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August 24, 2012 by How We Flourish

Homemade Toothpaste (DIY Earthpaste) – Phase Nine

I may receive a commission if you purchase something mentioned in this post. See more details here.

Update 2/5/15: I have now been using this homemade toothpaste recipe for 2 1/2 years. I have never strayed from it and I love it. Every time I go to the dentist, I hear rave reviews about my teeth! After so long with such a great toothpaste, I feel like it’s time to update this post a bit and add some pictures. Enjoy the recipe!

Toothpaste gave me the most trouble when looking for a healthy, eco-friendly option. I had so much trouble finding a product with ingredients that I really felt good about. I also learned that fluoride isn’t necessary either, and might not even be beneficial. In fact, there is talk that it could be harmful (link to article removed because website is no longer live). The main example from the article is that fluoride may be linked to hypothyroidism, which runs in my family. The last thing I want to do is increase my risk! [2/5/15: I kinda laugh reading this – so much negative stuff has come out about fluoride since I wrote this and now I have test results showing that I have low thyroid. I’m very glad I have cut it out as much as I can. For more reading on this topic, I recommend Dr. Izabella Wentz]

As I looked at homemade toothpastes, there was no internet consensus on what is good for your teeth. That made me nervous. I didn’t want to make a random recipe and find out it ate away my tooth enamel! So I resigned myself to store bought toothpastes. But as I looked at the ingredients for natural ones, many had glycerin and some even had sodium lauryl sulfate! No thanks.

After searching and searching, I found Earthpaste. Finally! The more research I did on this toothpaste, the better it seemed. It has five ingredients (plus water) and the company outlines the purpose of each ingredient on their website. I have never seen a bad review for this product and it seems to work really well. The problem? It’s pretty expensive for a college student. I wanted a permanent solution I could afford. So I kept searching and found a DIY recipe.

This was perfect! It essentially was Earthpaste for a fraction of the cost! I got the ingredients and made up a test batch. It took some getting used to and it tasted a bit salty. But wow! My teeth feel amazing! They feel smooth and even the backs of my front teeth, which I have trouble getting clean, feel great. It even works well on my retainers (Yes, even after 5 years I still wear my retainers every night. I’m not going back to those nasty pre-braces teeth! [12/13/24 – It’s been almost 2 decades now – still wearing them!]). I have hope, too, that this mixture of ingredients will help keep away canker sores. I’m definitely making a larger batch for when I go back to college.

Of course, the real test will be at the end of January when I go back to the dentist. I had the beginnings of a cavity (my first since I lost my baby teeth) last time I went. Here’s hoping it’ll be gone and my teeth look better than ever!

Whether you decide to buy Earthpaste or make your own, I highly recommend this toothpaste. I love the ingredients and I love the way my teeth feel. What more can you ask for?


Homemade Toothpaste - DIY Earthpaste

Update 9/22/12: I’ve been using my homemade toothpaste for about a month. When I went to school, I made up a large batch of the powder. I just wet my toothbrush and coat the tips of the bristles with the powder, and that is enough for my whole mouth. My teeth continue to feel absolutely amazing and I think they are actually whiter. I rinse out my mouth to get rid of the dry feeling, but my teeth have never felt this good before, so it’s totally worth it. Just remember to keep flossing! I also use mouthwash, and I’m hoping to get a recipe for homemade soon.


Update 1/31/13: I went to the dentist today. I did not have my normal dental hygienist, so I don’t know how my teeth are compared to last time. But, the hygienist and the dentist both told me multiple times how great my teeth look. They also told me that I have no cavities or even anything to keep an eye on (besides my wisdom teeth that haven’t come in, of course). Some of this is probably due to the fact that I’ve been really diligent about flossing, but I am still taking it to mean that this homemade toothpaste is fantastic and works well enough that the dentist will compliment your teeth! Also, I’ve grown used to the feel of the powder. It doesn’t bother me at all anymore. And bonus? I haven’t had a single canker sore since I started using this homemade toothpaste!

What to make some yourself? Here is my perfected recipe for homemade tooth powder:

Homemade Toothpaste (DIY Earthpaste)

Ingredients:
1/4 cup Redmond Clay
1/2 tablespoon Real Salt
5 drops essential oils (see note)

Instructions:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a small container and stir until well combined. Wasn’t that easy?
  2. Store in a dry place.
  3. To use: Wet your toothbrush, then dip it into the powder so the tips of the bristles are coated. Brush away!

