Avoid the Chemicals and Make Your Own Coconut Oil Toothpaste
Did you know that you can make your own coconut oil toothpaste with just a few simple ingredients that you have in your kitchen?
Not only is coconut oil toothpaste effective, with it you can avoid all of the chemicals and toxic ingredients in commercial toothpaste and save money!
I started making my own toothpaste a little over a year ago after discovering a few ingredients in a “natural” toothpaste that I wasn’t comfortable using. This toothpaste is a great alternative and is very easy to make!
Ingredients to Watch Out for In Toothpaste
All commercial toothpaste contain harmful and toxic ingredients, such as; titanium dioxide, FD&C Blue Dye # 1 & 2, sodium lauryl sulfate, glycerin and sodium fluoride. These ingredients can also be found in toothpaste that is labeled “all natural”, particularly, glycerin and sodium fluoride are in nearly all toothpastes! These chemicals are not only harmful to your delicate tooth enamel, they also affect your overall health!
How Coconut Oil Toothpaste Works
Coconut oil is antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal! Studies have shown that coconut oil destroys the bacteria that can cause tooth decay. The other primary ingredient in this toothpaste is baking soda. Baking soda is a very mild abrasive which aids in cleaning and whitening teeth, and restoring pH balance.
Homemade Baking Soda and Coconut Oil Toothpaste Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons Coconut Oil
-2 tablespoons Baking Soda
-10 drops of Peppermint oil (optional)
*You can make a larger or smaller batch depending on how long you would like it to last and what size container you’re storing it in.
Instructions:
1. Mix baking soda and coconut oil in a small container, until it forms a paste like consistency
2. Add several drops of peppermint oil and mix (*peppermint is optional)
Have you tried using a baking soda and coconut oil toothpaste?
Hey! I found your coconut oil & baking soda toothpaste. I was so excited! I made it, came home tonight after work…and the coconut nut oil with solid again??? Ever have that happen? Does it ever stay as a liquid? Sad thing is, I put it in a travel squeeze tube, solid as a rock in there.
Hi Darlene, so glad you gave the toothpaste a try! Coconut oil changes from liquid to solid depending on the room temperature, I believe the melting point is around 76 degrees. To liquify it, just heat up a pot of water (doesn’t need to be boiling, just at a fairly warm temp) and place the jar/container inside the pot.
Thank you, Lori! I guess my house is to cold right now. I didn’t know if I put to much coconut oil, oh well. I will figure it out. Maybe can get a smaller container to put in water while I am washing my face. (till it summer) It really is get, made my teeth feel so clean, and shiny! (I love coconut oil, I have just starting oil pulling with it) Thanks so much for all the great information!!
You could heat it up with your hair dryer too
I make my toothpaste in an old glass jar (small coconut oil jar works). I just dip out of it. During the winter, it was rock hard! But coconut oil melting point is 76 so you can put it in a container to warm it up. As long as the glass is warm, it works great
doTerra has a fractionated coconut oil that doesn’t solidify, works great.
If you just ran the tip of your tube under hot water for a minute or dipped the end in a cup of hot tap water you should get enough out each time, it’s quick to melt. I put mine in a jar. In the winter I rub a bit on my teeth and gums to get it going.
It’s a great and simple recipe. I add cinnamon powder instead of mint. You can also add powdered egg shells for calcium magnesium and whitening.
Darlene – Whip the mixture with a hand mixer or kitchen aid mixer and it will stay smooth. A hand whip will also work but will be more work. Blenders & food processors will melt coconut oil which you don’t want. You want a whipped consistency to be more like toothpaste consistency. I would agree with the Sodium Fluoride comment being a good ingredient. I don’t make this toothpaste but have read many testimonials to it. I make a coconut oil skin moisturizer using this method and works wonderfully.
Typo…….Sorry….I meant….It’s really great! (the toothpaste)
I’m doing baking soda, coconut oil, Himalayan salt…lemon n honey too maybe…cut the bottom off the toothpaste tube in my bathroom, clean it, pour the liquified mixture in. Get one of those toothpaste tube squeezer outter doo-daads.. Freeze that up… Presto!
Thanks for ideas! Sounds great!
I live in Minnesota. My house is Cold in the winter! I whip the coconut oil in the KitchenAid, or a hand beater, until it’s creamy, about 8 minutes. Then I mix my baking soda in and it stays pliable as long as it doesn’t melt. I then syringe it into an old store-bought toothpaste tube. I am grossed out with putting a used toothbrush into a toothpaste jar each day. The thought of that bacteria hanging out all day is too much for me. But I LOVE this toothpaste!
You know what, Catherine I don’t know why I didn’t think of that! I do the same with my KitchenAid stand mixer. I whip up my coconut oil too, I use it for make up remover and body lotion with I get out of the shower. It stays whipped, sometimes I have the little pearls. I am going to try this. I am grossed out about the jar too. I did buy a “GoToob” from EarthFare. (I know, it’s rubber/plastic, I didn’t want to do that) I never thought about reusing an oil toothpaste tube!!! What a great tip! Thank you so much!!!
You don’t have to dip the toothbrush into the jar. Get some kind of small spoon, a toothpick, or some other small object to scoop some toothpaste and put it in the toothbrush.
