Confession: I Haven’t Used Toothpaste In Five Years
It’s true. And I still have friends. And no, it’s not because all bad breath is equal over the internet. Despite how unseemly my confession must seem, I didn’t give up toothpaste in an attempt to create a six foot “personal space bubble.” My mouth is actually minty fresh as I type this – I just took a closer look at the label and decided that toothpaste and I needed to break up.
Sorry, toothpaste. It’s not me. It’s you, and here’s why:
Fluoride
Most commercial toothpastes – even many of the “natural” ones – contain fluoride. Unfortunately, a Harvard study recently linked fluoride to lowered IQ in children, while additional research has associated it with weakened bones, thyroid suppression, lowered metabolic function and dementia. (source 1, source 2, source 3)
Is it possible to remain cavity-free without fluoride? Great question. According to Dr. Hardy Limeback, DDS, PhD, who has served as head of the Department of Preventive Dentistry at the University of Toronto and president of the Canadian Association for Dental Research, “You can get perfectly healthy teeth with resistant enamel without having any kind of fluoride exposure.” (source)
Glycerin
Glycerin is used in almost all toothpastes because it helps create a pasty texture and prevents it from drying out. Though it’s non-toxic and I love to use it in homemade beauty formulas, glycerin is not something I want in my mouth. Why? Because it coats the teeth in a way that prevents normal tooth remineralization. Though most of us were raised to believe that minerals cannot be returned to the structure of the tooth itself, there is good data suggesting that it can.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
SLS is a foaming agent and detergent that is commonly used in toothpaste, shampoo, and other products used to do things like, um, degrease car engines. Why should we avoid it? Though some people have concerns that it may be an estrogen mimicker, I’d say the most obvious and substantiated reason is that it increases gum inflammation and mouth ulcers. According to a study conducted the Department of Oral Surgery & Oral Medicine in Oslo, Norway, individuals who used a toothpaste containing SLS suffered from more ulcers (canker sores) than those who used an SLS-free toothpaste. (source)
Titanium Dioxide
Used to make toothpaste look white, titanium dioxide is sometimes used in it’s nano-particle form. (source) It’s also used in salad dressings for the same reason, and I wrote here about why that might be a problem.
So What Do I Use Instead?
The great thing about ditching toothpaste is that there’s no “right” way to replace it. Many things, like tooth suds and even coconut oil will work, but after a lot of experimentation I concluded that the homemade tooth powder recipe below works best for my family. Here’s a breakdown of what each ingredient does:
Bentonite Clay
Yes, I’m talking about the stuff I wash my hair with. Bentonite clay is a gentle cleanser that is rich in minerals which support tooth remineralization. It’s detoxifiying properties help freshen breath and fight gum disease, while it’s adsorptive properties help remove stains from teeth. (See Activated Charcoal for more about adsorption)
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a mild abrasive tooth polish that helps mechanically remove stains while other ingredients such as clay and activated charcoal draw them out. It also helps freshen breath.
Sea Salt
Unrefined sea salts such as this one and this one contain 60+ trace minerals that aid in tooth remineralization. Salt is also highly antiseptic, which helps keep bacteria in check.
Herb & Spices
Spices and herbs such as clove powder, ground cinnamon, and ground mint add flavoring, but they also have astringent properties that support gum health.
Stevia
The whole herb form of stevia is used in this recipe as a sweetener. My kids like the flavor so much they actually refuse to spit when they brush their teeth. Of course, that’s okay with me because all the ingredients are edible.
Activated Charcoal
As I wrote here, “Activated charcoal – also called activated carbon – is made by processing charcoal with oxygen and either calcium chloride or zinc chloride. It was used medicinally by both Hippocrates and the ancient Egyptians, and it is still the poison remedy of choice in modern day emergency rooms. Why? Because it’s highly adsorptive, which in plain English means it attracts substances to its surface like a magnet. Like absorptive substances which work like a sponge, adsorptive materials bind with certain compounds and prevent our bodies from using them.
Fortunately for us, activated charcoal is a bit particular about what it locks onto. It’s not interested in calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, inorganic phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc and other compounds you probably want to hang onto (including your tooth enamel). It does, however, happen to like tannins – the compounds found in coffee, tea (even herbal tea), blueberries, wine and spices like cinnamon that stain our teeth. As a bonus, activated charcoal also balances the mouth’s pH and is even considered beneficial enough to be used in some tooth re-mineralization formulas.”
Homemade Tooth Powder Recipe
Note: Feel free to add or adjust ingredients based on your needs. For example, if you have very sensitive teeth you might want to skip the baking soda and salt at first, or if you want to focus on removing stains add a little more activated charcoal to the homemade tooth powder recipe.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons bentonite clay (You don’t need an expensive brand – something like this will work well)
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoons finely ground unrefined sea salt (I use this brand and this brand)
- ½ teaspoons clove powder (where to buy organic clove powder)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (where to buy organic cinnamon)
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground peppermint leaves, spearmint leaves or 5-10 drops peppermint essential oil (where to buy spearmint oil or peppermint essential oil)*
- 1 ½ teaspoons unrefined stevia powder – optional (find it here)
- ¾ teaspoons activated charcoal – optional (I open up about 4 capsules of this brand to add in)
* If you don’t have peppermint leaves, just grind some peppermint tea in a coffee grinder. Voila!
Directions
Using a stainless steel or plastic spoon, mix all ingredients in a clean glass jar. To use, add a little to a wet toothbrush and brush as normal.
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Ruth
Sounds great! My one problem is that my kids hate, hate, hate mint. Any suggestions for substitution, or can I just leave it out?
Heather
Hi Ruth, you can just leave it out 🙂
Ruth
Thanks!
Lori Caudle
Is cinnamon bad for your teethir clove
Bonnie S
Doesn’t using metal with betonite clay deactivate it or am I thinking of charcoal?
Amy
Yes metal deactivates bentonite clay.
Mary
If metal deactivates the powder what about fillings or other dental work
Marta
Same question, I thought we were supposed to avoid metal utensils with bentonite clay
Heather
Stainless steel is considered okay to use.
Brittany wilcox
I bought the clay brand you use and it says for external use only. I have read in other places that pure calcium bentonite clay is safe for internal use such as this. Do you know why they mark it for external only ?
I had another type of bentonite clay that is from Whole sale supplies plus and inread their blog and their clay is a mix of sodium and calcium bentonite and definitely externally only. That’s why I bought more of the clay you suggested
CC
Legal purposes.
June
Hi my aunt is wondering if she can use this powder on her dentures?
Jen
If you don’t need to use food grade then you can buy it at a third of that price.
Gloria
Same question as June…can this clay be used on dentures.
lilgem
You can get food grade Bentonite Clay or at least we can in Australia.
Ami
Hi, I’m wondering how to add the essential oil without clumping the powder?
Heather
Just add it in and mix. It will distribute without causing clumping. 🙂
Morena
Clumps EVERY TIME 🙁
Anika the Vegan Momika
I’ve mixed essential oil with the clay- only after I had already mixed the clay with baking soda. No clumping. I’ve also mixed essential oils with talc powder, and never had issues with clumping.
Organic Juju
I like to blend oils with salt, it breaks down the oils, making them dispersable in water etc. might help…
Diane
When I make my body powder with betomite clay and essential oils I addthe eo to the clay then put the whole thing through an old fashion flour sifter. It breals up the oil clumps and mixes it into the clay nicely. You may have to run it through a couple of times
Lady E
Since I only have peppermint leaves, I blend those up in the Vitamix to make them into powder, and I add everything else, too, so no lumps with the essential oils
Krystal
Why not try a citrus essential oil like orange 🙂
VWodtke
Because citrus oils strip your enamel
LuAnn
I had heard that lemon juice strips the enamel, but I have not heard that the oil does. In fact, several natural toothpastes use lemon oil. What is your source?
Thanks!
Brittney Wishert
Orange oil is highly recommended as a teeth whitener. Orange essential oil does not contain citric acid – which is what strips the enamel.
Lois H
I add cocoa powder to mine. It looks a bit funky when you spit, but a study had found it to be more cavity preventing than fluoride and it’s natural. I also add powdered calcium and magnesium. I do not add the baking soda because I have a hard time with it.
Dawn
I read an article saying not to use activated charcoal with chocolate syrup and ice cream as it will not let the charcoal work properly and I just wonder if using cocoa powder runs along the same lines as choclate syrup. Thoughts on that?
Tabitha Teeter
I believe it’s the dairy that deactivates or hinders the actovated charcoal.
El
Is this safe for babies?
Laura
I am so confused. I’ve never thought to put charcoal on ice cream and chocolate syrup. People do that?
Nancy Doggett
That made me laugh…. thanks!
Jacquelyn
Thanks it made me smile to read your comment ?
monica
i use lemon essential oil for my son(3 years old) he loves it 🙂
Lisa
My kids too. I added lemon essential oil.
