Eighteen months ago I did something that my friends and family thought was a little kooky. I made homemade toothpaste.
Unbeknownst to me at the time, it was remineralizing toothpaste too.
You see, it’s made with clay and done wonders for our dental health, despite the fact it does NOT contain fluoride.
It also doesn’t make bubbles in your mouth and tastes very different from typical toothpaste.
We attribute bentonite clay to healing Mr. Crumbs’ gum disease. I also believe that the reason my dentist said my mouth looked good (despite not having a cleaning for over two years) was because of the clay.
Do you remember what the hygienist told me while I was sitting in the chair?
It was priceless, and it was all because of the clay.
All this time, Mr. Crumbs and I have been brushing with peppermint while the kids have been brushing with lemon. But I know that some people aren’t big fans of either peppermint or lemon, and they cringe at the thought of orange tic tacs (the third flavor original flavor).
So I’ve added another flavor of homemade toothpaste to the bathroom: CINNAMON!
But get this – the awesomeness of this new homemade toothpaste goes beyond the flavor alone (although it does taste really good!). The American Dental Association (ADA) states that the mouth is a window into the health of the body. Cinnamon Bark Vitality essential oil can support healthy digestion and help maintain a healthy immune system, while Clove Vitality essential oil promotes a healthy immune response!
Homemade toothpaste that tastes great AND is supports your overall wellness? WIN!
My homemade toothpaste recipes are clay-based because bentonite clay helps the body to get rid of toxins. Essentially, the clay is like a magnet, drawing harmful toxins and metals to itself, allowing your body to get rid of toxins easily.
Not to be overlooked though is the fact that bentonite clay also contains 60 trace minerals that our body needs, but cannot create on its own.
Have you heard the buzz words of “remineralizing toothpaste?”
So many people are looking for toothpaste to help replace lost minerals, thinking they need to add calcium or some other important mineral. What they often don’t realize is that bentonite clay already has them! Check out the huge list of minerals in bentonite clay!
So by coupling essential oils with bentonite clay, you’re creating remineralizing toothpaste. It’s a powerhouse of natural medicine that can help keep your mouth healthy and happy.
How to Make Cinnamon Flavored Remineralizing Toothpaste
Remineralizing Toothpaste Supplies
- 2 Tbsp bentonite clay
- 3-4 Tbsp distilled water, or water that has been boiled and cooled
- 10 drops liquid stevia OR xylitol (optional, to taste)
- 4 drops Cinnamon Bark Vitality essential oil
- 2 drops Clove Vitality essential oil (optional, but recommended)
- teeny pinch of real salt
- glass bowl
- container for storage (we use these 4 oz jars, but these reusable squeeze tubes work well too)
Note: I know 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.
Remineralizing Toothpaste Method
Measure bentonite clay into a glass bowl. Carefully measure essential oils, sweetener and salt into the clay.
Add 3 Tbsp of water to the clay and using a plastic or wooden spoon or spatula, stir to combine the ingredients until very smooth, about 5 minutes (pictured above).
I’ve found that mashing the ingredients together against the side of the bowl works best to fully incorporate the ingredients. Add the remaining tablespoon of water if you prefer your toothpaste to be on the thinner side.
Store in a glass container with a lid and you’re done!
Not ready to make remineralizing toothpaste yet?
If you’re not comfortable making your own toothpaste, or you’re “not there yet” in your natural living journey, I totally understand, but I don’t want you to ignore your dental health!
Consider switching from typical toothpaste and try Earthpaste instead. It’s what originally inspired me to make our own toothpaste, and it contains the same ingredients as this remineralizing toothpaste recipe does!
Tips for Storing and Using Remineralizing Toothpaste
When I make remineralizing toothpaste, I make a double batch and fill up two 4 oz glass jars. One jar is for the kids and one jar is for the parents. We simply dip our toothbrushes into the jars, call it done and we’ve never had any issues.
However, I know not everyone is comfortable with sharing a jar who someone else might have dipped their toothbrush in.
For those families, consider storing your toothpaste in individual mini plastic pots. They’re just big enough for one person to last a couple weeks.
You can also store your remineralizing toothpaste in silicone squeeze tubes, and you’d use it like you would a traditional tube of toothpaste.
If you prefer glass over silicone and plastic, I suggest a smaller 2 oz glass jar. You can fill up each jar with one batch of toothpaste, and one jar would last one person about one month.
Note: If you’ve purchased Redmond Clay before and noticed the warning labels on the side, check out this information. I get asked all the time about the Proposition 65 and lead warnings and want to pass along their reasons why the labels are there.
