
Tried this tonight. Loved the taste. Love the smooth, very clean feeling. Love that its not toxic like fluoride. Xylitol powder not grainy feeling at all. It does take away tooth sensitivity. Towards the end of my brushing, my teeth didnt feel sensitive in the spot where it normally gets sensitive. One negative, i put OnGuard essential oil and my teeth don’t look as white as yesterday…maybe i will put lemon instead. I dont have orange oil. Any other essential oil suggestions? But you don’t need the oil because the xylitol makes it nice and sweet.
Please don’t use lemon,,, Its way to acidic! I made that mistake and my teeth started hurting… because I had also used on guard and noticed the yellowing and then tried lemon because It was my favorite… but now what I do is one drop of Myrrh or Frank and a drop of clove for the cleaning and I use peppermint or wintergreen for the taste…
I am going to try this but will also add in some powdered food grade charcoal for its whitening power. Anyone else done this for regular brushing? Thanks for all the amazing information on your site. Best, jj
Here it says myrhh kills the fibroblasts and epithelial cells in the mouth….
Lemon essential oil is NOT acidic & will not wear away tooth enamel bc of the fact that the oil is not extracted from lemon juice. The volatile oils in the lemon PEEL are expressed or distilled, as are all citrus *peel* oils I’m aware of such as lime, orange, grapefruit, pink grapefruit etc.
Please educate yourself on a topic before making comments such as this & unnecessarily scaremongering.
I also wanted to say that my lips used to become so chapped from regular toothpastes on the market, probably due to the SLS in them. It was so bad that the corners of my mouth especially were splitting & bleeding any time I needed to open my mouth widely, such as when eating a larger sandwich etc. I only discovered what the culprit was when I decided to try a natural toothpaste on a whim. My lips healed completely. When I ran out one day, I used the horrid stuff my husband likes – Crest – and noticed my lips were immediately sore & began to chap/bleed again. That’s when it clicked for me. I haven’t used mass-market toothpaste since then & have noticed an overall improvement in my dental health. I also do a final rinse with distilled aloe, which is amazing for the mouth.
I’ve found that bentonite clay works great in my own natural toothpaste blends when I run out of DE, as does kaolin, so go ahead & experiment.
Anyways, go ahead & use citrus peel oils without any fear for your home made toothpaste people. You’re not going to do anything but improve your mouth health by doing so.
Can you subsitute coconut butter for the coconut oil?
I would not in this recipe.
Made my first batch without De and half the baking soda. I doubled the oil. Just brushed and my gums feel scratched. It’s odd. Normal brushing is just coconut oil and essential oil mixed in. I’m afraid this is going to scratch my enamel! Help! I have horrible weak teeth!
My granddad lived to be 92 (had a heat stroke mowing lawn – at his age UGH) anyway, he only used baking soda and water his entire life to brush his teeth. When he passed, his teeth were still beautiful (NO FALSIES) and only his very back teeth were missing.
Do you know what his diet was like? It sounds like he stayed active that’s for sure 😉
Hello,
I want to make your homemade remineralizing toothpaste and was wondering if its safe to use Nature;s Bounty Calcium (Carbonate) 600 other ingredients are: Vegetable Cellulose + Magnesium Stearate. Do you think it is safe to use on teeth ?
I switched to natural toothpaste a few weeks ago to desert essence wintergreen. But found out about the Glycerin in your post and researched it further and figured its best to avoid it.
Thank you for your post on the dental health, it has been very helpful!
Those ingredients are absolutely safe. You can easily check the origins of any additional ingredients by simply Googling them.
I just made the remineralizing toothpaste with coconut oil. Won’t this clog my drains if I spit it down the sink? Where do you spit the toothpaste to dispose of it after brushing?
