Hello there!
Ever since I’ve discovered food-grade diatomaceous earth, it has served so many purposes around our home. Have you ever heard of it or used it? (You can read more about it in my guest post for The Prairie Homestead.)
One of the ways I love to use diatomaceous earth is by adding it to my homemade remineralizing toothpaste. I’ve made my own toothpaste for the last several years. It works really well, and it’s wonderful for remineralizing your teeth.
Why would I want to make my own toothpaste, you ask?
It all began when I learned about how teeth can remineralize on their own, which is contrary to popular belief! And also when I learned that commercial toothpaste is not what it seems.
Commercial toothpaste contains many chemicals that seem to be disconcerting, to say the least. Here are just two:
Contents
Fluoride
Yes, fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral. However, the fluoride used in toothpaste (and water fluoridation) is actually a toxic byproduct of the fertilizer industry, called fluorosilicic acid. It is a neurotoxin and endocrine disruptor, and is not naturally occurring. I don’t want anything to do with it for me or my young children, especially not in our mouths, so we stay away from it by making our own toothpaste and using a water filter system that removes fluoride.
You can read more about fluoride here:
Water Fluoridation Facts by Dr. Mercola
Water Fluoridation Dangers by Butter Believer
Study: Fluoride is a Neurotoxin and Linked to Autism and ADHD by Healthy Holistic Living
CDC and ADA Now Advise to Avoid Using Fluoride by Healthy Holistic Living
If you’re looking for a safe and natural way to obtain more fluoride in your diet, consider taking cell salts daily. Read more about cell salts here.
Glycerin
So… glycerin. Here’s one that makes you go hmm. Like I mentioned earlier, teeth do have the ability to remineralize. You can even heal a cavity through diet and supplements. (Read the book Cure Tooth Decay for more fascinating information.)
The problem with glycerin, an ingredient in commercial toothpaste, is that it forms a coating on the teeth, preventing remineralization. Preventing. Now how does that make any sense? Wouldn’t we want toothpaste to help our teeth, and not prevent remineralization?
Based on studies, it can take up to 20 brushings to remove the coating left by glycerin! So that’s why we skip it.
If you would like to stay away from commercial toothpaste but don’t want to bother with making your own, I think this one is a good one to try. It’s very natural, made of clay, and contains no fluoride or glycerin or any of the other problematic chemicals. I have used it and liked it.
Homemade Diatomaceous Earth Toothpaste
This homemade remineralizing toothpaste will help remineralize your teeth. By applying these ingredients and staying away from toothpastes containing glycerin, you can have the peace of mind that you are actually building your teeth up!
Now for the fun part. I know I just shared some bad news with the above toothpaste ingredients (and those are just two!!), but I prefer to think of making your own toothpaste as a fun event, almost like a craft. I mean, it is a recipe. Just think of it as throwing something fun together in the kitchen. You’ll need to mix together a few basic ingredients, and I’ll show you how.
The main thing here is to go for a certain consistency. You can add what suits you, and make sure it is a squeezable consistency.
This remineralizing toothpaste will not taste like commercial toothpaste, so the flavor will take some getting used to, if you’re not familiar with alternative toothpastes. I have no problem with it because I’ve been making it for years, but just be prepared for the change. π
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons food grade diatomaceous earth
- 2 tablespoons baking soda (baking soda has so many uses around the home! Here are 36 uses for baking soda from Thank Your Body that you’ll love!)
- 2 tablespoons bentonite clay (or replace with same amount baking soda/DE)
- 1/4 teaspoon green stevia powder OR 2 teaspoons xylitol (Some people prefer to use Xylitol, and I have used it before. It will make your toothpaste nice and sweet and is purported to have properties very beneficial for teeth. Without the xylitol it is not as sweet.)
- 15 drops peppermint, cinnamon, lemon, or orange essential oil – add more to your preference. Use the best essential oils and those of high quality.
- 5 drops trace minerals (optional)
- 6 tablespoons coconut oil (Be sure to see Notes on coconut oil below recipe) – add more as needed to make preferred consistency.
Equipment
- medium sized bowl for mixing
- non-metallic spoon for stirring (bentonite clay shouldn’t come into contact with metal)
- squeezable silicon containers (<—I love these!) or a glass jar
- measuring spoons
Instructions
- Combine diatomaceous earth, baking soda, bentonite clay (if using), stevia/xylitol and stir to mix well. Add peppermint oil, trace minerals, and coconut oil, stirring well.
- Spoon or pour into your container.
Notes
I used this recipe with no problems until winter came along, and the coconut oil solidified. I solved this by making my toothpaste with half olive oil, half coconut oil and didn’t have any more problems with the toothpaste turning solid. If you’re using a jar, then this won’t really be a problem, but if you’re using a squeezable container this makes getting the toothpaste out very difficult. So if colder temperatures are coming, try using half and half and see how that works for you.
