This homemade toothpaste recipe is natural, frugal, and easy to make! Why buy toothpaste when you can make some at home in 5 minutes?! Also try my cinnamon flavored remineralizing toothpaste recipe.
Confession: I make homemade toothpaste because I’m a toothpaste snob.
I fell in love with Earthpaste after using it only once, and the whole family has been happily brushing their teeth with dirt ever since. In fact, we credit my husband beating gum disease to the clay.
I was so in love with all-natural Earthpaste and so against conventional toothpaste (because of the glycerin and fluoride), I never wanted to go back and use the old stuff again. That was the moment when I decided to make homemade toothpaste that’s just like Earthpaste. I’m going to share with you this easy and quick recipe that only takes 5 minutes to make!
Here’s What You Need
- 2 Tbsp Bentonite clay
- 3-4 Tbsp Distilled or boiled water that has cooled
- 5 drops Liquid stevia OR xylitol (optional, to taste)
- 10-15 drops essential oils** in peppermint vitality, lemon vitality or orange vitality (depending on what flavor you choose)
- Tiny pinch of salt
- Wooden spoon or plastic spoon or spatula
Notes on Ingredients
- You might be asking, why bentonite clay? Bentonite clay has so many amazing health benefits (you can read more about that HERE and ways to use it!). One of the benefits is the remineralizing effects clay has on your body (and teeth!). This could be one reason why my husband was able to heal his gum disease naturally.
- There are a lot of essential oil companies out there and I’ve certainly tried my fair share of brands. But after testing and researching and more testing, only one is worth spending money on (in my opinion). For a couple years now I’ve been committed to Young Living oils, and you can read more about their oils and my decision HERE.
- However if Young Living is out of your reach, I’ve heard great things about Plant Therapy on Amazon.
Psst! If you’re going to add salt, I highly recommend Ava Jane’s Kitchen. You may think all salt is created equal, but unfortunately, 90% of salt produced around the world contains microplastics (gross, right?). Ava Jane’s Kitchen is an exception. Their salt is 100% microplastic free, and it’s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a bag for just 1¢!! (Get your penny bag of salt on this page.)
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1. Combine 3 Tbsp of water with clay in a non-metal bowl and mix well using a non-metal spoon (the clay should never come in contact with any metals).
Step 2. Add stevia and 10 drops of desired essential vitality oil (peppermint, lemon or orange). Mix well.
Step 3. Add a pinch of salt, mix well and taste.
Step 4. Add additional stevia and/or essential oils and/or water to taste and texture, adding oils one drop at a time and water 1/2 Tbsp at a time.
Note: Wait 48 hours before making significant adjustments to the flavor, the flavors will meld together over time.
Frugal Friendly
The total cost of all-natural, homemade toothpaste (that’s just like Earthpaste) is: $0.95 per ounce!
So far, the only downside I can see from making your own toothpaste is the up-front cost of ingredients.
However, one 10 oz tub of bentonite clay can make over 34 batches of the recipe above and each 5 ml bottle of essential oil will make over 8 batches.
You will have enough ingredients on hand to make toothpaste for a while!
FAQS
Give my homemade toothpaste recipe a try! You won’t regret it. This recipe is natural and simple and will clean your teeth without all those unnecessary ingredients.
If you run into a situation where you don’t have any toothpaste, don’t worry! You can use just baking soda, just dip your toothbrush into the baking soda and brush as usual.
Table salt shouldn’t be used for brushing teeth since it would be too harsh and can damage your enamel. However, sea salt works well, you can dip your toothbrush into the salt or you can dilute the sea salt with water (If you are concerned with the abrasiveness.)
Storing Homemade Toothpaste
We use this toothpaste by simply dipping our brushes in one jar. However, if you’d prefer everyone to have their own containers, here are a few options:
- Mini Plastic Pots: These are about the size of a single eyeshadow container and take the issue out of sharing one bigger jar. One batch will fill 2-3 pots, depending on how well you pack it in.
- Reusable Plastic Tubes: These allow you to squeeze the toothpaste out, instead of dipping into a jar. Each holds 3 oz, so roughly one batch of toothpaste per tube.
- Small Glass Jars: Each jar is 4 oz, so one batch of toothpaste fills each about halfway. This is what I use personally, since each jar can serve many functions beyond the bathroom.
- Mini Glass Jars: Similar to what we use, except that each jar is only 2 oz and comes with a plastic lid. Perfect for those concerned about the clay touching metal, and traveling!
More DIY Recipes
- DIY Homemade Bug Repellent With Essential Oils
- Homemade Cinnamon Flavored Remineralizing Toothpaste
- DIY Sunscreen
- After Sun Spray
It’s nice to see folks seriously addressing oral hygiene.
