Commercial toothpastes contain everything from food dyes (should toothpaste really be putting blue color on your teeth?), artificial sweeteners (Aspartame in your toothpaste!), and suspicious chemicals with long names. Salicylates are found in most toothpastes, and even fluoride can be a problem for sensitive people.
Not to mention the non-recylable, chemical-leaching plastic tube it comes in.
Luckily, making your own toothpaste is easy. This homemade toothpaste can be adapted to your taste and sensitivities.
Select the safest ingredients for you to put in this easy recipe for safe toothpaste.
Ingredients
¼ cup water
1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves, chopped, or 1 drop of essential oil of cloves, sweet orange, sandalwood, oil of wintergreen, cinnamon, or oil of your choice
½ teaspoon baking soda, preferable aluminum-free
½ teaspoon starch such as cornstarch, tapioca starch, potato starch, etc.
½ teaspoon oil such as grapeseed oil, avocado oil, sunflower oil, etc.
Directions
Place the mint leaves in the water and bring to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat and steep for 20 minutes. Skip this step if using essential oils.
Meanwhile, mix together the baking soda, starch, and oil, stir until smooth.
Strain the cooled mint tea, or mix 1 drop of essential oil into ¼ cup water, and add the liquid to the baking soda mixture. Bring the mixture to a boil again, stirring until it’s slightly thickened and smooth.
Cool completely and store in an airtight container.
* Adapted from a recipe in this book:
Rodale’s 21-st Century Herbal is a fabulous, practical guide that will help you harness the incredible power of plants. The book will teach you everything from how to grow herbs that promote healing to how to create your own nontoxic, herbal beauty products.
** Mint and cloves contain salicylates.
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