Note on essential oils: Which essential oils you use is entirely up to you. Make sure that they are safe for ingestion. You can pick oils for flavor, like peppermint, oils for general anti-microbial benefit, like melaleuca or a Protective Blend, or oils that are recommended for certain oral problems, like clove. We use the Protective Blend in every batch of homemade toothpaste!

Looking for an actual paste? If you would like an actual homemade toothpaste, like Earthpaste is, you can use hydrated clay in place of the dry clay. If you choose to go this route, I recommend finding a storage solution that allows you to squeeze the paste out (like this one) rather than dipping a brush in (water and bacteria and all).

Pin it:

Homemade Toothpaste - DIY Earthpaste

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DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. The information contained in this post is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, it is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information. For more information, click here.


Welcome! I'm Chloe. I have a passion for creating a healthy life and a healthy environment. Join me as I explore homemade and reusable products, essential oils, and real food. Look around a bit. I look forward to getting to know you. Read More…

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Comments

  1. Jennifer @ 20somethingallergies says

    August 27, 2012 at 11:13 pm

    I am so excited the tooth powder worked for you! I had the exact same feeling in my mouth when I used it for the first time. Loved it. Feel free to play with the recipe to suit your tastes. I have been experimenting with the salt content and flavors based on my mood.

    I’m going to poke around and see how your journey to ‘green your life’ is going. 🙂

    Reply
    • Marilyn says

      August 28, 2018 at 1:31 pm

      Seems like an awful lot of salt to me. Most of the “Earthpaste” recipes only call for a pinch-1/4 teaspoon of salt.

      Reply
    • MariCarol says

      September 10, 2019 at 10:25 am

      Just wondering how come you didn’t include xylitol in your recipe, as it’s an ingredient in all of the Earthpaste varieties, except the unsweetened Spearmint one.

      Reply
  2. Anna @Green Talk says

    February 17, 2015 at 4:02 pm

    Love this recipe. It is so easy to make. I happen to like Earthpaste too but would love to make my own.

    Reply
    • How We Flourish says

      February 17, 2015 at 10:23 pm

      It is super easy! And much cheaper than Earthpaste, too.

      Reply
  3. naturalfitfoodie says

    February 17, 2015 at 4:19 pm

    This is so simple I may have to try it. I have been looking for a toothpaste alternative for some time now. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • How We Flourish says

      February 17, 2015 at 10:23 pm

      If you try it, let me know how it works for you!

      Reply
  4. Raine Saunders says

    February 17, 2015 at 4:34 pm

    This is such an easy recipe! I have some Redmond Clay (I get it from one of my farmers for free) and of course I always have sea salt and EOs on hand. I’m going to try it! Great information, thanks for sharing Chloe!

    Reply
    • How We Flourish says

      February 17, 2015 at 10:24 pm

      Let me know how it works for you! That’s why I love this recipe and have used it for so long – I always have the ingredients on hand and it literally takes a minute to make.

      Reply
  5. Megan Stevens says

    February 17, 2015 at 4:39 pm

    Thanks for this! I have never made my own and this looks wonderful.

    Reply
    • How We Flourish says

      February 17, 2015 at 10:24 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  6. Dr. Karen says

    February 17, 2015 at 5:54 pm

    Just two ingredients? This I can do! Thx for the simple recipe! Shared it on my FB page!

    Reply
    • How We Flourish says

      February 17, 2015 at 10:25 pm

      Exactly! Thanks so much for sharing!

      Reply
  7. Renee Kohley says

    February 17, 2015 at 6:43 pm

    I have never tried making it myself but we love Earthpaste here!

    Reply
    • How We Flourish says

      February 17, 2015 at 10:25 pm

      It really is an amazing toothpaste.

      Reply
  8. emilysv says

    February 17, 2015 at 9:59 pm

    Awesome! Love this recipe. I make my own tooth powder, but might switch to this instead now.

    Reply
    • How We Flourish says

      February 17, 2015 at 10:25 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  9. Anna says

    February 18, 2015 at 4:36 am

    I have never considered making my own toothpaste before, but I think I might just do so now 🙂 Thank you for this amazing post, love it!