Janie
Hi!! How young can children be to safely use this mixture? I have a 2 year old. Just making sure. Thank you!
Melissa
I cannot imagine why a young child could not use it. I have used a very similar recipe for year with my kiddos starting from the beginning (well before agebonenindont really brush with anything other than a bare brush.
Callie Greenshields
Leave it out. If they like a citrus flavour, dry orange and lemon peels and grind them up and add
Banana flavour, dry banana peels and grind them up and add.
Camilla de Rochambeau
I left out the mint as well as the charcoal and the sweetener and it’s really nice. I like the clove flavor a lot. It only has to please me though, not children.
DavetteB
Try more cinnamon. I don’t like mint in the morning especially. Dried orange peel powder is also nice. HTH
Sheetal
Thank you the post. Just wondering what is the purpose of Stevia here. I thought it should be avoided as sweeteners lead to tooth decay. But again, it would be better for the little ones. What are your thoughts on using Stevia? And where can I get Stevia in whole herb form. Thanks Heather.
Krystal Wight Armstrong
I don’t know about Heather’s answers to your other questions, but she did include a link, in the ingredients, to where you can buy the powdered Stevia herb: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005EO59E4?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B005EO59E4&linkCode=xm2&tag=mommypotamus-20
You can also buy it at Mountain Rose Herb, or used to be able to anyway.
Sheetal
Thanks Krystal. Somehow I missed the link.
Heather
HI Sheetal, stevia is used as a sweetener in this recipe. It is an herb and I am not aware of any evidence that it contributes to decay,
I usually buy mine from Mountain Rose Herbs as Krystal suggested, but they are out of stock right now.
Catherine
I grow my own stevia, dehydrate it then use a coffee grinder to get a fine powder. It is easy to grow, and use, you can even grow inside in front of a window during colder months. Just needs lots of sunshine and water.
Lynn
How wonderful! Where did you get your Stevia Plants? I have not seen any, organic or otherwise, here in North Carolina but would love to try this.
Amanda
I got mine at the state farmers market and it has come back every year!
Bernice Tornquist
It grows from seed very easily in your garden. Seed is readily available at a garden supply. I’ve grown it…..it’s easy.
Mistie
What parts of the plant do you use? I have some growing in my garden.
Mary J
Where do you get the Stevia to start with?
Jessica
Nice job!! Store bought stevia is processed with awful things!!! That is the way around it!!!
Shellrae7
Xylitol actually promotes healthy teeth and can be used in place of Stevai for sweetener.
Shannon
Oh perfect i was just wondering if i could use that in place of stevia because i just cannot tolerate the taste of it ?
Sheri
Stevia has actually been shown to have anti-cavity properties – and also is the only sweetener that is does not induce insulin spiking within the pancreas. It’s a super herb!
Krystal Wight Armstrong
Heather, did I read somewhere once, that you don’t want to use any metal instruments/containers when handling the bentonite clay? Because its absorptive properties could be used up when in contact with metals..or something like that?
‘Thought I remembered something to that effect, and if so, it might be a good tip to add, so people don’t measure it into their containers with metal spoons, etc. : )
Heather
Thanks for reminding me of this, Krystal. I always use stainless steel utensils which are supposed to be fine, and store in glass so I sometimes forget about this warning. Will update my post.
Lisa
The post still says that you can mix with a stainless steel or plastic spoon, so I wanted to check before I make it. I’m also curious as to how you get the powder onto a wet toothbrush without making a mess?
Crystal
Hi! the reason to not touch Bentonite Clay with anything metal is because metal will deactivate the detoxifying properties of the clay, rendering it useless.
Lisa B.
I believe it’s actually because the metals will leach into the clay.
Also, xylitol is a better sweetener than stevia. It inhibits bacteria, or something like that.
CrystalA
Xylitol cannot be metabolized by Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria primarily responsible for tooth decay. Any sugars or starches promote decay & the bacteria feed on it, including stevia. It is generally not recommended to use baking soda or salt to brush teeth as they will cause microabrasions in the enamel over time, scratching away the enamel surface. These substances as well as pressure of brushing, frequency of brushing, & technique can all add up to detrimental. Once enamel is gone it cannot be regenerated. Calcium & phosphate help to remineralize enamel that has begun to demineralize and decay. Once the decay reaches to dentin it cannot be reversed and must be filled.
Chicken Pimp
Ive had a chipped tooth completely remineralize. I chipped a front tooth pretty badly when in Jr high school. I had it ‘fixed’ twice in the USMC. Both ‘fixes’ were a failure as the chipped tooth was on the front and at an angle. The back of the tooth was normal but the front part of the tooth was chipped from the top to the bottom at an angle (imagine a pyramid angle on the front to a 90 degree angle on the back). It grew back after several years after I quit using store-bought toothpaste and started making my own…utilizing both baking soda and sea salt. Ive had cavities heal using the same. In my last batch I utilized ground eggshells from my free range chickens (sterilized, of course). Teeth can heal given proper nutrition (eating well and brushing with the right compounds).
Jessica
You are right on the money! No baking soda! If ya want the mineral effects of sea salt eat it! Good stuff!!!
Michelle Pieczura
I pour a small amount into my palm and then use the wet brush to scoop it onto the brush. Works beautifully and prevents clumps in your original container from wet toothpaste drips!
Rosalie
It only affects the clay negatively, when it has been wet. You can use metal on dry clay. I normally avoid the use of metal, to prevent accidentally using it while it’s wet.
Megan
Heather,
I’ve noticed through sporadic use of bentonite clay that it really likes to cling to surfaces, and I’m somewhat concerned about spitting it down the drain (we have a septic system). Where do you *discard* your toothpaste? Is it ok just going down the drain?
Also, Krystal, clay is no bueno for metals (I had bentonite clay rust through a mason jar lid, so there’s no telling what the lid did to the clay). I now use a mason jar with plastic lid and a plastic disposable spoon when I store my clay.
Sheetal
Thank you Megan for your valuable comment on clay and metal. I have my homemade toothpaste (has clay in it) stored in glass jar with a metal cap. Though the toothpaste doesn’t touch the metal cap, based on your input I will switch it to a glass jar with plastic lid.
Heather
Hi Megan, I’ve used it with three different septic systems over the past 3-4 years and have never had a problem 🙂
Heather
Megan, was your clay in direct contact with the lid? I’ve use the same glass jar with metal lid for two years and have not seen any signs of rust.
Rachel
What if you have metal in your mouth? I have a cap that unfortunately contains metal…
Rachel
Or braces?
jana
Re-cycle the lid off a parmesan cheese container for your lid on a mason jar.
archana
Can i use Xylitol in place of Stevia? Also how to make this into a paste rather than a powder? I have a 19 month old who I want to start on toothpaste, have been using coconut oil. So, not sure how would she react to a powder.
Heather
I personally have some reservations about using xylitol, but yes the recipe will work with it 🙂
Carolyn
I too have reservations about using xylitol in general, but I have read about potential benefits of it’s use in oral health care. Have you heard of this?
Rachel
Yes! I have heard xylitol is good for teeth health also. My natural dentist actually thinks spry is the best “manufactured” toothpaste on the market, and it uses xylitol on purpose for its good effects…I’d like to know about this one as well!
Jessica
A concern that I have with xylitol is the industrialization process that is used to manufacture it. Currently, most xylitol is produced by “hydrogenating” xylose; a chemical process that treats a compound with hydrogen usually with a catalyst such as nickel. (5) There are two major problems with this process. First, the fact that xylitol is “hydrogenated” should raise some concerns because hydrogenated foods are known to cause: Alzheimer’s Disease
Behavioral irritability and aggression
Cancer
Diabetes
Obesity
Liver dysfunction
Major depressive disorder
Secondly, nickel is a known toxin has been linked to:
Asthma attacks
Cancer
Dermatitis (skin allergies)
Hand eczema (skin rash)
Indigestion
Kidney problems
Lung disorders
At this point, there is no research proving that chewing xylitol sweetened gum or eating xylitol sweetened cookies will cause these things, but I’d be careful before diving in and making xylitol part of your daily natural health regimen.
Ledia
Hi Heather, thanks for sharing this recipe. I woul ike to use xylitol instead stevia but I´ll like to know about your reservations first.
Cheryl
My understanding is that xylitol is horrible for gut bacteria health.
Trish
It’s also horrible for pets, so just be aware.
Charlotte
Thanks for this 🙂 Can I use Rasul clay or any other clay instead of Bentonite clay?
Heather
Possibly. I use rhassoul to wash my hair but I have not researched whether it benefits oral health as well.
