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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!
I found your blog through the comments in the Mark’s Daily Apple tooth health article! I just happened to have a pound of xylitol in my cupboard and was running out of toothpaste so I whipped up a batch. I’ve been brushing with Dr. Bronner’s bar soap, but my teeth feel so much cleaner with your recipe. Also, I used lemon extract for flavoring since I didn’t have any mint.
BTW, I put mine in a small humangear GoToob. Those things are great: easy to clean and never leak (just squeeze *gently*)
Great idea on the GoToop… I’m going to try that one too! Glad you
like the recipe!
Does it make a difference what kind of toothbrush one uses? I’ve never seen anyone discuss where or whether to get a “natural” toothbrush, but the picture for this post made me think of the question. I suppose anytime we can use less plastic is good, right?
yeah, natural would be better. I haven’t seen too many good sources
of natural toothbrushes though… ideas anyone??
Although not “natural” the Bass toothbrush is specifically designed to get into crevices and go between the teeth and gums to disrupt bacterial colonies. The bristles are more spaced out and each one has a rounded tip. We use them and think they’re great.
not a brush, but i used to scrub my teeth and gums with a stick of cinnamon. It’s kind of gross since i reused it and would get sort of brush like on the end….
yeah, natural would be better. I haven’t seen too many good sources
of natural toothbrushes though… ideas anyone??
When making this toothpaste do you have to melt the coconut oil or keep it in soils form? Thanks
I always melt to make mixing easier but it does re-harden once it cools
Cost plus World Market has a lovely natural toothbrush. It’s a large store with many places to hide tiny brushes, so you’ll have to ask for it. I love mine!
I wonder if adding a few high dose capsules of vit. D and some K2 would be good, and maybe some magnesium. I haven’t had a single cavity since I started using Vit. K and D, and supplementing with magnesium, and the xylitol mints I use have magnesium and D in them.
I have been looking for the Xylitol mints with Vitamin D. What is the brand that you use?
I have been using Spry Xilitol Mints & Gum throughout the day for tooth protection. But would be interested in the mints with magnesium and D. What brand is it and where can I find them? Thanks.
I’ve been using just coconut oil lately on my teeth. I try to let the coconut oil sit on my teeth for a few minutes, then brush it off. It’s a little weird texture and taste-wise, but I like how my teeth feel! I’ve also used just plain baking soda (although it’s hard to get over that taste) and I’ve used just peroxide (but after reading how it draws out mercury from amalgam fillings, I won’t be doing that anymore!).
You might enjoy swishing the oil around your mouth for a few minutes rather than just letting it sit on your teeth. This is known as ‘oil pulling’ and there is a lot of information about it on the net. The oil will draw toxins out of your mouth even more if you swish it around. Be sure to spit it out since it is drawing the toxins out, you wouldn’t want to swallow that oil.
40+ years ago we had friends that made their own toothpaste with a shot of creme de menthe mixed with as much baking soda as it took to make it thick and paste-y. The mom mixed it up every day, and all 6 of her kids brushed their teeth with it plus the mom and dad (I think she did one batch in the morning and one in the evening. Not real sure. I only got to taste it once.) Really interesting flavor, for sure! I guess it was one way to mellow out the kids before bed, but I guess this day and age, everyone would be screeching child abuse. But the family is doing well (except for a few that died already due to non-toothpaste related issues!!).
I never got around to buying my own Creme de Menthe (and I have a bottle of Kahlua sitting around unused, wonder if that would work?? hahaha!), but it just never did bother me to scrub with a bit of olive oil and baking soda. The baking soda seems more salty to me than bitter, so I kinda like it. Guess I’m just strange that way. I can’t stand tasting “too sweet” products containing fluoride, and I totally disagree with the use of chemical forms of fluoride in toothpaste, mouthwash, or other dental products, so I’m really diggin’ this alternative toothpaste recipe and variations that everyone else is discussing.
Another thing that has worked well for me is these toothpastes that I find in Asian/Indian/ etc grocery stores in my area…NONE of them contain fluoride!! Most contain some variation of the mint or clove or cinnamon (all 3 essential oils have very good anti-bacterial properties etc for dealing with the “flora and fauna” of the mouth) along with baking soda, and some use other traditional herbs for their regions. Usually it’s much cheaper than the brands found in American stores… again, simple is cheaper. Go figure! 😉
Death “due to non-toothpaste related issues”? I literally lol’d on that! I agree, I think that recipe would ensure the kiddos wouldn’t b waking up asking for a cup of water every 10 mins, haha!
Hi, I’m having a little trouble following your train of thought – first you said “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” – are you saying that the coconut oil referred to in the recipe will whiten? Not sure what other oil you are referring to.
And the part about “just a tad will whiten and clean” – is that a tad of the coconut oil? or a tad of the grapefruit seed extract?
I’m just curious because I drink coconut oil mixed in with my coffee or tea, and it’s a great detoxifier, but there’s no need to spit it out. That’s what is confusing in your earlier statement “I love the coconut oil and just spit all out as it draws out toxins.”.