    Reply
  10. Elena Vo says

    September 5, 2015 at 12:08 pm

    Thank you for the recipe! Do you think I could use diatomaceous earth instead of the Redmond Clay?

    Reply
    • How We Flourish says

      September 7, 2015 at 9:13 am

      I have never used diatomaceous earth before, so I couldn’t say.

      Reply
  11. anna@greentalk says

    November 29, 2015 at 9:43 am

    Wow. So easy. I was using a homemade toothpaste but I am out now. Do you have a suggestion for a jar that you won’t contaminate your powder with your toothbrush?

    Reply
    • How We Flourish says

      November 30, 2015 at 5:57 am

      I don’t. My husband and I have always just dipped our toothbrushes into a container. It doesn’t bother us since it is just us two.

      Reply
  12. Oksana says

    December 5, 2015 at 8:14 am

    Hi there,
    Thank you for this awesome and simple recipe. I’d just like to clarify – Redmond clay is just a type of bentonite clay? I have some calcium bentonite powder at home. Can I use that as well?

    Reply
    • How We Flourish says

      December 7, 2015 at 6:09 am

      I have only use Redmond Clay, so I cannot speak to other types. However, it is a type of bentonite clay.

      Reply
  13. Casey says

    December 9, 2020 at 9:04 am

    This is a tooth powder recipe, not toothpaste.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Redmond Trading Company | Healthy People, Healthy Planet says:
    November 13, 2012 at 12:38 pm

    […] Trading Company has come up a few times in my posts. I recommended their clay for face masks and homemade toothpaste, as well as recommending Earthpaste if you would prefer to buy their toothpaste. Well, I’m […]

    Reply
  2. Transition to Chemical-Free: A Picture | Healthy People, Healthy Planet says:
    September 26, 2013 at 12:03 pm

    […] in an old deodorant container, shea butter and homemade lotion, both in old lotion containers, homemade tooth powder in a container I found at the dollar store, and store-bought olive oil soap with only 3 […]

    Reply
  3. Redmond Trading Company | How We Flourish says:
    October 30, 2013 at 10:04 am

    […] Trading Company has come up a few times in my posts. I recommended their clay for face masks and homemade toothpaste, as well as recommending Earthpaste if you would prefer to buy their toothpaste. Well, I’m […]

    Reply
  4. Why Sustainability is So Important | How We FlourishHow We Flourish says:
    November 10, 2013 at 5:02 pm

    […] the aisle. What to pick? It shouldn’t be this hard! It’s just toothpaste! OR you could make your own toothpaste. This time, if you do not like the taste, you may simply add different essential […]

    Reply
  5. My Must Have Essential Oils | How We FlourishHow We Flourish says:
    June 4, 2014 at 10:09 am

    […] as tea tree. It is antimicrobial, so I use it in most of my personal care products, especially toothpaste and deodorant. I also use it on my acne for this […]

    Reply
  6. Essential Oils for Cleaning | How We Flourish says:
    March 25, 2015 at 9:07 am

    […] the citrus oils, melaleuca tends to make its appearance more in the personal care products, like my homemade toothpaste, deodorant, or as a spot treatment for […]

    Reply
  7. Redmond Trading Company Review | How We Flourish says:
    July 30, 2015 at 8:06 am

    […] Company a lot in the early posts on How We Flourish. I recommended their clay for face masks and homemade toothpaste, as well as recommending Earthpaste if you would prefer to buy their toothpaste. Well, I’m […]

    Reply
  8. P.S. Shopping is okay! | How We Flourish says:
    November 22, 2015 at 10:05 am

    […] works really well and has, in my opinion, the perfect ingredients. It is expensive, which is why I make my own, but if you’re willing to pay for it, I highly recommend […]

    Reply
  9. DIY Oil Pulling Tablets • pronounceskincare.com says:
    September 22, 2017 at 7:10 am

    […] Typically, you would oil pull by putting a tablespoon of oil in your mouth. Deliberately swish it around your mouth and pull it through your teeth for up to 20 minutes. If you are just getting started, you may find that you want to start with a smaller amount of oil and a shorter amount of time. Until I got used to the texture of chewing coconut oil to soften it, a large amount made me gag. When you have finished, spit the oil out into the garbage (The oil is full of plaque, bacteria, and toxins now – you don’t want to swallow it!) and brush your teeth ideally with a natural toothpaste like this one). […]

    Reply

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