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.
![Homemade toothpaste in a small glass jar with wooden spoon. Text overlay: Simple Homemade Toothpaste](https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Homemade-Toothpaste-Cover-e1628083222664.jpg)
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.
![Wood spoon, small glass bowl with bentonite clay, lemon essential oil, empty jar](https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Homemade-Toothpaste-3-e1628094611738.jpg)
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.
![Hand holding and pouring distilled water into a glass jar with bentonite clay.](https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Homemade-Toothpaste-1.jpg)
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.
![Hand holding lemon essential oil and pouring some drops into the homemade toothpaste in a bowl](https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Homemade-Toothpaste-2-e1628094750407.jpg)
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!
![Store your homemade toothpaste in a jar.](https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Homemade-Toothpaste-4-683x1024.jpg)
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
![](https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Fight-Inflation-Workshop-Workbook-on-Spiral-e1697746286692.jpg)
WARNING Visitors!
Earthpaste now has a California Proposition 65 “Contains LEAD” warning label on the box & the tube!!!
Wonder how long the lead has been in there… Probably since day 1…
Hi Jeff – I’ll copy/paste the email I sent you, just so others can read it too:
I’m aware of the labeling, and believe it’s only to comply with California state laws. Prop 65 warnings are EVERYWHERE around here, even in places you wouldn’t think of (elevators? escalators? glass doors?). It’s more of a labeling requirement than true caution, and Redmond explains it pretty well here: http://www.earthpaste.com/prop65/
Kudos for being a conscientious consumer!!
Tiffany
I just discovered yesterday that there is a warning on my wood pellets (pure wood, no additives) that sawdust may cause cancer according to the state of California…I’m pretty sure they are overreacting a bit.
🙂 I concur.
If you used regular water… and actually most bought water, still has fluoride in it.. and recently found that Most (if not all filters???) do not remove fluoride. So, I suggest distilled water. Your home making tooth paste so that it doesn’t Have Fluoride, right?
Hi Lizzy! I recommend distilled water in the recipe, but for those who cannot purchase, boiled water that has cooled will do the job. 🙂
Wow! I love Earthpaste but it’s very hard on our budget. However, I have all the ingredients on hand for your recipe! Very excited! A comment here I read got me wondering if frosting bags would work for little tubes. It could be cut down to be very small I think that’s what I’ll try since I can’t handle “double dipping” – especially since I’m far more fastidious than some family members. And I’m wondering about using colloidal silver instead of just distilled water. Actual anti-microbial benefits that would help preserve it. Anyway, thinking out loud. Thanks so much for this recipe!
Great idea Kristine on the frosting bags! I’m not very familiar with colloidal silver (yet), so that experiment would rest in your hands. 🙂 I enjoy reading your thoughts – thanks for sharing!!
Hi Tiffany, I love Earthpaste, and I am so happy to see this recipe to make it for so much cheaper! I love the cinnamon flavor and saw in one of the comments you were going to try that next. If you did make it I would love to find out how much of the cinnamon oil you used and if you reduced the Tea Tree oil or not. Also, I just purchased your Frugal Real Food Menu Plan and can’t wait to try all the new recipes, start eating all real food and safe money! 🙂
Hi Rene! You know, this is on my list to do TOMORROW! I think I’ll make cinnamon with powdered stevia, just to knock out two birds with one stone. 😉 I’ll let you know how it turns out!!
PS – Welcome to Frugal Real Food Meal Plans!! 🙂
Is it still good without the SLS and foaming?
Great recipe, made it today. It is very simple to make and I can fell the difference after a day. My teeth feel sqicky clean.
So glad you liked it! Yes, love that super clean feeling!!
I followed your link to find the liquid stevia, but it says one of the ingredients in the alcohol-free liquid stevia is vegetable glycerin. Is this different than the glycerin you are trying to avoid in conventional toothpaste? At least, I believe that was one of the things that was mentioned in one of your posts.
Hi Annette! You are SO RIGHT! I went and checked the bottles in my cabinet and had NO idea it was in there! I tried doing some quick research on veggie vs. petroleum based glycerin and while I’m 99.99% sure petroleum based is bad, I’m not sold that veggie based is good. So, other options include using the powdered stevia instead, or if you’re able to find it, a liquid version that doesn’t have glycerin. I’m due to make another batch of toothpaste very soon, so I’ll update this with new measurements when I do (I just so happen to have powdered stevia too)!! Thank you so much for bringing this to my attention!!
Hi Tiffany!
I’ve been gathering supplies to make this recipe… I have “Sweet Drops” liquid stevia in the Vanilla Creme flavor and am wondering if I could use that. I know there won’t be any additional benefits of the EO’s, but I did just check and it doesn’t list any glycerin. It does say “natural flavors”… not sure exactly what that means… ??? 😉
I’ve found that after a few days, the fresh mint flavor almost goes away…have you experienced that?
