This homemade toothpaste recipe is natural, frugal, and easy to make! Why buy clay toothpaste when you can make some at home in 5 minutes?! For a different flavor, 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’s 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), that 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.
And if I’m going to make something myself, you know I’m going to find a way to do it quickly and frugally.
WHY MAKE HOMEMADE TOOTHPASTE?
Oral health improves your overall wellness, yet many mainstream oral care products have synthetic additives and harmful ingredients, like sodium lauryl sulfate, which we try to avoid. Artificial sweeteners and flavors, artificial colorings, and synthetic vitamins? No, thank you!
It saves money! The ingredients you purchase will last through several batches of toothpaste, and overall, you’ll be paying less per ounce than store-bought toothpaste, especially if you prefer natural toothpaste.
Reduce waste by using less packaging – see below for my tips on how to store your homemade toothpaste.
If you have kids, having them help mix up a batch might encourage them to brush their teeth more. I don’t know about your kids, but mine are more likely to use something they’ve helped make.
You get to choose the flavor. If you’re not a fan of peppermint, choose a different essential oil to flavor your toothpaste.
HOMEMADE CLAY TOOTHPASTE INGREDIENTS
So, what do you need to make homemade clay toothpaste? Luckily, this ingredient list is pretty short.
- Bentonite clay. You might be asking, why bentonite clay for teeth? 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 effect clay has on your body (and teeth!).
- Distilled or boiled water that has cooled.
- Liquid stevia OR xylitol. Optional, to taste.
- Essential oils. Peppermint oil, lemon oil, or orange oil are good toothpaste flavors. Tea Tree Oil is okay, but I distinctly use Plant Therapy, which you can find on Amazon.
- Tiny pinch of salt.
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 the 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.)
HOW TO MAKE TOOTHPASTE INSTRUCTIONS
This homemade toothpaste comes together super fast! Here’s how to make toothpaste in 5 minutes.
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 ½ Tbsp at a time.
Note: Wait 48 hours before making significant adjustments to the flavor. The flavors will meld together over time.
DIY TOOTHPASTE
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 DIY 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!
For a whitening formula, try this Activated Charcoal Tooth Powder Recipe!
Not a DIY Toothpaste kinda person?
That’s ok! Here are some natural toothpaste options that give you healthy, clean teeth and gums.
Earthpaste – this natural toothpaste is based on bentonite clay and contains no fluoride, glycerin, artificial colors, or foaming agents.
Primal Life Organics Toothpowder – formulated with cleansing, mineral-rich bentonite, kaolin, french green clays, and hydroxyapatite to clean, whiten, and remineralize your teeth!
STORING HOMEMADE BENTONITE CLAY TOOTHPASTE
We use this bentonite clay based 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 it 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!
HOMEMADE TOOTHPASTE RECIPE FAQS
What is the best homemade toothpaste?
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.
What can I use if I don’t have toothpaste?
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 with a simple baking soda toothpaste.
Can I use salt to brush my teeth?
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.)
Can I use coconut oil in my own homemade toothpaste?
I thought it would be super cool to make homemade toothpaste with coconut oil, so my first batch included it plus clay, peppermint essential oil, and salt. The flavor wasn’t bad, but it made for a really weird brushing experience, because coconut oil is solid at room temperature, so you can’t just dip your toothbrush into the jar and go. It also made for a weird texture in my mouth during brushing. Instead of worrying about the temperature of our toothpaste, we stuck with our own toothpaste in this post.
MORE HOMEMADE TOOTHPASTE RECIPES
- Homemade Cinnamon Flavored Remineralizing Toothpaste
- Whitening Charcoal Toothpaste
- How We Healed Gum Disease
Xylitol has anti-bacterial properties. It’s especially beneficial during cold and flu season.
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.