PLEASE tell your reader’s that a tiny amount of Zylitol kills dogs who ingest it. Please call your local veterinarian if you don’t already know this to be true. 2 sugar free mints nearly cost my small dog her life – cost me $2,500 in vet bills. The vet told me that just a few pieces of Zylitol sweetened gum kills large dogs. Tragic. It needs to be banned.
Hi Jan… sorry to hear about your dog’s struggles and I’m glad she was able to recover. I actually have written about xylitol in depth, including the risks to pets, in this post: https://wellnessmama.com/12614/xylitol-healthy/
I agree that pet owners need to exercise caution if they choose to use xylitol and to make sure it is kept away from pets, but I have to disagree that it should be banned, as it does have some potential to help humans in a dental capacity. Certainly, being a pet owner (or parent of a child) comes with increased responsibility to keep our child (or pet) safe, but that isn’t a responsibility we can expect a regulatory agency to assume by banning any substance that could be harmful. By that logic, we’d have to ban antifreeze, which is quite helpful for cars. We’d have to ban salts used to de-ice sidewalks, as they can be harmful to pets. We’d have to ban most types of garden mulch, most household plants, almost all pharmaceuticals that could be accidentally ingested, batteries (responsible for many child and pet deaths), magnets, small toys, chocolate and many other common substances. Again, I’m glad your dog is ok, but I just don’t agree that we should start banning substances that could ever be potentially dangerous.
Food Grade Diatomatious Earth pleeeease!
Food Grade DE is available.
Can my 3 year old use these with the DE in it ?
Would using baked egg shells/made into a fine powder be an alright substitute for the calcium carbonate? Sorry if this was already discussed, my time is so limited that I can’t read it all. Love your website, Katie!
Hi I just made your toothpaste. But I think the calcium tablets did not grind up well enough. I used my food processor. The paste doesnt feel smooth its really grindy. Is there anything I can do to fix this? Or do I need to start over?
I just made the toothpaste also. I put the calcium tablets in a wooden bowl and ground them by hand, then added it through a metal strainer to avoid the big pieces. Although it was a little lumpy, I found it was less abrasive than the Tom’s brand baking soda toothpaste I had been using previously. Did you use 4 or 5 parts pure coconut oil? Try adding more oil if not. I think the oil softens it.
I use calcium powder so that saves a step and it’s very fine like baby powder so it mixes smoothly in the paste. If you like it smoother/thinner just add more coconut oil.
I love this toothpaste, but still find I have sensitive teeth. I am only half way through my first batch though so maybe I should be patient! What’s your view on adding prickly ash bark essence? I’ve read this is what they use in South America for pain and healthy gums.
Haven’t tried it but let me know if you do…
Give it more time. I am prone to sensitivity along the gum line and the homemade toothpaste stops it.
Try adding about 5 drops of Melaleuca (tea tree oil) it really helps gum sensitivity.
According to the Health Ranger’s report on a previous article of Xylitol…
Xylitol is a processed sugar. After being hydrogenated and having toxic chemicals added to xylan from corn or other plant material, and then removed, you get xylitol. For anyone who wants to be healthy, the first thing that is pretty much unanimous about any diet or protocol to restore your health, is that you need to avoid processed sugars. While there is a variety of opinions on what foods to eat in replacement of processed sugar, it is blatantly clear that processed sugars, like xylitol, are extremely harmful to humans. Perhaps, xylitol has special uses in special cases; as a regular part of your diet, it is clearly a poor idea.
Actually there are two different sources of Xylitol. The first comes from corn, which is not a good source. The second comes from a larch tree. That form is harder to come by but it is what you are looking for, for this recipe. Xylitol is now being used in all sorts of things to control bacteria. it is in children’s products for ear health (take by mouth), for bacterial infections in the urinary tract as well as other types of bacterial problems. It is also used by some dentists to help the pH balance in your mouth as well as to help your mouth not be so dry. I would not use ANY toothpaste without xylitol in it because of its great bacterial properties. Xylitol is also now used in a lot of nasal sprays for people with chronic sinus problems.