During warmer months, the coconut oil will tend to separate  from the ingredients, much like the oil separates from natural peanut butter. If this happens, you can pour off the excess coconut oil, or you can simply stir/squeeze the ingredients to remix. Your choice. π
Something you need to remember with natural toothpastes made with a coconut oil base: it will solidify when cool, so run some hot water in your sink after brushing to make sure the oil rinses well. I have never had a problem with coconut oil toothpaste using this method.
I used to use cheaper essential oils, and so the recipe used to call for much more peppermint oil than it currently does. Now that I am using high-quality peppermint oil, I find that I need to add much less. This is the reason I only use one brand of essential oils, because you’re getting the highest quality and therefore, the highest potency = more bang for your buck. Sweet.
If you are making this for children or don’t like the strong taste of peppermint, you can play around with different oils. You can try mixing in cinnamon, or wild orange or lemon.
Again, mix and match the ingredients to your liking. You’re going for more of a consistency, than following an exact recipe. Have fun!
Speaking of commercial toothpaste alternatives, here are 12 toothpaste alternatives from The Nourished Life for you to consider. Plus, Elizabeth also has a great homemade mouthwash.
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Love,
Danielle
Hi Dandy. Thank you for the information on DE for animals. I read your link on dosages and noticed there were dosages for all the animals but birds weren’t in the list. I would like to know how much you would recommend giving to cockatiels (smallest of the parrot family). Thank you for your help. I am SURE they need it but I want to make sure I don’t give them the wrong amount. After reading your article I am going to start taking it too. I am excited to see how it will help me. Thank you again. Edna
Hi Edna! I’m sorry, I have no experience with cockatiels or other birds and so I don’t know what a recommended dosage would be. I hope you find positive changes from taking it! Just remember to stay well hydrated. π
Hi, I am wondering about inhaling the earth, if it is the food grade will it hurt me to inhale it or not? I want to start taking it but this is what bothers me and where to I buy a brand to trust? Thanks for all the info.
Hi Emma! I understand about being cautious about beginning DE. Most diatomaceous earth is made of what is called amorphous silica – this kind does not typically cause problems when inhaled. There is another form of silica that is called crystalline – that is the one that needs to be treated with caution. While you should take care not to inhale any powder – the amorphous kind in food grade DE doesn’t require the caution that crystalline does. I hope that made sense. π Here’s the link to the powder I purchase and use, and have had no problems with: https://lovelovething.com/diatomaceousearth Thanks for stopping by!! <3
Awesome recipe!
Hi Danielle, your recipe is appreciated, and thought you’d like to know that we’ve featured it on Dr. Vinograd’s blog here: http://besttoothpaste.net/fluoride-free/featured-homemade-diatomaceous-earth-toothpaste-danielle-aka-dandy/
Kind regards,
Ari & Dr. Daniel Vinograd, DDSο»Ώ
Thank you very much!!! π
Just wondering if the peppermint oil is necessary or just for taste? I find that oils like that are always out of stock at my local health food store, and so I would prefer to not bother with them if it is just for the minty taste lol.
Yes, it is for taste! There are benefits to peppermint oil, but if you want to leave it out, that’s fine. I find it really adds to the flavor, though. π
I was excited to see what water you are using which removes fluoride. We’ve been getting local spring water to avoid consuming our tap water. You might be interested to know, the description on the amazon page describes fluoride as a desirable mineral which REMAINS in the water.
Thank you so much for pointing this out to me. A few years ago, I researched this product thoroughly and their website did say it filtered fluoride. Something must have changed! I will be looking into this!
Hi, thank you for the great information! I’m making making our new toothpaste for our family, incluind and specially for my toddler,that will be without bentonite clay, but with DE, can you tell me if with DE I can use a metal spoon? The problem is only with bentonite clay or also applies to DE also?
Thanks
Hi Ana! Thanks for your comment. Yes, you can use DE with a metal spoon without problems! π
That is incorrect. DE can not come in contact with metal to be able to get the most benefit from it. As a toothpaste, DE is added as an ingredient mainly to be an abrasive material. But it also is negatively charged and as a result draws out the toxins and particles in your mouth.
Hi just wandering, if you shouldn’t use metal when stirring, what about the metal in the teeth.
I’m interested in this answer too!
My son has a coconut allergy, what could I use in place of the coconut to make this?
Hi Lindsay! You can definitely use olive oil for this. I’m sorry to hear about your son’s coconut allergy. π
I just made this recipe. The only thing I changed was adding calcium/magnesium powder. Is it supposed to bubble/sizzle when used (maybe from the baking soda)? LOL Im hoping it's normal but it completely freaked me out! Thank you!
Hi Maggie! I have never had that happen!! I’m trying to figure out what that could have been! <3
Did you use a magnesium product like calm? That is effervescent. I think I made that mistake once! Regular calcium carbonate and magnesium won’t do that.