Ooh I’ve just started using cinnamon in my toothpaste too! I was always a minty fan, but I’m a total cinnamon (and clove) convert.
I love the cinnamon too!
Their wintergreen is the only toothpaste I will use now! I just love it. And the kiddos of course LOVE the lemon and I love the fact they aren’t getting harmful ingredients 🙂
Where does one get bentonite clay? Thanks.
I get mine off Amazon Nancy: http://amzn.to/1Itt74r
Is it strongly cinnamon? I’m not much of a fan as the primary flavor. I never liked cinnamon gum or red hots or such. I don’t mind it in my oatmeal or applesauce, but I don’t use a lot.
Yes Mary, it’s definitely prominent. If you don’t like cinnamon, I’d go with peppermint, lemon or orange in the original recipe!
I have a question about essential oils. I have bought most of my EO at a local stores. Are these safe to use in the toothpaste? I know they are not supposed to be ingested. I don’t have the clay yet but I have made coconut oil and soda based toothpaste. I have just used regular peppermint extract because I was afraid to use the EO. Is it ok to use my peppermint EO in my toothpaste? I am going to order the ingredients for the clay recipe soon but until I do, I just wanted to make sure I was using the EO correctly. Thanks so much for your help:) I love reading your site and all the great info!
Yes you can Patty! The topic of ingesting EO’s is highly debatable, but using in a toothpaste isn’t considered the same thing as digesting. We’ve also ensured that the dilution rate of these oils were accurate!
I have cinnamon bark oil, tea tree, and I thought orange would be a good choice to sub for clove, since I do not have that one. Orange has really brightened my teeth up. I pair it on my toothbrush with my Thieves toothpaste. Definitely going to try this. I like the idea of the clay, just have to travel to get it. Thanks for the recipe!
You’re welcome Laura! Have you looked online for clay? It’ll come to you instead!
Thanks for this recipe. My clay is arriving today so I am getting ready to mix a batch to try out. I have to ask, I noticed in this recipe, you are using 2 drops of tea tree as opposed to the first homemade recipe you shared (4 drops) and the amount of stevia in this one is (10 drops) compared to the first one (5 drops), any reason for the difference?
Mark – the tea tree oil is used as a preservative, but both cinnamon and clove are also preservatives so you don’t need quite as much. As for the stevia, I found that a little more made this flavor more palatable. Feel free to use adjust, or leave out entirely!
I just made this and love it, but can you tell me how long the shelf life is?
One batch of toothpaste has lasted us as long as two months. We’ve never made some that went “bad” before we used it up!
I made this with a thieves blend and peppermint. I used some Xylitol that I powdered in my blender instead of stevia and I also added a little bit of activated charcoal. I’ve use the activated charcoal to help whiten my teeth before, so I decided to see how it did in the toothpaste. 🙂
Did it mold on you? Mine did when I added the activated charcoal.
I saw something somewhere about not allowing metal to come into contact with the clay (although I didn’t see an explanation why). Does that mean this toothpaste recipe is not suitable for kids with braces? Thanks!
Hi Robert – there’s great info on this topic in the comment section of this post (my original toothpaste recipe):
https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2014/03/homemade-toothpaste-thats-just-like-earthpaste/
I could only find powdered xylitol. How much powder would one use? ??I can’t figure out the conversion for drops. Maybe you have an idea though? 🙂
Hi Nichole! The last time I tried a powdered sweetener (stevia), I used 1/4 tsp and thought it was good. I’d start there, then taste and adjust as necessary!
Hello! Thank you for the recipe! I just had one question- I am aware bentonite oil should not come in contact with metal. So, is this recipe safe for me, as I have metal dental fillings? Thank you!
Hi Isabella – bentonite clay shouldn’t come in contact w/metal because it can absorb the toxins in the metal itself. That’s why I recommend storing in glass. For metal fillings and dental work however, the clay will absorb any toxins and you’ll spit it out. Per Redmond Clay, it’s entirely safe to use with metal dental work and if anything, will help keep harmful toxins out of the metal!
Ok- thank you very much!
Which type of cinnamon essential oil is recommended?? I’m looking at Plant Therapy oils and see Cinnamon Bar, Cinnamon Cassia and Cinnamon Leaf. We’ve made the original recipe and I loved it! The kids weren’t keen on it though an requested a cinnamon flavor. So I’m glad you have this recipe. Thanks!
Hi Jessica! With those choices, I’d go with Leaf. I hope the kids like this one!
Could you use cinnamon and clove powder?
You MIGHT be able to use them for flavor Debie, but they’re really not the same thing and you won’t get the health benefits that the oils offer. Sorry!