Sara
Hi Heather,
Thanks so much for posting this! I’ve been using only your tooth soap and tooth powder followed by the Waterpik with saltwater, after reading Ramiel’s book. Love it! With my 18 month old I havne’t used much since he doesn’t spit yet but he prefers the tooth soap (in taste and texture) do you think that’s sufficient? Do you brush your kids teeth 2x/day? Since reading the above book I’m wondering if that is too much on their gums.
Also, a question about teeth for anyone who might know… I just noticed my 18mo old’s top tooth seems to have a divet or indentation along the gumline, not recessed gums (like I have), just the white stops and I can fit my fingernail into this indentation that is a darker color 🙁 It worries me a great deal but I’m a little skeptical to take him to a dentist at such a young age and I was waiting to go to a biological dentist when we move to a bigger city (next summer). Is there anything I should do about this? Tooth soap/brushing/mouthwash? Just wonder if anyone has had experience with this and what they recommend and if it just happens to some children’s small teeth but doesn’t affect their adult teeth? My mom who worked in dental offices for 35 years has never heard of anything like it, so I’m a little stumped. Heather, did you say once that you knew a dentist who you could ask questions via phone? If so, might you share his contact info with me?
Thank you!!!
Sara
Heather
Hi Sara, I prefer to use this recipe with little ones who can’t spit since it doesn’t usually contain essential oils.
I’m not sure what exactly you are describing. Do you think it might be a lip tie? https://mommypotamus.com/a-step-by-step-guide-to-diagnosing-tonguelip-ties/
Sara
Thanks Heather!
I was concerned with lip tie at the beginning b/c it was hard for him to latch and we had to use a nipple shield to nurse but after a month of that, we’ve been fine. The ONLY other symptom of lip tie we have is that he has a gap between his two top teeth. So this might be from milk resting in that area and causing decay!?! 🙁 Oh my! What should I do? He’s 18 months old! Is it too late to get a lip tie corrected? Is Dr Kutlow who you went to? Is it very expensive? Was it laser? Thanks so much! I’m SO sad about this today! Sara
Sara
Hi Heather,
I wish I could talk with you about this! I emailed the Dentist you took your son to with pictures and symptoms. I’m just wondering if there’s anything I should do in the meantime? Wipe off his teeth after nursing? It’s hard to do b/c he nurses while we sleep, so I’m not sure? And should I eliminate fruit and potatoes from his diet (did you have your daughter follow Ramiel’s recommended diet to help her tooth decay?)…. And I’m wondering how much the Dentist in NY charges for the lip tie laser treatment?
Thank you OH SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sara
Hi Heather,
I just reread your article on how you reversed Katie’s tooth decay and I’m thinking my story is similar since my son is almost 19 months old. So I’m wondering if you didn’t get her lip tie corrected at that time b/c she was too old? Since you said she had an undiagnosed lip tie. Maybe we should just work on diet and add the silica you mentioned (how much did you give her?) and is there anything I can put on topically to help?
Sara
Hi Heather,
Yes, you were right! It was a lip tie and we had it snipped yesterday! My son handled it great and there was hardly any blood or pain! He’s healing up great and we’re implementing the Cure Tooth Decay diet to see some remineralization of his two teeth where there is some decay. Thank you SO much for letting me know about lip ties! I NEVER would have thought of that and our LC and midwife and pediatrician all missed it! Thanks a million!!
Rachael
That sounds like a cavity. For your baby’s sake, please at least ask their pediatrician if you refuse to take them to a dentist.
Allison
Your better taking him to a dentist. I am a Dental Assistant and I would advise if you have any concerns at any age to take them in. Better safe than sorry. Yes decay from baby teeth (milk teeth) can sometimes cause decay in the adult teeth due to the bacteria. Even at 18 months it is ok, we see children that young in my office and we do not sedate children. We just look at the child and if they let us work on them that is great, if not we refer them to a specialist if any work is needed. But you are better off just getting it checked out rather than worrying or chancing it.
Tess
****Sara
My son had the same thing…grooves formed in the teeth and I could not figure out why. It turned out he had Celiac Disease…it causes dental groove and discoloration, and effects the enamel. My son had something like this… not that low on the teeth but higher up on the tooth!
https://angellsdentistry.wordpress.com/2015/03/24/your-teeth-may-reveal-the-first-sign-of-celiac-disease/
If this is what your child’s looks like, maybe you should look into this.
*****Heather
I posted a question here awhile back and you never replied. Please answer!
Danika
Thanks for this suggestion. I’ve been looking into natural ways to remove stains from our teeth from coffee, tea and red wine so we’ll give this a try since I have most of the ingredients on hand. What is the best way to use this? Do you just mix all the ingredients well, dunk your toothbrush into it and then brush? For how long do you recommend and how often? I was also wondering about the concern with spitting it down the drain someone mentioned.
Heather
Hi Danika, yes I dip it into the jar and brush. I’ve been using this recipe for 2+ years as my sole “toothpaste.” No problems at all with my drain or anything. This clay is the same that is used for facial masks which are washed down drains all the time after rinsing. Hope that helps!
Giovanna
The label in the clay container says “external use only”. Is it safe to use in our mouths? Thanks!
Heather
Hi Giovanna, some clays are labeled as edible and some for external use. Based on what I’ve read, my opinion is that some of the “external use” clays are just as pure as the “edible” ones. After researching the particular brand I linked to I personally have no concerns about using it 🙂
Giovanna
Glad to know! Thanks for the awesome research- evidence based posts that you write. Highly appreciated 🙂 God bless!
Kajsa
I was just debating this week about what “toothpaste” I was going to switch my family to, since I wasn’t pleased with any of the ones I was finding. SO thank you for having an answer for me!
Heather
You are so welcome – I hope you like it as much as we do! 😀
Tara
I’ve been wanting to find something without glycerin, sweeteners, etc, to use on my 2-yr-old’s teeth. Do you think I could just use a wee bit of bentonite clay on the toothbrush, or are all the other ingredients essential? I’ve wondered whether baking soda and some other things might be too abrasive, and he doesn’t really grasp the spitting out concept yet. So I’m wondering if we could start with just a bit of the clay and still get good results. I’ve also been concerned about some buildup on the teeth – not sure if it’s plaque or something else and haven’t been able to make it to a pediatric biological dentist yet. Do you think clay could help with something like this?
Heather
I personally use clay when I don’t have a batch of tooth powder mixed up. It works well 🙂
Danielle
Hi Heather,
I was wondering if salt crystals does not harm the tooth enamel simply by mechanical action ?
Monica
I had a clay tooth powder recipe but I switched to a natural paste when it ran out. I had to scrub the sink often to get the stuck on clay! It seemed like it clung to our porcelain sink so much… I would like to try this recipe, so I’ll just make myself deal with the gunk 😉
Erin
We’ve been using Pascalite clay for brushing for years now and it leaves a yucky film all over the sink that isn’t easy to remove. I’ve wondered what it’s doing to our pipes, but we haven’t had any issues yet. I made a toothpaste with coconut oil recently and with that one I really worried about what might be happening to the pipes (I think we’d spit in the trash if we use that – and it’s SUCH a mess!)
I’ve made a variety of tooth powders and for my toddler, I just put Pascalite clay on his brush and a couple drops of black walnut tincture; it’s high in natural fluoride and iodine and has been shown to help remineralize teeth. I think I’m going to add the powder to our next batch of tooth powder.
Some other great herbs for teeth are white oak bark, prickly ash bark, bayberry bark, slippery elm bark, and horsetail (for silica.) You can buy all of them in powdered form from Mountain Rose Herbs or you can grind them yourself.
In my last powder, I added Min-Col, which is supposed to be excellent for teeth – you can Google it to read about the benefits.
Molly
Do you have a recipe for tooth powder that has all the bark powders is in it? Would you be willing to share?
Heather
I currently make my own paste & have done for a couple of years. I love the extra ingredients you have in here and I was wondering if coconut oil could be added to make a paste?
Heather
Yes, it can 🙂
amber
Any cavities or problems with sensitive teeth for those of you who use the home made tooth cleansing products? Thanks!
Erin
On the contrary; I had some sensitivity along the gumline in a molar and it disappeared within days of switching to homemade tooth powder and after 2 years, has never returned. None of us (out of five of us) has developed any cavities in the two years we’ve been using homemade tooth powders.
Heather
Much less sensitivities and cavities that were there seem much smaller. My teeth were very sensitive but after using natural toothpaste for about 3 months, the sensitivity went away.
Would never use normal toothpaste again!
Kathryn
Would it be ok to use xylitol instead of stevia? I’ve heard tree birth xylitol has positive dental properties, and my dentist recommends it. Thank you!
Heather
I personally think the jury’s still out on xylitol based on the reasons in this post (http://www.curetoothdecay.com/Tooth_Decay/xylitol_tooth_decay.htm), but yes you certainly could.