Unfortunately as someone who is highly sensitive to artificial sweeteners, even xylatol in toothpaste is triggering. Thankfully my dad had a tube I could try before wasting money on my own, I definitely would not want a migraine every day after brushing my teeth!
Xylitol is named after the greek term for Xyl(on) meaning “wood” and itol to describe a sugar alchohol.
So if Xylitol comes from any other source, it is not Xylitol per se. Original Xylitol comes from the Birch tree family and sometimes Larch, but over industrialised Xylitol comes from a variety of fruit and veg sources, so are cheaper to produce, but inherit the problems associated with an augmented natural product.
If you can get the real stuff, then it may have some side affects but that is outweighed by its benefits.
As for enamel reduction, teeth re-mineralise themselves regularly, and normal sugar inhibit this regeneration, Xylitol encourages regeneration of the enamel by neutralising the harmful bacteria that slow this process down.
Xylitol does not impact gut candida build up, because yeast cells do not use it in the fermentation process. There are many other benefits to this product, especially to diabetics.
Xylitol is actually anti fungal and won’t contribute to candida growth. Check out http://www.knowthecause.com. They also have a tv program and it is all about how fungus affects our health.
I have had a lot of trouble getting my xylitol to dissolve. Without it dissolving, you can’t taste it and the toothpaste is so bitter. The only thing I’ve found is to dissolve it in a little warm water. The coconut oil doesn’t seem to work. But will my toothpaste go bad quickly with a splash of water in it? I’ve tried putting it in the blender to make a finer powder, but it hasn’t helped. Thanks for any help you can give!
Hi there, thanks for all your input everyone. The baking soda use is a big surprise. i used to brush my teeth with baking soda, it sure whitened my teeth right up, then i realized it really was too abrasive. this is the stuff i scrub my difficult pots and pans or grout or anything like that with. i don’t even use it on my porcelain bathtub or sink as it is too abrasive for those porcelains as well.
see salt seems to work for me, and i’m certainly going to try the coconut oil. love that stuff. thanks…
meanwhile, i have an fracture in an old root canal in my last molar on left bottom. i don’t have the 5K for an implant right now and need that tooth. the endo doc says he can amputate the fractured canal and hope the remaining canal can hold up the crown, but will seal with glass ionomer that releases fluoride for 6 months……any ideas anyone?!!
Fluoride is highly toxic to us! Please read up on it before you allow your dentist to poison you
Carole, get rid of the root canal treated tooth as soon as possible and do not attempt to get it fixed! Root canal treated tooth over time becomes a breeding haven for bad germs that moves through the blood cells and colonises in other parts of the body in the soft tissue (lungs, breast, brain etc) and cause cancer. Root canal treatment is really bad for you please research it for yourself.
Are dental implants similarly bad? I had a root canal tooth that was complete agony, but I had it removed. At the same time that I had it removed, I gave up gluten and changed thyroid medications, so it is hard to tell which factor is responsible, but my health improved dramatically upon the removal of the tooth. I have been trying to get an implant to replace the tooth, but my bones are too soft.
Can you use calcium citrate v. Calcium carbonate? Also can you use bentonite clay? What is the purpose of the coconut oil? I accidentally bought the tooth powder ingredients when I really wanted to follow the remineralizing toothpaste. Oops
What about dolomite powder? Is that ok?
Take a look here for an abrasiveness index of common toothpastes compared to baking soda. You will find that regular toothpaste is way more abrasive.
Could you add HYDROXYAPATITE to this recipe if so how much? Thank you 🙂
Could you use crushed eggshells instead of calcium powder?? They are known to contain a lot of calcium.