I don’t know about the rest of your questions (I was a bit confused by the comment as well) but as far as spitting out the coconut oil – I think she just means that when you’re brushing your teeth with coconut oil, the oil is drawing out toxins from your body, so you don’t want to swallow that oil when it has been swishing around in your mouth for a couple of minutes. But certainly coconut oil is fine to ingest normally!
Agreed… basically she’s referring to almost a quicker type of “oil pulling.” You don’t want to swallow the oil that has been swishing around in your mouth for several minutes, as that has pulled out toxins from your gums/body.
However, when not using it for brushing or oil pulling, coconut oil is great to take internally.
I agree. That is how I understood it.
Oil Pulling with coconut oil swished in your mouth for a minimum of 5 minutes and a maximum of 20 minutes must be then spit out along with all the toxins pulled. As someone who salivates a lot there is not way I an do even the 5 minute pulling. Other than for oil pulling yes, you can ingest, put on skin and hair, cook with and pour over salads.
You don’t want to oil pull if you have any amalgam fillings, as it can release the mercury.
Could you give me evidence for this statement? I would like to know for sure whether swishing with coconut oil is a problem due to amalgam fillings.
The RDA is a measure of abrasivity and you can find RDA rankings for lots of toothpastes. This list includes plain water and baking soda as well.
Thanks for sharing that! Definitely not worried about baking soda
now! Great info.
Hello! Great information, thank you. I actually was looking for ‘restore tooth enamel naturally’ and found your site as a first hit, because…. I have been using baking soda for a couple of months, twice a day, but suddenly looked in the mirror and realised that my enamel was almost completely gone. I know all the theory, but definitely too abrasive for me!! Now looking at the posts, I’m thinking that dissolving the baking soda in water is much saer. I also wonder if this could have been caused because I dip my toothbrush first in a natural mouth water (essential oils and alcohol), then in baking soda. I am wondering if the combination was bad (alcohol?? it is used normally diluted). In any case: it seems that some warnings should apply, first, and second, thank you so much, I have gotten hope to restore the enamel pronto….
I’d suggest adding a calcium bentonite clay, like Pascalite, in place of the DE. Great recipe, thanks!!
That’s a great idea too!
Just be aware that it will yellow the teeth. It did for mine anyway.
That doesn’t seem right—bentonite yellowing teeth. Doesn’t make sense
since there are toothpastes that actually have
bentonite as an ingred. “ClayBrite” Natural Toothpaste and “Earthpaste
Amazingly Natural Toothpaste” to name a couple. My guess is that it was
something else that caused your teeth to turn yellow. Bummer.
Hi, just wanted to ask you if the yellowing got away, because I had the same problem.
My teeth are/feel cleaner but they are yellowing & I’m sure it’s because of this toothpaste.
As soon as I switch to an organic toothpaste the yellowing thing got a bit away.
Still I want to be able to make my own toothpaste but I think no one on this earth chooses to have yellow teeth.
I tried this recipe with lemongrass essential oil (just 2 drops)
But this time I tried with orange essential oil (2 drops) & cinnamon essential oil (3 drops), I must say it smells heavenly!!
I don’t know what is wrong, I wonder if the essential oils are yellowing my teeth or maybe the calcium carbonate (my calcium carbonate is a bit light greyish).
Pls let me know how’s it going with you.
I’m very familiar with bentonite (montmorillonite clay). I LOVE bentonite and ingest it on a regular basis. Great idea!
this is what i have been using for two years now and works great
Hi, this is great! I love the idea of grinding eggshells, since I pay $3/doz to get good pastured eggs, it’s one more way to make them worthwhile! 😉 dunno how one would grind them fine enough though…?
I decorate cakes (yeah, not very healthy, lol!) and I was thinking that for storage it would be really simple to keep it in an icing bag with a small round tip. They even make “lids” for icing bags to keep the tips from drying out. That might simplify storage and travel, etc.
Oh, I didn’t know they had lids! That is a great idea to keep it more sanitary.
You’re so lucky to find pastured eggs for $3 a dozen. The cheapest you can get in Los Angeles is $5 and up to $9.
You are right about that, I spend $8 a dozen here in the Inland Empire!
I use the coffee grinder to grind eggshells. Just keep grinding until it’s as fine as you want. Wait a minute after grinding and before lifting the lid. There’s a fine dust that will rise up if you open it too soon. It will smell the same as when the dentist is grinding your teeth.. so eew, but it’s all ok.
I put it in the home made dog food to add calcium for them.
Mortar and pestle, maybe? It would have to be a good one with grooves in it.
Wow, great recipe – thanks for sharing! I have been using natural toothpastes for about a year now, and I notice my teeth are much less sensitive to cold than when I was using sensodyne. The other day I ran out of toothpaste, so I mixed up some baking soda, coconut oil, and peppermint oil. Tasted absolutely horrible but seemed to clean my teeth well – so it worked in a pinch. But it sounds like your recipe is much better, and I can’t wait to try it.