Making homemade toothpaste

After writing that I was almost out of toothpaste and was going to have to start making my own very soon I found just one more tube of Tom's in the cupboard.

Then my parents visited last week and stole it when they left. Actually they didn't steal it, they mistook it for their own and went home with one extra. No matter, I was happy to give them a tube of their favorite paste.

That was just the push I needed to start concocting my own. And I don't use the word concocting lightly.

Based on everything you've all shared with me and my own research I'm mixing essential oils, coconut oil, baking soda, green mash and vodka. Coming up with... you don't want to know.

It's a process and when I stumble upon a recipe that works for us I'll share it with you. But right now I'm using my family as toothpaste guinea pigs. And what a wonderful family they are to put up with me. Even though Celine said earlier this week between top and bottom brushing, "Tis my fate to live with a mother who makes herbal toothpaste."

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  • Cori

    Cori on March 5, 2010, 3:20 p.m.

    Ha ha - the things we do to our kids in the name of good health! The coconut oil is great, and I don't mind baking soda either, but EOs in my mouth and green mash are a little scary for me too! Have you tried just using some of your soap?

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    • renee

      renee on March 5, 2010, 3:35 p.m.

      read about doing that but soap in my mouth... just sounds kind of icky. But just this morning I whipped up a new batch using Dr. Bronners liquid soap and other stuff. I will be sure to post about my experience, with recommended recipes once I figure this out.

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  • Karen

    Karen on March 5, 2010, 4:17 p.m.

    Oh dear, your Dad must have put the tube in his shaving kit. To add to the irony, while visiting you I bought four tubes of Tom's which are sitting in my cupboard. Celine's face tells it all :)

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  • nicola@which name?

    nicola@which name? on March 5, 2010, 4:48 p.m.

    ummmm, may i ask what the heck "green mash" is? LOL nicola http://whichname.blogspot.com ps. mike has been working horrible hours and when he isn't i have begged him to help me make soap molds in his shop. i know, i don't need them to start, but i have promised one in barter to my friend rhian, so i figure we might as well make one for me, too!

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  • Wendy

    Wendy on March 5, 2010, 5:20 p.m.

    My daughter would agree with yours about most of the stuff I make (she hates the homemade deodorant), but for some strange reason, she's totally fine with the taste of both baking soda and tea tree oil, which is what we've used.

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  • Candelion

    Candelion on March 6, 2010, 5:06 a.m.

    How ironic.. I would have loved it if my mom made herbal toothpaste. She doesn't know how good she has it ;)

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  • Lynn

    Lynn on March 6, 2010, 1:16 p.m.

    Sheesh! Your kids are troopers! My kids complain that I make them use store bought natural toothpaste (which happens to be Tom's). They tried to tell me their teeth will turn yellow if I don't buy the "normal" stuff. And of course the dentist always follows through for them with his little Crest samples. I'm chemically sensitive and cannot use said "normal" brands as they make the inside of my mouth slough off! Don't know if I would attempt homemade. I'll keep an eye on your progress and maybe I'll change my mind!

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  • Alisha

    Alisha on March 6, 2010, 11:43 p.m.

    Well, the green is slightly offputting, but Celine's comment made me rofl!I don't suppose she likes to read Little Women? I have just mixed baking soda with a drop or two of peppermint essential oil and used that and it's not bad. The kiddos like it, but the man thinks "it ain't real toothpaste" so our teeth are bound to die and fall out over night. I make them brush with baking soda at least once a week.

    I have ramekins like the bottom pic! Lol!

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  • Denise

    Denise on March 7, 2010, 12:54 a.m.

    you are so brave. my kids would protest. I have been using the trader joe's brand and even that is not so good.

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    • renee

      renee on March 7, 2010, 1:09 a.m.

      the kids are welcome to protest but I think they know their protests won't get them far. There's no other alternative in the cupboard and I'm not buying any either (smile).

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  • Organizing Mommy

    Organizing Mommy on March 7, 2010, 4:03 a.m.

    It's about the vodka. Is this addicting? because I have issues.

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    • renee

      renee on March 7, 2010, 2:15 p.m.

      I used a teensy bit of vodka to make a peppermint mouthwash that I then mixed with the paste (last photo in post). The alcohol helps kills germs and keep the green mixture fresh (also being in the fridge). But we didn't like this combo. and are experimenting with something else right now that I'll blog about once we've settled on a recipe.

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  • NIcole

    NIcole on March 12, 2010, 6:59 a.m.

    I just made homemade toothpaste. I'm allergic to coconut so I couldn't use that as a base. -Ground up calcium/magnesium tablets -Baking soda -Glycerine (enough to make your power into paste) -Stevia powder (sweeten to your liking) -Sweet orange EO (1-2 Drops)

    At first I used too much baking soda and it tasted salty. After adding a few ground up calcium tablets the consistency and taste was much better. I'm thinking about adding a ground up vitamin C tablet. As is, it works better than the "Crest" toothpaste I was using.

    ~Nicole

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