Has anyone this recipe as a help to deworm your cat? Any information would be helpful
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I use Red Lake Earth Diatomaceous Earth, it has calcium bentonite added to it, it gives it a brownish color instead of the white. (food grade). Other than that my recipe is pretty close to this one.
Works better than anything on the market!
That’s awesome!! Thanks for sharing! <3
Would fractionated coconut oil work? I use this to blend with my essential oils in roll-on containers, and it does not solidify the way the regular coconut oil does.
Sure!
I was excited to discover that DE can be used to make toothpaste, as I’ve had a bag of the stuff for the past several years after using it (though not very successfully) to combat fleas on my pets. I bought it from a feed/seed store (Tractor Supply, I think) as it’s added to livestock feed to kill internal parasites, so it would presumably be safe to use for this. I also have some from a pool supply store that is NOT safe to ingest, which I had intended to treat my carpet with but never used. So where it is purchased and what it is made for can likely inform whether it’s safe to use for toothpaste.
One thought on the separation of coconut oil: I’ve used lecithin granules in homemade salad dressing, ice cream and other concoctions to make them emulsify. Lecithin is a natural “detergent” that makes oil and aqueous components “play nice” and bind to each other, much in the same way it causes the body oils in our laundry to bind to water and be washed out. It’s found in egg yolks (which is why there are eggs in mayonnaise) and soybeans, so if it matters you may have to research a bit to find either egg or soy-derived lecithin. I prefer the powdered version if I can find it as it dissolves much more easily, but the granules will dissolve eventually.
The one red flag in this recipe is bentonite, as many cat-lovers are getting away from using it as litter, given the environmental issues associated with mining it and potential health issues with their cats. After having done a little research just now I still have reservations about the strip-mining involved in obtaining it, even though it is apparently safe to use for cosmetic purposes.
Thanks for your comment, Terry!
Danielle, thank you for posting! I’m getting ready to give diatomaceous earth a try for the first time. I really want to start making my own toothpaste as well, so this is going to be great. I linked this recipe to my company blog on diatomaceous earth. I hope you receive a lot of new readers from it! Thank you!!
Thank you Mandi!
I don’t think that you should be using BENTONITE in toothpaste if you goal is to add minerals to your teeth.
BENTONITE ABSORBS MINERALS – and will prevent the minerals from benefitting your teeth. I would also stay away from any DE which contains bentonite. This is counter-productive
Hi Adrianne, I’m not sure where you’ve found that information. Bentonite absorbs toxins with a negative ion, not anything you would need in your body. In fact, your body absorbs good minerals from bentonite.
Hello? I read your article and got a lot of help. I would like to ask if I could use the following items I bought at Amazon to make homemade toothpaste. Could you help me?
I did not speak English well and I used a translator. Please understand. With respect
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00KPXGNTO/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1514972705&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=DIATOMACEOUS+EARTH&dpPl=1&dpID=512zCmd%2B8gL&ref=plSrch
Hi, if it is Food Grade, then it is safe for toothpaste. π
I use this recipe for my whole family. When my dentist asked to see tje recipe and i told him that i spme times skipped tje xylitole his commented back tjay this is a good recipe but never never never skip the xylitole. The anti cavities properities from the xylitole are too important to skip xylitole and use steveia.
If the DE & Bentonite are abrasive enough for an internal cleanse wouldn’t they be too abrasive for tooth enamel?
Hi Tina! Maybe I’m not understanding your question… tooth enamel is much harder than our insides. Commercial toothpaste already contains diatomaceous earth = silica! So they shouldn’t be too abrasive.
Xylitol, if eaten by a cat or dog will kill them. I had some for a recipe but as soon as I became aware of the danger to pets, I have a dog and a cat, I threw it out.
I canβt get the flavor right. Weird baking soda something. More peppermint and Xlithol? Wondering if you know what Iβm talking about, not delightful at all but will keep playing with it.
Yes, play around with it until you like it! π
Hi Danielle,
You mention not allowing bentonite to come in contact with metal. What if I have wires in my mouth from orthodontic work? Do I have to skip the bentonite? I have activated charcoal and I think I will use that instead as it also absorbs toxins. You had mentioned that bentonite offers minerals to your teeth, though. Just want to make the most effective blend that I can.
Hi Nisha, I would think the wires would affect the clay. I think your idea of using charcoal is perfect!
3 questions! π
Have you ever tried to add activated charcoal? Do you think there would be any reason not to?
Do you use this toothpaste everyday?
If kids use it and swallow some, it looks like everything is safe, would you think so?
Thank you!!!
Hello! I haven’t tried activated charcoal, but I see no reason why not to! Yes, we use this toothpaste every day. Yes, my kids use it every day and what I love about this is that it’s safe for them if a tiny bit gets swallowed. <3