Kim
Hi heather,
I love this recipe and can’t wait to make it, but I have a question. In your article you mention that cinnamon can stain teeth but then its an ingredient in the recipe. Not sure i want to use it if it stains. Can you omit it? What about cloves? Do they stain? I would love some clarification. Thanks.
Heather
They can because they contain tannins, but percentage-wise they are a small part of the recipe. Because most of the ingredients are whitening, my experience is that the net effect of the overall recipe is still positive. You can totally leave them out, though 🙂
Divya
Thanks so much for this recipe! I was using a similar recipe a while back but I found that tiny granules of the clay or perhaps the ground clove would get lodged in the crevices between my teeth. I’d practically have to floss immediately after every brushing just to avoid looking like I had eaten a box of Oreo cookies (you can imagine the state of my toothbrush as well). Any advice?
Heather
Hi Divya, I haven’t experienced that problem. It might be worthwhile to see about switching to a finer clay 🙂
Elizabeth
I love this recipe you came up with for tooth powder! I recently heard of a homemade paste using baking soda, sea salt, & peppermint extract that works wonders!
I use Tom’s Non-flouride paste now, but would like to start making my own.
🙂 Liz
Karen
I love using tooth powder! I just wanted to mention, if anyone wants to try tooth powder, but doesn’t feel like making it themselves, I sell a similar version on my etsy shop:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/166871849/organic-tooth-powder-cinnamon-and-clove?
Yvonne
Hi! Thank you very much for sharing the recipe.
Super fun and easy to make.
I just tried brushing with it and my teeth feels really clean but at the same time it seems too abrasive for my teeth. My teeth hurts now. I really hope this will work for me.
Will reducing the baking soda and salt help?
Btw, I used bentonite clay with baking soda, salt and peppermint oil.
Appreciate your advice. Thanks!
Jeanette
Hi Heather,
First of all, I love your website! I have just been looking into natural toothpaste as my 20 month old daughter as some tooth decay and my husband and I have poor teeth as well. My question is, are you at all concerned about lead in the clay? I originally discovered this while researching Redmond’s Earthpaste which lead to different sources discussing the amount of lead in clay and whether we should use it in our own mouths much less our toddlers who cannot spit. Have you looked into this at all? What is your advice?
Heather
That’s a great question. I personally am not concerned about it. It is my understanding that because clay is a colloid with strong bonds, the elements within it “stick together” and are not digested/absorbed as they pass through the body. Rather, from what I’ve read the clay draws and absorbs toxins as it goes. You may find this article helpful as you research: http://www.redmondclay.com/prop65/
Al
I have several amalgam fillings in my teeth and wanted to make sure it would be ok to use this tooth powder recipe even with those. I’m specifically concerned about the activated charcoal and even more so the bentonite clay since it’s not supposed to come in contact with metal. Do you know anything about this?
Devyn
I just made this today and I love it!! Thank you so much for posting the recipe! 🙂
Fleur
Hi Heather, I made this without the clay as I didn’t have it on hand. I got the clay today and added it and after a few hours I noticed that the lid of my jar (with some of the tooth powder on it) has turned a bright turquoise colour. There is a slight turquoise colour through the mixture also. Any idea what this is due to? Is it still ok to use? Hopefully this questions hasn’t already been asked – I can’t read all of them from my mobile. Also, I used a normal metal spoon to measure the ingredients – do I need to throw this batch out and start over? Thanks! Fleur
Heather
Hi Fleur, I’ve never experienced what you describe, but it reminds me of how copper oxidizes and turns green. My guess is that the clay has interacted with something in your lid. I’ve been using a metal lid for years with no problem (it never touches the clay), but another poster here said that she always uses a plastic lid and glass jar because the clay interacted with her lid as well. If it were me I’d throw away the current batch and make another one to store in a different container. So sorry this happened!
Sloane
Heather, or anyone else who frequently tries out her recipes, do you have any suggestions on where to buy the containers for this recipe as well as many of the other ones? Like the little glass jars or bottles? Do you have a ‘go to’ website? I have a hard time finding the right sizes. Thanks!
Laura
Hobby Lobby or Michaels often have lots and lots of sizes and styles for glass jars.
Rosa
Walmart carries the 2oz canning jars, tests what I and they are perfect for this!! Ny the way, I made this today and I’m loving it! Thanks Heather!
Michelle
Hi Heather!
Could you use French Green Clay in place of Bentonite? I bought some for my facial masks and really don’t want to purchase more clay if I don’t need to. Thank you!!
Annie Carvalho
Did she ever answer you? I’m in the same predicament. I have French Green Clay on hand. Did you try it???
Glenn
I’ve been using French green clay orally for many years – it’s great. In France, there’s a range of toothpastes by ‘argiletz’ that’s based on green clay.
Kristie
I have heard that activated charcoal and baking soda are very abrasive. Is there any danger of damaging tooth enamel using these ingredients?
Heather
I do think 100% baking soda is too abrasive, but I’m not concerned about using it as part of a blend.I personally feel comfortable using activated charcoal straight a few times per week.
aga
Is there any chance that the charcoal can absorb in the teeth and darken them? Post pregnancy my teeth definitely lost density and will absorb anything right now.
Kristen
Hi there- I just bought the ingredients to make the tooth powder, and used the links that you provided. I got my shipment from Amazon and the clay has a warning that says for external use only. I was wondering if I should get a higher quality type of clay or if that is just a standard warning that they have to put on there?
Heather
Hi Kristen, some clays are labeled as edible and some for external use. Based on what I’ve read, my opinion is that some of the “external use” clays are just as pure as the “edible” ones. After researching the particular brand I linked to I personally have no concerns about using it 🙂
Anna
Hello! I’m doing a lot of research on healing teeth and am so thankful I came across your website! I was wondering if you use both the toothsoap and toothpowder each day?
Thank you!
Lauren
Can you comment on yield? I’m looking to make tooth powder for emergency preparedness and was curious to how long this recipe takes to go through.
Thanks!
sharifa
Hi,I just want to know if I could use pure volcanic ash clay which is organic in place of the bentonite clay,because I have already have it,thanks for your well researched information.
Steph
Regarding “Organic” clays…I often think of “organic” relating to ingredients that have been grown without any man made fertilisers/herbicides/fungicides/insecticides. Clay is not grown, nor can it be made by people, so it can’t technically be correctly labelled as “organic” or otherwise. Primary clays, such as kaolin, are created by long term weathering of rocks. This wears the rock down into a finely ground material. Secondary clays, such as those often used in pottery, contain the primary clay and a bunch of extra minerals/inclusions that they have picked up whilst being washed down mountain sides. In terms of the suitability of a given clay for use in something like a tooth paste/powder, it’s most important to ensure it contains no lead or other heavy metals. I suspect some clays are labelled for “external use only” because the supplier hasn’t gone to the expense of having thier product tested for food safe levels of these metals. Also, as clay has been in the ground, it can also contain all the pathogens and parasites that soil can contain. If it’s labelled “food safe” grade, it should be free of any of those nasties. I hope this helps ?.
chelsea
I just made this today and I like it but my question is, is it supposed to be salty? I was hoping it be a bit sweater any ideas?
Heather
Hi Chelsea, you can add a bit more stevia powder if you like 🙂
Kim
Can you use honey for sweetener?
sharifa
Please can anyone help,can I use the organic volcanic ash clay,i really want to make this,but I don’t have bentonite clay on hand
Darcy
I make my own tooth powder as well. I do not use clay or charcoal as I do not want them absorbing and thus neutralizing the ground spices and calcium I use. I use calcium in stead of the clay and charcoal.
Angela Searles
Great recipe and I can’t wait to try it! Thank you for sharing. I have a question. The recipe you listed…about how long does on batch last. We are a family of eight, but we are also preppers, so I would like to be able to figure out how much of the supplies I should keep on hand to make a years worth. Is it possible to make a years worth in advance it will keep in an air tight container?
Heather
Hi Angela, I’m not honestly not sure how long a batch lasts. Quite awhile, but I haven’t actually kept track of how long we go between batches.
Sharifa
Please can anyone help,can I use the organic volcanic ash clay,i really want to make this,but I don’t have bentonite clay on hand
Reply
Kristina
Hi Heather,
Thank you so much for sharing your recipe! I’ve used it two days now and love the slippery clean feeling of my teeth. My four-year-old is also sold on the new tooth powder!
Heather
Yay, I’m so glad you liked the recipe! Thanks for taking the time to let me know 🙂
Mike T
Heather, I use a homemade tooth powder made of neem, CoQ10, and sage. I combine it with oil pulling and my mouth has never felt better.
Barb
Mike,
Do you have a recipe? I would like to try this. Thanks.
Barb
Jennifer
Just made this this morning. I’m smitten! I’ve only ever tried making tooth powder once before and strongly disliked it. Ran out of toothpaste this morning (after using up all of our backups too lol!) so I was desperate. I didn’t have stevia so I replaced that with xylitol, no mint leaves but added a blend of spearmint, tea tree, and tangerine essential oils. Yumm-o! Thanks so much.