I’m allergic to many products contained in FDA approved foods, drinks, and oral hygiene products. I can tolerate a mint flavored sensitive toothpaste.
For the past 6 months I replaced mouth wash with a twice daily salt water rinse/floss/swish/spit routine. The lacerations on my gums are gone. They are a pretty pink now. The teeth are less sensitive as well.
1 tsp sea salt
Hot water
Coffee cup
Stir salt into hot water at bottom of coffee cup. Add enough cold water to rinse mouth thoroughly with salted water.
in hot water
I’ve been using this toothpaste for years and love it! My issue is clogged drains. Should I spit it into the trash? Has this ever happened to you? I’m pretty sure it’s the bentonite clay.
Hello Jillee!
We’re happy to hear that you enjoy this homemade toothpaste. You can spit into the trash to avoid a clogged drain or pouring boiling water down the drain will unclog it. Hope this helps!
The hot water works like a charm!
You mentioned that the clay should never come in contact with metals. I have metal fillings. So this would not be safe for me to use? Thank you
HI Jenny!
Since the bentonite toothpaste is mixed with other ingredients (and saliva) while brushing, and there is only a very small amount of bentonite coming in contact with the teeth / fillings, this isn’t a problem. What we should avoid is the prolonged direct contact between pure bentonite and metal. Hope this helps!
I see xylitol can be an ingredient in this toothpaste. People with pets should know that xylitol is very toxic to dogs. I recently learned this and have removed everything in my house that has it.
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/paws-xylitol-its-dangerous-dogs
Annie,
Thank you for sharing. 🙂
I was making this recipe and accidentally didn’t let the water cool! Do I need to start over? I have at this point just added the boiling water to the clay.
Hi Natashia!
For the best results for this homemade toothpaste, try starting over and use boiled water that has cooled down. 🙂
I’m interested in hearing more details about how table salt is too harsh to brush your teeth with; can you link to any other resources? And is that talking about exclusively salt; would a small amount of table salt in a natural toothpaste recipe (such as this) be okay? Thank you!
Hi Elyse, Some of the research can be found at https://www.dentalexcellenceofbluebell.com/blog/should-you-use-salt-toothpaste/.
Can this toothpaste be used on Crowns?
Hi there, We are not aware of any reasons not to but please talk to your dentist if you have any concerns. 🙂
How safe is this for toddlers (18mo)? She will absolutely swallow some, but I cannot find a good toothpaste that I’m comfortable with her having besides coconut oil, lol.
Looking forward to making this! Thank you!
Hi Amanda, Tiffany uses this on her own kids!
Thank you for sharing this recipe, me and my husband have been using the toothpaste for about 3 months. I just prepared the second batch.
Hi Aura,
You’re most welcome. Thanks for checking back in! 🙂
I have some of the YL oils but mine just says peppermint and lemon. Neither say “vitality”. Think this would be ok? I don’t want to waste it if you don’t think it would be strong enough mint flavor.
Also, have you tried adding any thieves to any of your mixes? It seems like it would be good in theory, but I’m curious if this works IRL 🙂
Hi Gina! Per the FDA, non-vitality oils shouldn’t be used internally, HOWEVER the FDA doesn’t think you’ll eat toothpaste and YL has said it’s okay to use non-vitality in this recipe. (Just so you know, the oils in vitality and non-vitality are the same.)
Yes! I have added thieves and it’s tasty! I’d add a hint more of cinnamon or clove to taste. 😉
I followed this recipe and I used lemon essential oil in it. I have read that citrus essential oils can cause the skin to be ultra-sensitive to the sun. In the toothpaste I only used the recommended 10-15 drops, but since it could be touching the lips when brushing, does that mean we should only use this toothpaste at night, since the lemon bottle says to wait 12 hours before sun exposure? Or is it such a small amount that it won’t matter (even if using right before going out into the sun)?
Hi Melinda!
Citrus oils will cause that when directly put on the skin but it’s a lot less when they are diluted like in this recipe. I use a toothpaste with orange oil and haven’t ever had issues with lip sunburn. 🙂
Why not substitute vodka for the water, good preservative and it is such a small amount. Commercial vanilla flavoring and mouth wash probably has more percentage of alcohol than this. Can’t see any that is swallowed would have a negative effect. Just keep adding erythritol until you are satisfied with the taste.
That is a personal choice but this recipe works well for us. Adjustments to fit your needs are encouraged for sure, Joseph.
hi there!
I just made my first batch with calcium bentonite clay(Pranaturals Calcium Benonite CLay) and I am wondereing if it dryes out fast?
I gues the jar needs to be peoperly closed right?
or maybe I got the wrong clay :S
Lídia
Yes, it needs to be well sealed. Some do dry out faster then others. I would need to know how quickly yours dried out to say if it is normal or not.