Toothpaste's last stand

I admit it - we rarely use deodrant either. I think eating good and not covering your body in all kinds of other slime allows you to be naturally stink free most of the time. I wish I had a good recipe for you but you're the one I come to for good recipes! I'm making a version of your sore muscle salve for a valentines gift :)

Have you thought about trying the "no soap, no 'poo" regimen? http://freetheanimal.com/2010/02/no-soap-or-poo-update.html I've been without both for the last month. It's great. Talk about conserving water. My showers only last about 5 minutes now.
-Bodie

i love the idea of making all your own products but it's not something i'm convicted of...yet. i know i will do this someday, it's the next step. but i am so terribly busy with six kiddos and all there is to do that i just stress when i think of adding another "thing" to my list. but i do love the idea of it and i think it's wonderful lovely that you are doing it. i do buy handmade soaps from other people, though and we use peroxide on our teeth alot, it helps whiten them and gets rid of germs and helps tooth pain, it's just wonderful stuff!! (though nasty) :0) can't have it all i suppose.

Thanks for all the great links for homemade delights. I make baby bum cream, hand cream and lip balm regularly, but it's time to branch out. I too would love to try a toothpaste- it's such an expense to buy the "better" stuff. My hubs needs some convincing though- he loves a foamy mouth :) I'll try some and keep you posted!

Yup, I agree that the toothpaste is a hard one to kick--have heard too many say baking soda based ones are too abrasive in the long run. That said, I do want to try it just so I know for myself. When I do, I think I'll use powdered anise instead of mint, and also other powdered herbs like marshmallow, which is "demulcent" and might help balance out the baking soda. I'll eagerly await the end of these tubes and whatever discoveries follow. And thanks also for all your info on soapmaking--that's next for me. Kyce

Baking soda is much less abrasive than most silica based toothpastes. There is a scale of dentin abrasivity that you can google (sorry - no time right now!). One theory is that if you are eating well your saliva should naturally protect your teeth and you shouldn't really have to scrape them to bits. Currently I just use baking soda, but I have thought about melting some coconut oil and mixing that with the baking soda and maybe something smelly... Not sure you can really get away from the baking soda unless you use a tooth soap, which I think is just pretty much soap. You might do a search on a blog called Oceans of Joy. I remember her posting about dental health recently. And she is super inspiring anyway :-)

I am looking for a good toothpaste recipe too. Tomorrow I will be giving away a fluoride and glycerin-free toothpaste and mouthwash combo on my blog if you want to check it out. I'm going to try Lindsay's (passionatehomemaking) deodorant recipe soon.

I knew Justin and I would be together forever when, after a long, hot day of bouldering in the north channel, he smelled non-deo me and said it was the best smell ever. And I DID stink. I don't use shampoo in my hair often-- maybe once a month, with a little tea tree oil concoction. Thanks so much for all this recipe love-- I've been pouring over the book Make Your Place the last couple weeks, and am itching to venture further into the soap/salve departments. Good luck with the toothpaste-- we haven't given up sellouts, I mean Toms, yet. The kids like the strawberry flavor and I like not fighting them. If someone sends you some good idea though, pass it along!

I seem to live with my head in the sand- I had not heard about Tom's! :( I pretty much gave up deodorant about 1 1/2 years ago- and no one, including my hubby, ever noticed! (I finally asked a year later). I MAY wear a tiny bit for church on a hot day (no a/c where we meet) but that is pretty much it, and I usually forget. Once in a while, I will put on some of my lotion on my underarms after I shave, just for the nice smell. I'm with Brienne- smells are very important to me! :)

Of course, I have no recipe for you, but wanted to tell you my sis in law (with the fussy baby at your soap class :) gave us all homemade lotion for Christmas this year- made from your recipe! ;)

Thanks for this - I've been thinking of taking on making more of our stuff (or any - hangs head), so this is a great resource for when I'm ready to start (planning a big move to a new home, not the right time now).

I will read all of the comments, but I'd be curious to know if you or your readers have any experience with EXTREMELY sensitive teeth. Brushing is painful with anything I use, so I use Sensodyne to take the edge off. (I can't even touch my teeth w/ my own finger w/out hurting them, it's that bad. Sometimes they hurt for no reason.) Wondering if natural stuff would help or hurt.

Really enjoying your blog, BTW!!

I've just been using baking soda under the armpits! I still sweat but not stink. as far as toothpaste - just bought the trader joe's brand yesterday. thanks for this post. one of these days I need to get on board with making my own soaps.

I have been using my own homemade toothpaste for a couple of months now. Lauren and I hate the taste, but it works great! I mix baking soda, evening primrose oil, slippery elm, ginger and black walnut powder all together in a little batch at a time. You just brush and rinse. It works great to strengthen, whiten and takes away toothaches!

I switch off between baking soda and Tom's (was able to make my last tube last jan 09 to feb 10!!). I also rinse with hydrogen peroxide.. However, I have heard of people just using peroxide to brush (it's pretty foamy ;). I think they take a swig and then start brushing. My teeth are definitely whiter and they feel good, so I think I'm doing a good job? Hope that helps! My next projects are to make lotion and toner. I want to use witch hazel, but I don't really like that all the brands I have looked at contain alcohol. Do you know of a witch hazel without alcohol or is that the way it is extracted?

