For a whiter smile, brush your teeth with dirt.
Said no one ever.
Until now. Seriously. Homemade toothpaste–made with bentonite clay (aka dirt) is way better for you than the regular ol’ stuff in a tube. It helps whiten teeth, freshen breath and allows you to steer clear of a few toxic ingredients.
Why You Should Make the Switch
Regular toothpaste contains toxic ingredients that are harmful to your health.
Fluoride
Have you ever wondered why you shouldn’t use regular toothpaste for children under two? Other than maybe it being too spicy, it also shouldn’t be given because there is fluoride in it. Fluoride is is thought to decrease tooth decay, but it is also linked tocause dental disfiguration
inhibit insulin secretion and increase blood glucose in animals and humans
cause skin rashes in mouth including canker sores and perioral dermatitis
Although fluoride is thought to protect against tooth decay, diet and proper hygiene can do just as good of a job–without the potential side effects.
SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate)
SLS is a foaming agent found in soaps ranging from your shampoo to the soap used to degrease a car engine. According to the Environmental Working Group, SLS is linked to
- irritation of skin and eyes
- organ toxicity
- developmental/reproductive activity
- possible mutations and cancer
Stern College for Women at Yeshiva University in New York studied SLS in mouthwash. They found SLS in mouth rinses caused skin in the mouth to shed and caused a burning sensation in human volunteers (source).
Triclosan
Triclosan is an antibacterial agent added to toothpaste to prevent gingivitis. While this has been shown effective, animal studies are now showing triclosan to alter hormone regulation. The FDA is reviewing this product now, but I’ll wait until I start coating my mouth with it every day.
Homemade Natural Toothpaste
Bentonite Clay is a great stain remover and helps draw out toxins.
Baking Soda helps whiten and clean teeth. Make sure to find naturally extracted baking soda.
Coconut oil is a naturally antibacterial, so there’s no need for triclosan! The oil also helps pull toxins from the mouth, gums, teeth and tongue.
Xylitol is used as a sweetener. It’s optional, but some studies suggest it is beneficial for teeth. I don’t cook with it, so I borrowed some from a friend in exchange for a batch of homemade toothpaste!
Essential Oils such as peppermint or sweet orange are great for freshening breath.
Homemade Natural Toothpaste
Ingredients
¼ cup virgin coconut oil
3 Tbsp. food-grade bentonite clay
¼ cup natural baking soda
1 Tbsp. xylitol
5-7 drops peppermint essential oil
Directions
In a small bowl, add bentonite clay, baking soda, salt, and xylitol. Mix to combine. Add drops of essential oil and then add the coconut oil. Mix it all together with a wooden spoon.
In hot weather, the toothpaste gets a little thinner due to the coconut oil. If you prefer a thicker paste, let it firm up in the fridge.
More questions?
Check out this article about brushing with baking soda
PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.