Heather
Yay, so glad you liked it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment 🙂
ann
Heather, just wonder if this betonite clay is ok to be used on some amalgam fillings ? thanks for the great recipe !!!
Mariana
Heather, like Ann above me, I would like to know which ingredients should we avoid if someone in our family has amalgams? I know a few of the ingredients in the tooth-powder are detoxifying, does that mean they’ll leach mercury from the fillings? Also, what do you think about adding Diatomaceous Earth to the powder, and if it’s a good idea, how much would you add? Thanks for your blog!
Mariana
and I forgot to ask if any of these ingredients should be avoided if pregnant or breastfeeding? I ask because my activated charcoal says not to take if breastfeeding and I am breastfeeding…Thanks again 🙂
Valerie
Yes, I too am wondering if I can put in diatomaceous earth as a substitute for the bentonite clay.
Lindsey
Can I use this if I have a thin metal bar behind my bottom 6 front teeth? Worried about the clay pulling nasties out of the metal. Similar to the amalgam question above.
Thanks much for all you do!
Bonnie k
I use sensodyne because of my sensitive teeth. I’m worried that my teeth will increase in sensitivity again if I switch. Thoughts?
Sandy
Thanks again for another great recipe! Is this one in your book? I have saved so many recipes that it is time to buy the book!!
Heather ~ Mommypotamus
Hi Sandy, this recipe is **almost** identical to one from the book 🙂
Caryn
Hi Heather,
I’ve recently switched to your toothpowder recipe for my daily tooth”paste” and while I definitely feel like my teeth are clean and seemingly getting a little whiter (thank you!), the taste hasn’t been as refreshing as most of your readers, and you claim it to be so I’m thinking I’ve done something wrong. I purchased all the ingredients you link in your recipe and mixed it up according to your specifications. I used doterra peppermint essential oil and not peppermint leaves and I did use the optional stevia powder. The only two flavors I’m really getting from the powder while I’m brushing is ashy-bitter (I’m thinking the clay and charcoal) and rather salty. I don’t experience the peppermint, cinnamon, or cloves at all. I really think I’ve gone wrong somewhere because I kind of have to soldier through the taste and have a hard time believing any kiddo would embrace my batch willingly. Would it be just as effective of a powder to add more stevia, peppermint, cinnamon, and/or cloves? Or do you recommend peppermint leaves as opposed to peppermint essential oil? Any thoughts you may have would be most appreciated. I really want to make this my family’s go-to for brushing. Thank you for all of your recipes and information. Invaluable! At this point I’m certain I visit your site daily. 🙂
Tierrazullo
I read in one of your articles that baking soda can be to alkaline to the teeth to use everyday. This recipe calls for baking soda and I would use it everyday. Also you said on a reply to use activated charcoal two times a week. So do I not add it to my recipe for the everyday use?
LynnS
Hello. Baking soda is such a small amount of this recipe that the effect would be different than if you brushed with only straight baking soda. In her comment she said she is comfortable brushing with straight charcoal powder a couple times a week, again, like the soda, different when it’s just a small part of the recipe.
Valentina
Hi! Xylitol instead of stevia to sweeten might be a good substitute. It can inhibit bacteria growth and halt decay (will not kill the bacteria, however) It is, unfortunately a little more expensive.
Lotus
Although the “not for external use” clay may not be impure, is it possible that it is contaminated with parasites? It is dirt, after all. I would assume that food grade clay would be baked or something to kill any possible parasites.
Kat
Is there a reason you aren’t answering the multiple questions on here about whether or not this is safe to use with amalgam fillings or metal of any kind in the mouth? You reply to other questions submitted after those but pointedly ignore every single person with that type of question. Just curious as to why.
Heather ~ Mommypotamus
Hi Kat, I’m not intentionally leaving any questions unanswered. Sometimes a lot of questions come through at once – I answer as many as I can before bed, and then when I wake up there’s a fresh wave. Sometimes questions get lost in the pile, which is what happened here.
Redmond Clay, which sells a product similar to this powder (although with xylitol, which I personally avoid) has this to say: “We have found that a short period of time with metal is not enough to cause a reaction, such as brushing your teeth, or mixing the clay with a spoon. You would not want to leave a spoon in clay for a long period of time, or leave clay packed on a tooth with a filling, but for brushing you are perfectly safe.”
Charlotte
Wow. Some people expect a lot of you MommyP!
Elizabeth
I was wondering if when using a peppermint oil, if this is safe to use when pregnant? I was wondering the same thing about your tooth soap recipe, which calls for EOs. I know they’re not being ingested, but I’m just wanting to be on the safe side. What do you recommend?
Kristen
Hi Heather,
Love this recipe! I would love to feature it on our Facebook page and share with our 250k fans, of course linking to your FB page and providing direct link to this post.
I am reaching out to ask for your permission to do so – Can you please contact me via e-mail?
Thank you!
In Health,
Kristen
An Organic Conversation
Elise
Hi Heather, thank you very much for this great recipe which I am about to make (already stocked on bentonite clay!). However, would you please advise how this recipe could be adapted to an 10.5 month old baby? She already has 7 teeth and I really ought to start cleaning her teeth to prevent decay. Many thanks in advance for your advice!
Elise
Jasmine
Dear Heather,
I heard that clay has high content of aluminum. Aren’t you concerned?
Jasmine
Kim Lambdin
I wanted to thank you for this recipe… love it! I was scrolling through all the comments to see if my concern was addressed but there are too many to wade thru so I thought I’d just go ahead and post it.
No metal should come into contact with Bentonite Clay. The metal does something to the properties or something. Forgive me, I’m typing one-handed while breastfeeding and need to be somewhat brief.
Also, I researched BIRCH xylitol compared to “regular” xylitol. Gotta be careful of how and what it’s made of – so check before buying Xylitol – sorry, saw someone ask about subbing xylitol for the stevia. Stevia is a plant and ROCKS OUT LOUD!
Anyway – I wanted to ask about the charcoal – I was told to only brush with the charcoal (activated – not briquettes we bbq with..haha…sorry warped sense of humor over here)….I was told only use activated charcoal every 2-3 days. I’m not sure what the reason was initially… Do you know why there could be a “warning suggestion” of not to use it daily?
Heather
Yes, I do. It’s too harsh to be used straight daily. I’m not concerned about it in this recipe because it’s very diluted 🙂
Kim Lambdin
THANKS!!! Giving this as part of a Christmas present!!!
Paxton
I was wondering if this recipe would work it is close to yours but a little cheaper on a full time college student.
http://www.primallifeorganics.com/collections/dirty-mouth/products/dirty-mouth-primal-toohpowder
Kym
Is unrefined stevia powder the same as the Stevia found at the grocery store? I noticed the post linked to a product that was green, but the powder I’ve used is white — is there a difference? Are they interchangeable? Thanks
Heather
Natural stevia is green the white is refined or “bleached” to make it more attractive to buy.
Angie
Is clove powder different than cloves, the spice?
Heather
Nope, it’s the same thing 🙂
Eliane
I wonder how long you can keep this for before it goes bad?
Heather
As long as it is kept dry it won’t go bad. Some of the spices may lose potency over an extended period of time, though.
Cristina
Hi! Can I use calcium carbonate instead of clay? How can I make this into a paste? Thanks!
Shannon
Cristina,
Calcium carbonate is baking soda, which is already in the recipe. If you prefer to omit the clay, you could substitute the same amount of baking soda and it work just fine. To make a paste, I suggest cutting in unrefined virgin coconut oil. I’ve made my own tooth paste using only coconut oil, baking soda and clove and peppermint EOs. But a bit of warning, the coconut oil is temperature sensitive and will liquify in the 80°F range or solidify around 65°F, making either a mess or a difficult to use brick. I’ve switched to Heather’s tooth powder recipe because of this. To make this “pasty”, just dampen your tooth brush with water before doing it into the powder and brush away. It’s not going to foam up like conventional toothpaste, but will smooth out when mixed with the saliva in your mouth.
Heather
Actually sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate are not the same thing thing. Different properties and textures. The later is akin to scouring powder.
Kellie
Hi Heather,
I absolutely adore your blog, I find myself going to you and the wellness mama just about every day for something or another. I love that in those moments when I don’t have time to research the crap out of something myself, I can go to you and feel safe about what I’ll find. You are a wonderful resource, thank you so very much.
I’m wondering if there is any reason I could not add coconut and olive oil to this recipe to make it more liquid or paste-y? Or if there was something else you would recommend to make it more texturally similar to toothsoap? Obviously it would be gritty but I really just want it to stick to the brush. Husband has gotten used to toothpaste being in a soap dispenser and would not like to go back to dipping out of a jar. Not to mention the toddler mess, but that’s another story. Thank you. 🙂
Heather
You totally could add coconut or olive oil. Eventually I’ll work out a squeezable toothpaste recipe, but it will probably be awhile because we’re gearing up for spring on our farm.
