Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: a toxic skin irritant used in degreasers and gives toothpaste the foaming action
Triclosan: A chemical used for its antibacterial properties. The EPA has registered it as a dangerous pesticide.
FD&C Color Dyes: These dyes are harmful to humans and have repeatedly come under scrutiny.
So what do you do? Besides using my detox foot pads to get rid of the chemicals and toxins floating around in your body, You make your own toothpaste!
There are so many options to make your own natural toothpaste. The basic baking soda and peroxide (or just plain baking soda) recipe has been met with claims that it is too abrasive for your teeth and wears down the enamel.
I made a coconut oil, baking soda, stevia and peppermint oil toothpaste and used that for a while, but I agree, it just didn't suit me like I wanted it to.
I used activated charcoal powder for awhile but it didn't leave my mouth tasting fresh like I wanted. It sure got them white, though! And I still use it to whiten my teeth every so often.
I have found a bentonite clay toothpaste recipe that I love. It doesn't foam, it has a texture that you have to get used to, but by golly, it works!
Homemade Clay Toothpaste Recipe
- 1/2 cup bentonite clay (I get mine at Mountain Rose Herbs)
- about 1 cup boiling hot water (You may need a little more or a little less depending on the desired consistency.
- 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt (or other real sea salt)
- Peppermint oil to taste (I usually do more than 25 drops)
- Stevia powder (I use the "Better Stevia Now Organic" brand in its concentrated form and don't measure, maybe about 1/2 teaspoon? You also can use liquid stevia or even xylitol if you have some handy....) you can add it until you like the taste
1. Mix the clay and salt into a bowl.
2. Add boiling water and mix well with a fork.
3. Add Stevia and Peppermint oil to taste.
4. Mix well. You want a somewhat thick consistency but not too thick. Too runny and it won't hold up on your toothbrush.
I put my toothpaste in a pint sized wide mouth canning jar with a plastic screw lid. I keep it in my bathroom and dip my toothbrush in it. Since I am the only one using it in my household, I don't mind if I "double dip" my toothbrush. If I were making it for multiple members of my house hold I would probably have some type of plastic spoon to use to scoop a little out and onto my toothbrush to prevent cross contamination (our mouths are dirty and germy, and so are our toothbrushes!).
Have you tried making this clay toothpaste? How do you like it? Do you do it a little differently? What do you use to brush your teeth? Post in the comments below.