Hi Rose! I’ve noticed that the first few days of making a batch the flavor is VERY strong, and after a few days it mellows out a bit. I’d consider that normal. If you want a more minty flavor after a few days, I’d add a couple more drops of oil when you make it (although know that it will be even MORE strong at first, lol). You can always add more oil later too, if you feel like it’s lacking. Add a drop or two at a time, mixing well, then letting it “settle” for a couple days before adding more. 🙂
Trying your recipe with a bunch of changes. (Because I like Earthpaste but I prefer – and my dentist recommends – Hakeem Natural toothpaste, so I would like to incorporate some of their ingredients too (some of their ingredients also overlap with ingredients in Thieves Oil – so it can’t be too bad 🙂
So, anybody see any issues using the following?
– Swap your distilled water for Fractionated Coconut Oil (basically, coconut oil that is always in liquid form. Then I don’t have to worry about water breeding bacteria)
– Swap 1/2 tsp of powdered Xylitol for Stevia (I hate the taste of stevia and xylitol is supposed to be good for teeth)
Then add:
– 4 drops Rosemary Oil (in Thieves Oil and recommended by my dentist to use in my waterpik)
– 7 drops Lemon Oil (Lemon oil is also in Thieves Oil)
– 2 drops Eucalyptus (in Thieves Oil)
– pinch of Dry Ginger (in Hakeem Natural Toothpaste)
– pinch of Black Pepper (in Hakeem)
– pinch of ground cloves (Cloves is listed in Thieves oil, but I didn’t have clove oil, and, since dry ginger is used in Hakeem toothpaste I figured it couldn’t hurt to used ground cloves too?)
– pinch of cinnamon (again, didn’t have oil version so trying ground cinnamon)
The texture and look will take some getting used to. But it tastes pretty good and my teeth definitely feel freshly polished.
Anyone see any issues with this variation of the recipe?
Oh. I’m also going to try putting it in a pump or squeeze bottle. I’m not fond of the dipping method 🙂
I think your variation sounds pretty tasty! I’m glad you’ve found a homemade version that work best for you!
Is there a way to add Fluoride? And how much Xylitol would you use for that instead of Stevia?
I’m not sure about the xylitol Sally since I’ve never tried it, so I’ll give the standard “to taste” answer. As for fluoride, we don’t believe fluoride to be of benefit to our dental health, so we don’t use it… as such, I don’t know how you’d be able to add it either. Sorry!
I made this last night (then brushed with it) and it is a whole different experience than using Crest that I’ve been using. The weirdest part was that it all “stuck” to my teeth. I couldn’t just rinse it out and have it be off, I had to use a wet toothbrush and brush it off, rinsing the toothbrush often. Is that normal, or did I do something wrong or use too much or something? My teeth did feel nice and clean once I was finished, but I felt sort of bad using more water than normal.
One thing, in the ingredients list, it says 2 tablespoons, but in the directions, it tells you to add 1 tablespoon of water to the clay. When I had 1 tablespoon of water, I had a slightly moist mess (it looked and felt like damp dirt!). Once I added the second tablespoon, I had something much more like the pictures you shared (I added a little more because it was still quite “dry”). I’m not sure if that was a typo or if clays vary, but you might want to update that?
LOL – yes a very different experience for sure! I would add more water to the toothpaste, since we don’t have to brush it off. The directions are for 1 tablespoon, adding more if needed. I’ll adjust the recipe, because I think I add anywhere from 2-4 Tbsp, depending on the time of year.
I have never tried the Earthpaste but I did try your recipe substituting spearmint oil for flavor and xylitol for sweetener. I’m very impressed with how well it cleaned my teeth and how economical it is. Thank you for posting! I won’t be going back to store bought toothpaste.
You’re most welcome Anne! This is our absolutely favorite, and I’m glad you like it too!!
I just made this toothpaste but my end result is more cement like/clumpy in texture. How did you get your paste so smooth? I did use distilled water also.
Hi Katie! Just add more water. Some will like it thick, some thin. It will thicken up too as time goes on, so I tend to add more water at first to compensate.
I really want to try Earthpaste & your homemade version here, but I have read lots of placed that Tea Tree Oil is very poisonous if swallowed, so it should not be used in the mouth at all. What are your thoughts on this?
Hi Lacey! I’m not fully versed in essential oils, so bear that in mind, but the oils I use are all marked with “safe to be consumed.” They’re also 100% pure, unadulterated oils. Now, I don’t take that to mean I can drink an entire bottle of EO and be fine, but I don’t think there will be any significant side effects from the less than pea-sized amount of toothpaste mixed with a few drops of tea tree oil… plus you spit it out.
I’ve used tea tree in my allergy remedy too, 3 drops per 4oz of water (and no spitting out), and while strong, it worked. “Poisonous” and “not to be consumed” are two different issues, and frankly, people all over the place are on both sides of the fence. I think the biggest issue is finding pure oils, and diluting properly.
A woman I know brushed her teeth with straight tea tree oil for 10 years without ever going to the dentist. When she went, her mouth was in such good shape the dentist didn’t even charge her for the visit. I think I’d have trouble with straight tea tree oil, but apparently it is really good for the teeth and gums.