I’m so glad you have found my blog helpful – and Katie’s too! She’s one of my favorite people, and my kids LOVE her kids 🙂
Amanda
Hey. I was just wondering, I read your article on nano-particles. Are you saying that Titanium Dioxide could be made with nanoparticles and therefore could potentially be making it harder to get iron because of that?
jiimms
Hello Heather,
I came by your blog after seeing my six year old son’s teeth turning brown even after brushing twice a day. and i have spent a few hours on your various blogs. Thanks for so much wonderful information that you have shared.
This homemade tooth powder is very doable for me but is there anything i can replace bentonite clay with. That seems bit difficult to find.
Jennifer
Hi! LOVE this post, thanks so much! Do you think a natural neem powder would be beneficial to add to this recipe? I’ve heard good things about neem and tooth health, which I why I think it would make a good edition. I would use a raw powder like the one found in the link below as opposed to a processed product, I’d love to know your opinion. Thanks!
https://www.amazon.com/Banyan-Botanicals-Neem-Powder-Detoxification/dp/B00DV00YRK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427140131&sr=8-1&keywords=organic+neem+powder
Ashley
Hi Heather!
I have used your tooth powder recipe (minus the stevia) for exactly one week now and I am in love. It’s great! I had really sensitive teeth prior to this and since I’ve “broken up with toothpaste” I haven’t had a problem! Plus, they are already looking pearly! Thank you so much! I love your well researched posts!
Heather
Oh, I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks for letting me know, Ashley 🙂
Lorena
Hi Heather. We love this recipe but I suffer from tonsil stones. I find that when I brush with this powder my breath is not as minty as I would like. I tried adding more mint powder and still I am not too happy. I end up just using regular toothpaste so does my husband. Can you recommend something to control tonsil stones? Thank you
Rebecca
Just browsing through comments but I have been hearing great things about Oregano essential oil as a natural alternative to antibiotics. Wonder if that would aid with your tonsil stones?
Melanie
I stopped eating dairy and after it cleared out of my system tonsil stones went away!
Ellie
Hi Heather,
I love your website and am especially looking forward to trying out this tooth powder. However I’m concerned that using baking soda and salt over a long period of time could be too abrasive and wear down my tooth enamel, like this article cautions about: http://www.newhealthguide.org/Brushing-Teeth-With-Baking-Soda.html
You’ve been using this powder a long time, is there anything you can say about the possible damages over time? Would it be as effective if I left out the baking soda and salt? Thank you!
Pam
Hi Heather,
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I am so happy and blessed by your site. I so appreciate the research you put into everything you post. I find myself referring friends and even strangers I meet in the grocery store 😉 to your site for all kinds of reasons!
Pam
Heather
I am so glad you have found it helpful, Pam!
Shilo
so can I just dip my wet toothbrush in the jar?
Joanne
Thanks for this great recipe. I made it a couple of days ago without the optional ingredients and my first impression was that it tastes weird and good at the same time (I LOVE cinnamon!). The outside of my teeth feel really clean and smooth, but the inside feels rough and ‘dirty’. I’m wondering if this is simply because there is a transition period, or I need to brush more often (I brush morning and night), or add more baking soda…. I don’t know. Did anyone else have this problem?
Liz
The stevia you have a link to has been out of stock for a bit now. Do you have another one you’d recommend?
Also I’ve read recently that turmeric is also good for oral health and can be used to brush your teeth with. Have you tried it? Thought?
Susan
I was surprised to read about using turmeric on one’s teeth. When I was taking the powder daily for health reasons, turmeric stained everything it came in contact with yellow. I wonder how it is that it whitens teeth rather than stain them yellow. I bought bentonite clay for teeth whitening on advice from my friend and got so distracted by the suggestions on the jar to use it as a facial mask that I forgot I could use it for teeth brushing. Thanks for the reminder. You rock Mommypotamus!,
Anna
So excited to try your tooth powder recipe, Heather! I am wondering if adding coconut oil to the powder would be a good solution to turning it into a paste. What do you think?
Tammy
Heather,
Hi, I have recently found out I am salicylate sensitive, which is why I am looking up homemade recipes. My concern would be the mint, cloves, cinnamon and stevia. All are high in salicylates. Would there be a problem with the amount of other ingredients if I leave the high salicylate ingredients out of the mix? I am tempted to try something like chamomile in it to replace the mint or something, as that is low salicylate, as is parsley and coriander.
Heather
Hi Tammy, it’s fine to leave them out. They do have astringent qualities, but they are mostly incorporated for flavor 🙂
Godsgirl
Your adorable Heather and thanks for sharing all your hard work and research. Ignore the bullies. They just need prayer. Keep on keeping on. God loves you and so do I. 🙂
Eva
My teeth are sensitive so will this help with the sensitivity of my teeth and
with the Charcoal stain the porcelian on my caps and teeth fillings?
Please let me know,
Thanks,
Kimberly Lambdin
I have noticed my sensitivity is GONE… G-O-N-E!!! I noticed it about 2 weeks after brushing with the tooth powder. Also – Charcoal will not stain the porcelain… It’s actually brightened my one capped tooth (front right – go figure- knocked that sucker out when I was in 3rd grade…sigh.) Anyway – My teeth are so much healthier since using tooth powder! In fact, my 21yr old son has been brushing with this recipe for over a year. Note about my son- he has Down Syndrome and had moderate gingivitis as reported by a former dentist of ours 3yrs ago. WELL…after his checkup back in Feb 2015 – the dentist said he has trace signs of gingivitis and no cavities and to top it all off… the dentist remarked at how little tartar build-up there was. We only go to the dentist once a year but had recently moved…so it had been over 2yrs since we’d been. I am so in love with tooth powder and across the board the entire family has noticed major improvements with our dental health and mouth hygiene. I tailor this recipe and then tailor another recipe that uses coconut oil (for my wee ones as they don’t like the powder form.) I don’t sell or market or share my recipe and if I did I would give credit to Mommypotamus and the other gal that I adapted my recipe from. Anyway – God bless and thanks for this recipe. You have changed our lives!!!
Shawn
Hi Heather, you mentioned all the ingredients are edible. Does that mean this is safe to use for babies? I was wanting to use something chemical free for my 6 month old. Thank you!
L
Hello,
I am curious if bentonite would pull any minerals from teeth. Thoughts?
I’d love to try this recipe but would like to know what you ha e read regarding this.
Thank you!
kurt
hi heather, thanks for your awesomeness!
was wondering if the peppermint oil can be dry blended in with the rest of the drt ingredients in a regular blender. what do you think?
thanks for all you do,
kurt
Joni
I added peppermint essential oil to my dry mix and it worked just fine. It didn’t make it wet at all – it turned right back to powder.
Kristin
The cinnamon and clove powder is so smart! I’ve used clove oil for mouth wash, but never thought of using the powder from my kitchen. I love it! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Loren Martin
The quote, “You can get perfectly healthy teeth with resistant enamel without having any kind of fluoride exposure.” is a little misleading in that, beginning in 1945, they started adding fluoride to the water you get out of your faucet. It is very little, but still there. However, the overall concept is absolutely true.
Heather
While that’s true in many cases, there are many people (myself included) who either have a filter that removes all fluoride or a non-fluoridated water source such as a spring or well. 🙂
Joni
Do you have a recipe for rebuilding tooth enamel, or at least strengthening what I do have? Also, do you have a recipe/ingredient for teeth that have soft spots? Lastly, do you use this tooth powder every day 2 to 3 times per day? Thank you so much!
d'nise
I live in Madagascar and am trying to take care of my 5 yr old twins teeth. I’ve tried to be a diet aware mom but have noticed the beginnings of tooth decay in their molars, which won’t fall out for years. I am tryin to find a natural solution to remineralize their teeth however either i can’t find some of the ingredients, ie the clay, or they have allergic reactions to the coconut oil. So what can i do?
Lois H
Look up the book Cure Tooth Decay. She has a ton of info and actual testamonials. She gives recipes and supplements also.
Joni
I already wrote this, but am still very curious. I made the tooth powder and like you said, kids do love it! I used Bentonite Clay, Peppermint Essential Oil, Organic Cinnamon, and Cloves. I used the toothpaste that has baking soda and coconut oil and then felt my teeth start getting really sensitive, so that’s why I switched to your tooth powder. But now with sensitive teeth, here are my questions:
Do you have a recipe for rebuilding tooth enamel, or at least strengthening what I do have? Also, do you have a recipe/ingredient for teeth that have soft spots? Lastly, do you use this tooth powder every day, 2 to 3 times per day? Thank you so much!