When I oil pull with coconut, all of the bacteria I pulled is still in the oily residue left on my teeth. I know about coconut oil’s antibacterial properties, but I still use a good mouth rinse to make sure it all gets out and off. I think it’d be good to follow up with a rinse after brushing with this – to double check or insure the bacteria is all gone. Very excited to try this!! I’ve been using a desert essence toothpaste, which is good but still contains vegetable glycerin and isn’t made with my own love for my health.
Still can’t get the hubby off Crest and blue Listerine. While he knows the fluoride in the water is waste material, and we do our best to drink clean water, he is still convinced daily toothpaste fluoride cleans teeth the best and does not damage the teeth – when I’m telling him this chemical should be reserved for dentist visits only. I’m going to get some further resources to back up your claims on the ingredients you listed in your post! Sorry to rant, lol, but thank you so much for getting this information out there!!
I have a few people in my family that take some convincing too!
Even holistic dentists have stopped using fluoride completely due to the harmful affects. I think this article was one that was pretty good. http://www.second-opinions.co.uk/fluorideharm.html#.US1zIleRmuI
Hi What brand of oil you use?
I use organic unrefined coconut oil, I think it’s by spectrum.
Can I get a link to your primary source for the properties of coconut oil?
Hi Rose, here are the main sources:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/12/08/coconut-oil-combats-tooth-decay.aspx
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/249804.php
I just wet my toothbrush, dip it in dry baking soda, and add a couple of drops of peppermint extract. It is simple and much more effective than store bought toothpaste.
Hi sounds like something i want to try 2 problems for me where to get coconut oil no longer on the island s what brand do you all buy ? and sorry for my ignorance but what is coconut pulling? would some one enlighten me Thanks
Hi Debbie, You can order coconut oil online. Here’s a link: http://villagegreennetwork.com/marketplace/coconut-products/?pid=88%22target=%22_blank%22
or you could try amazon.com
and here’s some information on oil pulling, it is beneficial for oral health.
http://www.naturalnews.com/025578_oil_pulling_health.html
How long does it last?
This recipe should last for about a week. You can double the recipe to last longer and store it in the fridge to extend it.
Did anyone else find this recipe to be too salty tasting because of the amount of baking soda? I tried it and I could barely stand the taste. I have used tooth soap made out of coconut oil peppermint oil dr bronners soap and a little stevia. Much more palatable. Any suggestions?
It does take some getting use to because of the baking soda. You could use less baking soda in the mixture or add several drops of essential oils.
Hi i did make them and would like to know some information about it. when googling around some site, some says baking soda shouldn’t be use everyday and some said 3 ~ 4 times a week. but that is for baking soda with other mixture like hydro perox etc. is it okay to use it everyday? because i cant find any fact regarding mixture of coconut oil.
Many do use the baking soda and coconut oil mixture daily. I have been using it every day for about a year now. I haven’t read of any negative affects of using it daily.
I am not sure how I know this or if it is true,but I think it is the peroxide that is not good for daily use. I believe it can cause sensitivity, but only if it is used full strength out of the bottle. I think if you dilute it 50/50 with water and store it in a dark bottle like the one you buy it in, it is an effective mouth rinse for killing the bacteria that cause bad breath and can help with whitening. I don’t know much about essential oils but I wonder if you could add some for flavor and also extra health benefits?
I made a larger version of this recipe which called for 1 tsp stevia( and used equal parts eucalyptus and lemon essential oils) with magnificent results. The recipe called for 6 Tbsp of coconut oil and baking soda so I’ve been putting it in the fridge, but after reading this I’m not sure that’s necessary. Any thoughts? Thanks for sharing.
Keeping it in the fridge should significantly extend how long it will last, I usually keep mine in the fridge when I make a large batch.
OK, thank you. I’ll continue to do that. ^__^
Unfortunately you are incorrect about saying sodium flouride is harmful to enamel. There is plenty of SCIENTIFIC literature proving the healthy benefits of Fl and it is the single best mineral that has changed the epidemic of tooth decay. Fluoride actually binds to demineralized enamel from the acidic byproducts from bacteria creating flurohydroxyappitite which is less permeable to the acid than your natural tooth. Similarly, research has shown that SLS (sodium lauyrl sulfate) has a high degree of efficacy in reducing the bacteria that lead to periodontal disease. The argument that Fl is toxic is similar to saying Sodium or Hydrogen is toxic. Yes at extreme levels they are can be harmful, but I’d say we all think the the benefits of H when combined with Oxygen making water far out weigh the risks. I’m not saying don’t use a natural toothpaste, but please don’t post misinformation.
Health benefits? ha where is the research showing health benefits? Of course if you ask any non holistic dentist their response is that fluoride is beneficial for teeth, which is based on flawed research. When you examine research studies, you have to look at what is the validity and reliability of the findings. What about the recent study from Harvard which showed that fluoride consumption leads to lowered intelligence?, those showing results that it causes thyroid dysfunction?, and those showing an increased risk of cancer? These results were found not from “extremely high levels of fluoride”, but from levels contained in tap water.
Sounds like someone cashes checks made out to “dentist” or works for Listerine…. Lol
It is true that there are studies that support fluoride being healthy and helpful. It is also true that it has been proven that fluoride in toothpastes and other dental products are extremely hazardous. How can both be true, you might ask? CALCIUM fluoride is naturally occuring and SODIUM fluoride is created from toxic waste. Guess which has been studied and which has been promoted by big business.
Hey! Am i the only one who gets the toothbrush all sticky and oily and hard to wash after brushing the teeth?
The oil rinses off quite easily for me, but I also dip my toothbrush in vinegar for extra cleaning.