@Jaime — crushed eggshells would work great!! Just be sure you prepare them properly before using. Most people suggest boiling the eggshells for 5-10 minutes then baking them for about 20-30 minutes in an oven at 200 degrees. I usually have to bake mine a little longer. After that, they should be COMPLETELY dry…if not, let them bake a little longer. Then, grind them up to a fine powder (I use a coffee grinder) before using. If you aren’t going to use the eggshell powder right away, store them in an airtight container AFTER they’ve cooled off from baking. I like to toss in a silica packet to help with any potential moisture control.
Is the cooking process to help break down & make the calcium more easily available to your teeth? I was wondering because I love the idea of using eggshells but I wasn’t sure wether to cook them first or not. Could I use the shells that I peel off hard boiled eggs?
From what I’ve read, the boiling is to help kill any pathogens and the baking is to help dry them quicker before grinding them. Some people say they don’t bother to boil AND bake, they just do one or the other. Then there are other people who don’t do any of that prep work…they just crack open the egg when cooking…set the shell aside to dry…then grind it into a powder once it’s completely dried. Right now, I boil and bake mine just to play it safe.
Using egg shells, for your calcium source. That is a pretty awesome idea. But if you want to ‘re-mineralize’ your teeth, you have to have some minerals in your toothpaste. Otherwise, you would be re-mineralizeing your toothpaste. By taking the minerals out of your teeth. And that is what over the counter toothpaste does. That is the main reason I stopped using retail toothpaste. I found this powder that has all the magnesium, calcium, and other trace minerals already in the powder. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019LT7D0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0019LT7D0&linkCode=as2&tag=wellnessmama-20&linkId=D5LPZHNQNWIAG7JR
How much would you use? That powder is no longer available. If I got capsules how many would I use?
I just did a google search on the Mezotrace Cal/Mag product. Not available on Amazon, but still available on the Web, just do a search for it.
On the abrasion scale, baking soda is the lowest, next to the tooth brush itself. In other words the only thing that is less abrasive than baking soda is the tooth brush. Commercial tooth paste is more abrasive. Google the tooth paste abrasion scale.
You have,(after thousands of dollars spent on people who do not know what they are talking about) have addressed the cause of my health, teeth, and gum issues that have plagued me. Thank you for your great article on eliminating grains from your diet. I am sure you have a cook book for sale that give an insurmountable amount of alternatives ….I look forward to purchasing it. I am now grain free for three days and already see an improvement in my teeth gums and energy level. Thank you again for your great work.
Glad you are feeling better and I hope you continue to!
I found the DE to be too abrasive for my teeth. I just skip that part.
I have grown up using baking soda and salt to brush with. Most mainstream dentists say it is too abrasive and told my daughter that as well but they also comment on the excellent health of my gums, teeth lack of heavy staining. For many years I was a smoker , red wine drinker and coffee lover. Still love my coffee but you would think that with all those negative components my teeth and gums would be a mess but they are very healthy , knock on wood. I think you can do more damage with these ingredients by brushing too hard,I love my electric toothbrush The Dm earth isalready an ingredient in most toothpaste. I use it with my pets as well for cruet tier control and in the garden. There are some good articles, studies done , on the positive effects of baking soda.. Oil pulling is great also, just recommended this to a friend who has braces.
I also gargle and sinus rinse with NON IODINE sea salt this is the best thing by far I have found to really attack , ward off, and lessen the effects of a cold, you just have to start at the first sign that something is cooking in your throat/ or nose and gaggle at least a couple times of day really getting to the back of your throat. Non iodine salt because it will really burn your sinuses when you do a sinus rinse . Iodized salt is fine otherwise and is an essential dietary element. You can effectively and economically use any sea salt for your rinse and any squeeze bottle, you don’t have to buy the little rinse packets and netty pot , I like the squeeze bottle much better actually.
DE can be abrasive due to its silica content. Baking soda is fine, it scores really low on the RDA scale, although I wouldn’t brush with it exclusively. I recommend using white kaolin clay instead of the DE, since it also scores really low on the RDA scale, and cleans very efficiently. You could also add some drops of liquid trace minerals, for extra remineralizing power.