Chandra
Joni,
You might have a calcium/magnesium/D3 deficiency that needs to be addressed not only by brushing with the mix but changing your diet with supplements and whole foods that are high in all three of the above mentioned minerals and vitamins to rebuild the enamel. My teeth no longer feel sensitive after consuming the above mentioned minerals and vitamin in highly absorbable supplement form from iherb. Try taking out white sugar, chocolate, and white flours and rices.
Jen
I have recently read several of your posts about toothpaste, toothsoap and toothpowder. Which of these seemed to work best for healing your daughter’s tooth decay? I noticed you mentioned Dr. Christopher, but also the homemade powder and soap. Thanks so much
Julia
I had read that you don’t need to use the charcoal every day. I’d like to add it in, but do you know anything about this? I found it from someone else, so i don’t know her source. Thanks!!
Justine
Hello, I came to your site looking for help for my baby’s teeth. I think she also had an undiagnosed lip tie and at 14 months her front teeth are de-calcifying (white spots on the gum line). Can I use this recipe for my baby? Will it be safe for her? Thank you!!
Louisa
Just made the toothpaste and mixed it in to coconut oil.. Perfect thanks!!
maria
I made a version of this with the ingredients i had in the house at the time. Just the charcoal, salt, mint and baking soda. Added coconut oil to make a paste. I won’t use this more than 2x a week though since the comments i’ve read say charcoal is too abrasive to use daily and this is a more concentrated version since i didn’t have the clay.
Klara
Hello Heather,
thank you for this great recipe! Me and my boyfriend have been using the tooth powder for few months now and we really like it and it works perfect for us. 🙂 I am about to make a second batch and want to ask what you think about adding calcium powder in the recipe. (I had previously used it in a recipe from Katie from Wellnessmamma). Would it alter the effect of the recipe in any way? Is it safe? And what ratio would you use when adding it?
Thank you very much for your time.
Kind regards
Klara
Heather
I think that would be fine. Glad you like the recipe!
Chelsea
I followed your recipe above for tooth powder but added 2Tb of calcium magnesium powder, 15 drops of trace minerals, coconut oil and water (to make a paste). When I mixed it together it started bubbling and now it’s making a popping sound (think rice crispy cereal just softer). Is this normal, is it ok to use these ingredients together?
Heather
Hmm, I’m not sure why that happened. Does your calcium/magnesium powder have added ascorbic acid to facilitate absorption?
Lois H
Just FYI for your readers, that brand of bentonite clay is available thru Vitacost for about half the price. Also they have free shipping deals. This is the brand I use also and no I am not receiving anything for the referral. Vitacost also carries reasonably priced herbs, minerals and essential oils.
Netanel
Hi Heather, I am Netanel from Israel.
Please do tell us what’s your opinion on adding powdered eggshells to the mixture?
(I had read that egg shells contain plenty of minerals but I don’t know whether they are absorbed in the enamel of teeth).
Sarah
How long does this recipe usually last your family? (How often do you have to make it?)
Kris
Your link for stevia expired quite a while ago, and that company has discontinued making it. Do you have another recommendation for a good stevia?
Thanks for this recipe. I also really like your recipe for the turmeric oil pulling pucks.
Heather
Hi Kris, thanks so much for letting me know. I just updated my source recommendation to another company I love and buy from often. 🙂
Karina
Hello Hearther
Thank you for the recipe. I will make it. I got so concerned because I am breastfeeding and use the toothpaste from Oralwelness with ess. oils in it. I read your great article about ess. Oils and saw that Myrhh is a No when breastfeeding. What does Myrhh do that is harmful for breastfeeding? And also, is your recipe safe when breastfeeding?
Thank you
devona neal-ellis
ive looked at other homemade toothpastes, and they use trace mineral drops. I don’t know about trace minerals; im new to homemade personal care items. is there a reason you didnt include it in your recipe?
Marsha
Hi there! Thanks for the recipe! Do you know if this recipe is safe for 15 months old who don’t spit/rinse yet? Thanks again!
Cynthia Hallam
I think you should state the fluoride study you site was done in China not Harvard Universty in the United States. As a registered dental hygienist I can plainly state fluoride prevents tooth decay, this concoction will not. And baking soda is FAR TOO abrasive to use everyday. No one should ever us it everyday! Tooth decay is the number one disease in children today, I for one am grateful that it is in my drinking water everyday and my children are cavity free!
Linda
Is the salt necessary? Can I use Himalayan pink salt instead?
Thanks!
Amy
Will this turn your teeth black and then rinse clean like when using just AC?
Amy
I’ve been trying (and adding to my life) alot of your recipes over the last months. This tooth powder is by far the best, in my opinion! I HADN’T been able to chew on my left side in years without great pain and alot of caution. Cold and pressure WERE the worst but even heat hurt at times. I’ve been using the tooth powder for almost a week, now. I ATE A COLD SLICE OF CUCUMBER STRAIGHT FROM THE FRIDGE LAST NIGHT WITH SUPPER……AND CHEWED IT ON MY LEFT SIDE!!!!!! NO PAIN AT ALL! And my teeth are beginning to whiten nicely also. Thank you so much!!!!! You’ve given me what whitening and sensitivity toothpastes have been unable to provide. You are my hero in so many ways! God bless you!
maria
Hello, thanks for the great info! Is there any way I could include mastic gum powder in a toothpaste recipe? Mastic gum is readily available in my area (Greece) and it has helped me greatly with pregnancy nausea and digestive disorders!
Kris
Curious if you think this would keep okay with wet bentonite clay as it’s all I have. I was thinking of mixing the ingredients together and making a paste. Do you think it will go bad?
Taly
Hey Love your blog, I would suggest replacing your steva with xylatol. I work in the dental field and bactera in the mouth do not like xylatol. It is the same sweetener that is in trident and ice breakers gum.
Lauren
For anyone considering substituting xylitol for the stevia, please don’t do it if you have pets, xylitol is deadly to them. I don’t even understand how you would even want to use something in your own body that will kill a dog.
Danielle Mederos
What about if you are nursing? Is this a good alternative to toothpaste still, since clove and cinnamon are being used?
Eli Baird
FYI- stainless steel touching the bentonite clay will deactivate it.
Mary
Hi Heather, my husband and I have been using this for a week and we both have a gritty almost fuzzy feeling on the back of our teeth and now I’m starting to feel it on the front of my teeth. Should I stick it out a while longer or could there be something wrong with my recipe? I’m curious why this might be happening. Thanks for your help!
Heather M.
Hey Heather, we were writing in FB yesterday about the Fiestaware and Henckels….I am going to make this recipe for your tooth powder and am curious if you used this with the essential oil drops while you were pregnant? We are going to start trying really soon and I want to be safe with the essential oils, but also would love to have fresh breath. 🙂 Just curious if you used it and had any problems? Thanks, Heather
Heather
Most of these are the powdered herbs rather than EO’s, which I am comfortable with using in small amounts. If you decide to go with the peppermint essential oil it’s actually fine during pregnancy, but it is not recommended for use when breastfeeding because it may reduce milk supply. (Honestly, though, there is such a small amount in this recipe I personally didn’t worry about it and my supply was great.) You may find this post on using essential oils during pregnancy/breastfeeding helpful. 🙂
allen ying
hi, thanks for the info and recipe, i made a batch and i read through the comments, and saw that baking soda and activated charcoal are are considered too abrasive to use daily in a higher concentration.
for baking soda, my previous tooth powder was 7 parts baking soda to 1 part sea salt, that’s it. this recipe has so much more clay than anything else. wouldn’t a bit more baking soda, sea salt, or charcoal be beneficial? or just unnecessary?
is there really enough activated charcoal in this recipe to help whiten? would you add more? or just brush with straight charcoal 2-3x / week?
thanks!
Sharon McConnell
I just made this but I used cardamom essential oil in place of the peppermint oil and it is divine!
Heather
If cinnamon is a spice that contributes to stained teeth, why is it in the recipe?
Pamela
Wow, I never in a million years would have thought of using these ingredients to brush my teeth, but, followed your recipe (except I didn’t have the charcoal) and brushed my teeth with it. Kinda felt like brushing my teeth with sweet dirt. LOL The magic came after I rinsed my mouth. Felt like I just had my teeth cleaned at the dentist!!!!! Thank you so much for this recipe, I will never go back to store toothpaste. Now, on to the turmeric teeth whitener. Have a great afternoon.
Andreea Lowery
Hi Heather, i am very interested in making this recipe, but i am a little on the fence about my ceramic crowns and ceramic-metal crowns … Do you think there is a chance that they would get stained from the activated charcoal or bentonite clay? I know this post is old, but i hope you still answer to questions.
Thank you in advance!
Heather
I don’t have experience using this recipe with crowns so I’m not sure, sorry!