Also, I've been meaning to tell you that I made the muscle salve awhile back with the ingredients you sent me. The salve is amaaaazing! I only used 1 oz. of the herb mix and I have a ton of salve. Just looking at that little jar makes me feel pretty accomplished. Thank you so much Renee!

Thank you for the link, Renee!

I really fell off the wagon on the deodorant front, but I was using one of those liquid crystal ones and I started reacting to it :( I'll have to give Angry Chicken's recipe a try.

We are conventional toothpaste users around here, but I've heard that you can use Dr. Bronner's, although it foams like crazy.

Oooo Renee will you post the shaving cream recipe. My hubby uses a standard razor and bush too. I would love to make him homemade shaving soap. I have made lip balm and lotion and love both.

I made your lotion last Friday and my family LOVES it. It smells so good and feels great knowing we're not putting harsh chemicals on our skin. The only thing is that I didn't add the Borax and added a little more beewax and cocoa butter, so far it doesn't seem to be separating. And I don't think I'll have to worry about it going bad because we've already gone through half of it in a week! I'd like to write about it on my blog. Would you mind if a put a link to your lotion recipe?

renee, i just posted a comment to your photo shoot, scrolled down and was alarmed i had missed two posts prior to that one. what? not sure how that happened! you know i love this post and am so appreciative. am bookmarking it, thank you. how does damien like his straight blade? mike uses and loves his old fashioned safety razor and also has shaving soap in the waiting for him. nicola http://whichname.blogspot.com

back to add that sarah of sarah's blue castle posted a toothpaste recipe. you could change the peppermint essential oil to something else. i haven't tried it, so i am not "that person," but she has and they like it, so.... http://www.sarahsbluecastle.com/blue_castle/2008/10/toothpaste.html

I know your husband uses a straight razor, but I forgot to ask what kind of razor you use Renee.. I have been looking at old-fashion razors online (you have to sharpen them yourself), because I hate buying and throwing away blade replacements (seems like such a waste). Again, thanks for the great post!!

I used to make my own toothpaste, but after a while I found it very cumbersome, and not very efficient. Currently, I alternate between Dr Bronner's (unscented) soap and Eco-dent tooth powder, which I really like. Honestly, either one leaves my mouth feeling clean after brushing. I stopped getting Tom's for the kids a while back, but they have been happy with the replacement- Weleda.

Oh, and deodorant. I'd probably be making my own too if I don't love InspiredMama's on Etsy so much! lol

i don't know if someone else has mentioned this recipe (don't have time to read all the many comments this inspired just now!!), but i had your post in mind when i ran across this recipe on LuSa organics blog. she is a soap/lotion/lip balm maker (wonderful wonderful stuff) and makes this toothpaste for her family with no baking soda, but natural soap (like Dr Bronners) - maybe this will work for you? http://lusaorganics.typepad.com/clean/2010/02/natural-toothpaste-tutorial.html (i hope this links - not sure how to do that in a comment!)

thanks again for all the sharing of knowledge and experience that you do here.

Hi Renee, I'm Cindy L's sister. She gave me some of your soap yesterday..."Lavender Lemonade"..awesome stuff. Jody B is always telling me about it as well. Hey, I found a toothpaste yesterday that is called "Tate's" it sounds interesting. They also make a 'miracle" conditioner/moisturizer/shaving cream/.... it has like 100 uses (says so on the bottle). I bought the "conditioner" I use JL Liggetts for shampoo and coconut oil after...leave in. I have dry hair. I also use coconut oil as a moisturizer. I use Tea Tree oil as an "aftershave" to prevent razor bumps...works great. I use Thai crystal deodorant. I have used sea salt and (any) essential oil (not just peppermint) as a toothpaste. I love Eco-dent too. Oh...a girl at the health food store told me that several people she knows are shaving little pieces off the JL Liggetts bar and using that as toothpaste....hmmmm, don't know about that. I noticed you hiked to Gentian Pond....we live right down the street. I wanted to mention that we are avid wild mushroom hunters...this area is loaded too. We have eaten 23 differant varieties within walking distance of our home. If you're ever interested in learning about them, let me know. I'm on Cindy and Jody's facebook. Give me a shout. Nice to chat...great site you have!!!.....Jodi

Would you be willing to share the recipe for shaving soap? My boyfriend prefers a lather brush and shaving soap to a store bought cream or gel, and I'd love to make him some for Christmas. Can't wait to try some of your other recipes!

I know this is old, but for those looking for a toothpaste recipe, Shoshanna from the bulkherbstore.com has one that looks good. The recipe is on the site, and she has a youtube video where she makes it and explains why she chose each ingredient. We are finishing up a tube of natural toothpaste, and then I'm going to try Shoshanna's recipe.

I love the idea of homemade products! You save money annd know exactly what you are using on your body. I think we should all take the time to do this. Thanks for all the great tips on homemade products.

Have you ever tried coconut oil deodorant?  I recently switched to this and love it!

1/4 cup baking soda

1/4 cup cornstarch

4 Tbsp melted coconut oil

10 drops essential oil

I put mine in an empty "store bought" deodorant container and I keep it in the fridge - probably don't have to but I like the "cool" feeling. 

:)