No problem, I was just wondering, thank you!
Also thank you for posting your finds in detail for the rest of us to try! Have an awesome day!
Hi, thank you for the recipe. I’m so glad to finally find a homemade toothpaste recipe that doesn’t call for baking soda 🙂 Anyway, there are several kinds of clove EO here; we’ve got clove leaf, clove stem, and clove bud oils. Which one would you recommend using?
And also, since this recipe contains water, I’m so amazed that it could have the shelf life up to two months.. The last body lotion that I made had grown microbes after 3 weeks (it didn’t smell nor look ‘bad’, but I used testing kit to check it), even though I sterilized everything, used distilled water, and refrigerated it. Have you ever had your recipe tested for some microbes? Looking for some advices here. Thanks a bunch!
Hi, Tiffany. I wonder why my comment is the only one around here that doesn’t get any feedback from you :/ Please reply so that I could try this recipe asap. Thank you in advance.
Hey Nathara – I answer hundreds of comments a day – I didn’t realize I missed yours! I use Clove Vitality oil from Young Living (Syzygium aromaticum). I’ve never had my recipe tested for microbes, and while it’s not a scientific answer, we’ve never gotten sick!
Great info thanks so much!! Just have a question about the re-mineralizing properties of the toothpaste. I am a dental hygienist, and as far as what I have learned I wasn’t aware that directly putting minerals on your teeth will allow then to be absorbed? For example there is a paste we sell that contains calcium and phosphate to help remin but only available through Recaldant technology. Otherwise wouldn’t be able to be absorbed by the enamel or Dentin serfacea. I very well could be wrong just wondering if you have more information about that aspect, I know that so many patients would benefit from using this if it True! Thanks!!
Lindsey, I’m assuming the paste you sell is a toothpaste? If teeth cannot absorb minerals directly, then why is your office selling the paste? 😉 (I notice that Recaldant is also available via gum, which would be the addition of minerals to saliva – which in turn – help to remineralize the teeth). There is research showing that teeth do absorb minerals and can re-mineralize – this article references a couple of the studies in progress: https://www.wired.com/2008/04/tooth-regeneration/.
Will this be safe for my kiddo with braces?
Absolutely!
Tiffany – Not sure if you remember me. I am the maker of the magnesium creme, and I met you at the Sprayberry HS Christmas festival last month. Anyway, I just tried this toothpaste, and I am hooked! Thank you so much for telling me about it.
I do remember – so glad you liked this Susan!!
I noticed that in another recipe I researched there were trace mineral drops added for extra remineralization. What is your opinion of this? Also what about colloidal silver? That would help with extra health benefits? I have been using your recipe for about a year and love it. I don’t like peppermint so I use orange and lemon.
Hey Sandra! I don’t think that the extra drops are necessary. I haven’t tried colloidal silver personally, but I’ve heard really great things about it! Have you tried cinnamon? It’s so good!!
I received my clay today, I bought a small one and a large one
Thinking they were different but both are labeled “face mask”
Is this the same product? If yes I need to send the 6lbs back
It’s the same product. 🙂
Do you know if it would be as efficient to just add the Bentonite clay to my Dr. Bronner’s toothpaste? Also, I lack the essential oils, are they just boosters and for flavor or do they play some sort of activation factor in the paste?
Hi Kristi! You’ll be using significantly less clay if you add it, rather than making your own toothpaste, so I probably wouldn’t go that route personally. The oils do have beneficial properties including supporting a healthy mouth, so they’re not just for flavor. 🙂
Hi, I tried making this today and it was just a runny mixture. Is 2 tbsp of clay and 3 tbsp of water correct?
Hi Kelly! The ratios are correct. Clay absorbs liquid pretty quickly, so it will be runny at first and then thicken up. If it’s not thick after a few hours, add more clay 1/2 tsp at a time, stirring very well after each addition. This is a very flexible and forgiving DIY!
Hi Tiffany, I recently tried this cinnamon toothpaste. I had made a peppermint version before. I decided to add orange to it, and it tastes like… Christmas! It is so funny, but it makes me happy every time I brush. I’m really liking this combo.
I’m so glad you like it Nicole!
Hello Tiffany! We have fallen in love with this toothpaste! We love the taste, the texture and the way it makes our teeth feel. I do have a question. Is there any problem spitting this down the drain? Will it clog the drain over time? Thanks so much.
Hi Tamalita! I don’t believe there will be any issues. The clay would have to dry out in large quantities in order to clog, but since you use a small amount to brush, you aren’t spitting out clumps and there’s water consistently running down the pipe, I think you’re fine!