Nancy Dearinger
I just made the toothpowder for the first time. After I used it my teeth feel kinda different. I’m not sure how to explain it. Not sore but maybe achy. Is that normal? They also feel very clean!
Amber
Can you sub xylitol for the stevia?
Karen
The amount of salt makes me gag it’s so overpowering-can I reduce it?
Heather
Yep 🙂
Ruchi
Hi Heather,
Firstly, thank you for this awesome recipe. Was searching for homemade tooth powder and came across yours on pinterest. Now I had to make some substitutions since I was too lazy and its 12 am too here in India. I used Himalayan pink salt instead of the unrefined sea salt you have listed and used spearmint and peppermint eos 5 drops each. Used licorice powder instead of stevia powder and in the end like an idiot added in water to make a paste.
My concern is that is it ok to use this toothpaste with these substitutions and also since I have already added in water? Will it have the desired outcome or has it lost all it’s properties due to the water? I have stored it in a plastic jar for now. I did try it out and the minty taste is cool. Waiting for your take on it now 😀
Kathy
I just tried a 1/2 batch using sweet leaf stevia (it has inulin fiber and stevia only. It’s what I had on hand) and it feels nice. I’m just wondering if the inulin will effect my teeth. I just found this recipe today.
Elaine
Hi. I just went to my dentist and told him the natural toothpaste ingredients I use. He liked it except one. He says that the charcoal is very abrasive. He also says that any Whitening toothpaste is abrasive.
lewis
hi what is the shelf life of this product please
Karen
Sorry if this mentioned before but could I add calcium?
Elizabeth
Hello again I was just wondering if my question got sent in since I don’t see it?
I love this website, keep up the good work!
Thanks!
Valerie
This recipe for tooth powder looks great and I’d like to try it. But after reading through many of the comments, I am a little hesitant because I have a tooth implant. There is no exposed metal, so clay shouldn’t be a problem, but could any of these ingredients affect my prosthetic tooth? I am pretty sure it’s made of porcelain. I use diatomaceous earth mixed in water and drink it for my health nearly every day, and the only effect on my teeth has been to reduce plaque and tartar. I am curious about replacing the bentonite clay or the baking soda with diatomaceous earth.
Thanks in advance!
Katie
Does the activated charcoal get real messy on the mouth and the clothes? cuz I know it leaves black stuff in your mouth and my kids can be quite crazy?!
Kadie
Hi Heather. I find all this very interesting & fascinating, really.
I have a question for you; Do you have a recipe for those of us who have dentures? Mine have stains & are looking somewhat yellowed. I would like to have a nice, bright & white smile again. Do you have any suggestions?
Megan
How long does this tooth powder last for one person brushing twice a day?
Jennifer
Any way to make this printable?
Swati
Hi Heather,
Thank you so much for this recipe, it’s awesome! The Bentonite clay linked in this recipe is not edible according to its description on amazon. Is it safe to use? Also, what toothbrush is recommended to use with this powder? Are regular toothbrushes okay? Thank you, all your recipes are wonderful!
Bethany
Made this today and, Love it! My teeth feel clean like I just had them cleaned at the dentist! Is that normal? Baking soda usually irritates my gums, so we’ll see what happens next, but I used Bob’s Red Mill Baking soda and it tastes like very little is actually used at a time and so far I feel no issue.
Thank you, I have been looking for a coconut oil free homemade toothpaste and hadn’t really considered a tooth powder before. This is great. I’ll post again if anything changes.
Kristin
Can you use pink Himalayan salt instead of sea salt?
Heather
Yes, you could 🙂
Kathleen
Hi there,
Can you substitute the diatomaceous earth for the baking soda?
Thank you!
Kathleen
Oops the other way around, baking soda for diatomaceous earth.
Rachel
Thanks for all your tips and thoughts. I so appreciate them and am often searching here first when I have questions or thoughts.
My daughters are using the powder, ages 4 and 6. Any favorite ways to store it? I did a small mason jar and now I did a long necked bottle. There is constantly powder everywhere, my husband is so frustrated. Any tips besides parental involvement? ha!
(We have been doing the cure tooth decay for 2 months now for my 6 year old after the dds wanted to put her under at the hospital and do 8 crowns. No Way! says this momma. I can’t wait to see a difference in the X-rays. She’s very diligent so it might just work for her!)
Robert
What is the colour of the powder? Is it possible to make the powder black? Also, is the texture of the powder “very powdery”
Heather
It’s gray when it’s mixed together. I don’t think you could necessarily make it black but you could make it darker grey by adding activated charcoal. Regarding texture, I’m not clear on the definition of “very powdery” so not sure how to answer that one . . .
Janet
Please read Hulda Clark on stainless steel problems. And Baking Soda.
Wendy B
I’d there a way to print this recipe ?
Heather
Hi Wendy, for this recipe the only option is to select the portion of the post you want to print and choose “Selection only” (or whatever phrase your printer uses) when printing.
JV
Heather, is there something that will help to regrow gums over the teeth? I have receding gums that have gone below where the enamel starts so the softer more vulnerable parts of my teeth have quite quickly eroded. Currently managing diet to compensate malnutrition but need to fix this problem ASAP as I’ll soon lose every tooth I have to undercutting ie erosion at the gum line.
Jenny Robertson
I have a 14 month old that has just been diagnosed with a class IV lip tie. While checking progress on his teeth coming in, I noticed the beginning of some decay on the top 4 teeth. He has 15 teeth :-O ! I immediately started looking for the healing diet. I knew about this as I research all things natural. We eat all organic, non-gmo, and he is breast fed. I was shocked to find decay. I’ve been so careful with him! I immediately cut out all sugars, grains, and carbs. His diet is now meats, cheeses, got milk kefir, goat milk yogurt, alkaline water at 9.5 pH, and all the dark green veggies he can eat…which is good because he LOVES them! We have a coconut allergy, so no coconut oil can be used. Is there another oil that can be used to help? Also, I am brushing his teeth after breakfast, and before bed, but rinsing with water after he eats or drinks. I will add the FCLO as soon as I can get it Thursday. How long did this process take? I’m beside myself worried for his teeth!!!
Dennis
Just use 100% baking soda; Super simple, and super effective. The mild abrasive effect (Moh’s 2.5 hardness vs. tooth enamel Moh’s 5) works great for removing granular calculus (tartar). The modestly increased pH disrupts the integrity of the biofilm we know as dental plaque and helps it rinse away. The slightly salty taste is easily rinsed out of the mouth. Everything else is totally optional.
Chandra Roehrs
hi Heather and all helpers, posters🙏🔆
I have been using straight baking soda w some PEPPERMINT EO… and am ready to try something else. I found a tooth powder in Bangkok I am really curious about — please comment re the ingr, re any possible toxicity…I am wondering re the ammonium alum…
Calcium Carbonate, Ammonium Alum, Borneol Flakes, Sodium Chloride, Menthol Crystal, Camphor, Clove Oil, Peppermint Oil, TR-1 Compound, Myrrh Oil, Sage Oil, Camomile Blue Oil.
Thanks for all comments, positively stated.
Brenda
Hi Heather,
I made 2020 the year to reduce my consumption of single use plastic containers and plastics in general where I can. I just finished up my tube toothpaste and was looking for an alternative, like toothpaste bites or other powders but I found them to be VERY expensive for what you get. I checked your site and as usual found a great solution in your toothpaste powder. I made it and used it and find it very effective, clean mouth and nice breath! Other than the charcoal being super messy and my batch being a bit salty (I used finely ground Himalayan salt since that is what I had on hand), it’s great! I also skipped the Stevia as I do not need it to be sweet. I am so happy with this recipe that I will share with my people! Thank You!
Tess
Is this the toothpaste recipe your kids don’t want to spit out? With salt and baking soda? I am looking for a kid friendly toothpaste that is natural
Stephanie
Hello, Your bentonite clay link is not working. I’ve been searching for a good brand, I bought one online, and it read “food grade”, however, when it arrived the packaging only read “cosmetic grade”. Can you explain why that is? Did the clay or the regulations on labeling change? It seems very difficult to find a brand with good reviews that is available that reads “food grade”.
Kris
Hi, can I use Himalayan salt with the same benefits?
Amy
The link above for the bentonite clay your recommend isn’t working, can you let me know what brand you like?
Thank you so much!
Kathy
Hey Heather. I’ve been using my homemade toothpaste (baking soda, coconut oil & various essential oils. I would like to try your tooth powder but the Bentonite Clay i have which says it’s 100% Natural Calcium Bentonite Clay, says FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY. Can I still use this or should I order a “food grade?.
Thanks!
Alan Lee
Good post guys!
Lauren Roesler
What about adding or replacing perhaps one of the ingredients with Diatomaceous Earth?
T
Never use metal of any kind with Bentonite Clay.
Misty
Does constantly adding water (from the wet toothbrush) cause problems with spoilage?