EO’s should never be ingested, regardless of brand. They are very potent, and can damage delicate tissue in mouth and throat. That said,in toothpaste, they should be fine, since one spits out the toothpaste after 30 seconds. We love Earthpaste here, and I’m looking forward to trying this recipe. I get it from Azure, but I always enjoy saving some $. 🙂
I agree the oils found a your local health food store are not safe for internal consumption and most will say that on the bottle. However, doTERRA’s EOs are ABSOLUTELY safe for internal consumption! Obviously not all of them but many are not only safe for internal consumption ,but is recommended to obtain the best results. doTERRA oils are Certified Pure, Therapeutic-Grade essential oils! Let me know if you want further info on this!:)
Trying to make a tooth paste for my baby and myself. Mine needs a little work. I don’t have the oils or extracts yet so I made a very strong mint tea and used in place of plain water. Its still too mild and tastes a bit like dirt (because it is lol) so I will need to add some EOs when I get them. I used some bentonite that I already had. It is sold very cheaply online and in home brew shops as a wine clarifier. I don’t know if it is as pure and good as what you use but it seems fine and other buyers profess to using it for tooth paste with great results. I think I paid about $1.80 for a pound!
Sarah, your “tastes like dirt” comment made me laugh! $1.80/lb for clay is DIRTY cheap (pardon the pun 😉 ). Is it called the same thing in wine and brew shops? Or does it go by a different name?
It is just called bentonite. It has a much more grainy texture though, like tiny cat litter to be honest, and the color was more gray than yours. My paste actually came out a very dark gray/green! That has me a little concerned. Not sure why the color is so different. I am trying to get more information from the supllier about the purity of the clay.
This is great! Please tell your readers, though, NOT to try to duplicate the wintergreen flavor with EO’s. (I know you didn’t, but just in case someone thought to try it.) Standard wintergreen essential oil is REALLY poisonous internally, so it should absolutely not be ingested.
Thanks for the tip Rachel!
I’ve found that most all natural or holistic pastes give me canker sores under my tongue, especially if there’s any cinnamon involved. I’ve been wanting to make my own, but I wanted to get my money’s worth from the last tube of conventional paste before I got too granola 😉
Also, I have some teeth that are sensitive to sweet flavors {weird, I know}. My dentist has told me to brush with toothpaste that has flouride in it, and use a mouth rinse that also has flouride in it, but I don’t want to do that. So, I’m going to try a tube of Earthpaste to see if there’s any difference. If there is, I’ll try making my own.
Thanks for this recipe!
Yikes! Can you have plain cinnamon?
Earthpaste is REALLY gentle, and I’ve heard others say that it helped their sensitivity despite the fact it doesn’t have any fluoride. I really hope it works out for you Calista – we love it!!
Ugh, I’ve been using the cinnamon earth paste off and on and every time I do, i get bad canker sores on the bottom and sides of my tongue too. Stumbled on this thread because I was googling to see if I was alone or not… it hurts, so uncomfortable! Glad to see it may just be the cinnamon flavor though. Dealing with the sores now. No fun.
This is an old comment, but I just thought I would mention that my dentist told me that sensitivity to sweet things is due to worn enamel/exposed dentin. She is not a fan of fluoride and suggested some type of super sealant. Since I can’t afford to have all of the sealants put on yet I have found that oil pulling helps the sensitivity a lot. Earthpaste is also better for it than some other natural pastes and powders that I have tried.
Hi, Beth et.al. – Sealants have BPA! You do not want sealants. And my daughter, a chemist by profession, told me that now when products say “BPA free”, they for sure have BPS, which is worse and the chemical industry does not have to disclose that – not until htere are billions of lawsuits.
Wow, going through that right now. Painful site on the front side of my tongue. Oh I so wanted to make this work bc my teeth were soooo white. But canker sore on the tongue not cool, eating and talking are a chore
Thank you for your great recipe. I too do not like coconut oil in my mouth either, I tried the oil pulling and it made me gag. It works! Lovely to use and I filled a little bag, made a triangle by knotting on the diagonal and snipping the other end. All you have to do is squeeze and the earth paste comes out in a line like regular toothpaste. My teeth looked whiter after the first go and my teeth are not so sensitive already so that is a bonus that I did not expect. I will make my next lot with pure birch xylitol next time though for a a better taste and more remineralisation properties. The stevia is fine though a little bitter.
One thing when mixing the paste, I had to use much more water than the recipe, but I put that down to the fact that I used a packed tablespoon of clay. Thanks again.
Oops I forgot to give 5 stars rating.
You’re welcome Leoni! I haven’t tried other sweeteners, so it’s really informative to hear that stevia is bitter – thank you! I think the climate may alter how much water is needed, but also our personal preferences on how thin/thick we like our toothpaste. I’m glad you like the recipe!
What’s wrong with fluoride? I sometimes hear people say they try to avoid it, but I haven’t been able to find out the reason. My dentist, of course, insists on only using toothpaste with fluoride, but if it’s really a bad thing, I want to consider alternatives (such as this recipe!).
Thanks!!