A week or two ago, I decided to take the next step in my zero waste journey and make my own toothpaste. I’ve been taking small, baby steps to becoming more zero waste and figured this would be a good experiment for me. After all, most conventional tooth paste comes in plastic and is made with a list of unpronounceable ingredients (aka chemicals). Even all-natural toothpastes come packaged in plastic (most of the time), so I decided making my own would be a great way to cut back on my plastic waste. Not to mention, it’s ridiculously easy to make. All I needed were 3 ingredients (all of which can be bought in bulk or in reusable containers). Two of the three ingredients I needed for this DIY were already in my house, so it was a no brainer.
I shared how I made this DIY on my Instagram stories and people really seemed to love it, so I figured I’d share a more accessible form of the recipe here. Now you greenifiers can access it whenever. Score. Honestly, I’ve been loving this toothpaste. Initially, I didn’t like the taste too much, but I got used to it. And truthfully, it cleans my mouth way better than conventional toothpaste. I’ve also been using a bamboo tooth brush (but more on that in my next blog post). Lets just say the two certainly compliment each other well! Ready to see how to make your own DIY toothpaste? Lets get started!
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You will need:
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4 tablespoons of coconut oil
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3 tablespoons of baking soda
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25 drops of peppermint essential oil (I used this brand because it’s safe to ingest)
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A glass jar (for storage)
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A bowl and spoon (for mixing)
Directions:
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So, this is pretty basic. Simply combine all the ingredients in a bowl and stir thoroughly. If you’d like to add more or less of each product, be my guest. Find what works for you and stick with it.
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Transfer mixture to an airtight container. Believe it or not, the glass jar I used once contained facial cream. No worries, I washed it out very good before putting this toothpaste in it! That said, I hope it inspires you to look around and see if you have any glass jars that can be repurposed like this.
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To use, simply dip your toothbrush into the jar. If you’re a (bigger) germophobe than I am, you can use a small spoon or a popsicle stick to scoop some of the toothpaste out and onto the toothbrush.
Note: There may be some separation between the oil and baking soda as time passes. For example, you might notice the oil sitting on top of the baking soda. This is perfectly fine. It does not mean the toothpaste is bad. Simply mix it up to recombine them using a spoon. Or, take the lazy way out and dip your toothbrush in anyway (just make sure you get a good mix of the oil and the baking soda on your brush and you’ll be fine). Happy brushing!
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I just made your toothpaste and I love that it is so simple. My only question is about the peppermint oil. I bought a little bottle and it has a plastic cap and plastic insert to control the drips. So, plastic, which I'm trying to avoid. I was trying to think if there would be a way to use fresh mint instead. I have it in my yard in abundance. I just don't know how to use it without creating little chunks of leaves which might just get between my teeth! I wonder if it would work to sort of infuse the coconut oil with fresh leaves, then remove them before mixing with the baking soda. I may try that.
I've made and used this toothpaste a few times and it is really good. Not only is it better for the environment but it actually works better than normal toothpaste. I can really see and feel the difference it makes to my teeth. The only concern I have is putting oil down the sink in the long term. Has anyone had problems with this?
Don't spit it down the sink – the coconut oil solidifies and over time it could cause a blockage in your pipes!