The DIY toothpaste game is tricky to understand. Making toothpaste involves more commitment than the average do-it-yourselfer is willing to put out. That’s perfectly fine! Avoid the struggle and whip up a batch of homemade tooth powder that will help improve gum health and naturally whiten your teeth.

People want their teeth to shine bright, but you have to use the right ingredients for that to happen. For the recipe in this article, we turn to ingredients with therapeutic benefits, as opposed to the chemical ingredients in commercial toothpastes. The only thing to keep in mind about this natural tooth powder is that you should not use it every single day, especially if you have sensitive teeth or gums. The ingredients can be abrasive and rough for some people.

Activated Charcoal

As many of you know, charcoal works to remove toxins from the body. The body doesn’t digest it; rather, it passes through the gastrointestinal tract, binding to toxins so they get eliminated via bowel movements. When it comes to oral care, charcoal helps to change the pH balance in your mouth. Several studies found it to be effective at preventing cavities and improving the oral health of people with tooth decay and gingivitis. The slightly abrasive texture scrubs away stains and works to naturally whiten your teeth.

Bentonite Clay

Similar to activated charcoal, the negatively charged bentonite clay molecules work to remove toxins, bacteria, and other impurities from the body. It also contains minerals that work to remineralize tooth enamel. Bacteria can attack the surface of your teeth and break down enamel. Well, bentonite clay helps to rebuild this enamel, preventing tooth decay. It also works to neutralize excess acid in the mouth, raising the pH of your mouth so that bacteria have a harder time surviving.

Baking Soda

If you have stains from years of coffee drinking, it’s time to call on baking soda to come save the day. Baking soda is both alkaline and salty, making it great for acid-based food stains. Any coffee, red wine, soda, or tea stain does not stand a chance against baking soda. One thing to keep in mind about baking soda is that it is abrasive and should not be used on your teeth daily for that reason.   

Homemade Tooth Powder

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons bentonite clay
• 1 tablespoon activated charcoal
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon xylitol
• 10-15 drops peppermint essential oil

Instructions:

• Add all the ingredients to a medium-sized mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Alternatively, you can add the ingredients to a food processor to get a perfectly even blend.
• Transfer the powder to an airtight container and store in a cool, dry place.
• When you are ready to use this powder, whet your toothpaste and dip it into the powder. Brush for two minutes and then rinse well.

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Nobody enjoys going to the dentist. People don’t want to sit back in reclining chairs while another person shoves mirrors, drills, suction tubes, or metal picks in their mouths, all the while being asked about their days. We can only make sounds or shake our heads, dentists! Above all else, the news that people don’t want to hear is that they have cavities because their teeth are unhealthy. That’s why reminieralization is such a trending topic in the oral health world.

Let’s Talk About Tooth Health

There’s no denying that brushing and flossing are essential oral care practices to keep your teeth as healthy as possible. One aspect of oral health that is often neglected is diet. While your dentist will tell you to brush and floss to avoid cavities and tooth decay, he or she may not suggest foods that encourage healthy teeth. It is optimal to eat alkaline foods to promote a higher pH environment in the mouth. So many people drink sugary beverages and eat candy or processed foods, which raise acidity levels and strip away enamel as a result. A healthy mouth will have adequate saliva, which deposits minerals on the teeth and remineralizes them in the process.

Brushing Tip: Brush at a 45-degree angle around the gum of each tooth. This is where bacteria like to hide and cause plaque build up and tooth decay. This helps to focus the brushing on the bottom of the teeth and inside the gums.

How Does Remineralizing Toothpaste Work?

As we previously mentioned, diet makes a difference in the health of your teeth, which means that what you put on your teeth also influences them. Most toothpastes contain fluoride, glycerin, or sodium lauryl sulfate, which is the compound that causes foaming when you brush. These ingredients can create a more acidic environment and compromise the health of your teeth. Remineralizing toothpastes use ingredients that supply the teeth with alkalizing minerals that strengthen them. When you start brushing with the toothpaste (below), you should notice a difference in how your teeth feel. Try it and let us know!

DIY Remineralizing Toothpaste

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup virgin unrefined coconut oil
• ¾ cup calcium powder
• 1/3 cup xylitol
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 48 drops peppermint essential oil

Instructions:

• Place the coconut oil in a heat-safe glass bowl and melt in the microwave.
• Stir the rest of the ingredients into the coconut oil and mix until everything is well combined.
• Pour the toothpaste into a glass storage jar and brush with a small amount twice daily.

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Don’t you wish you could use a whitening toothpaste that didn’t harm the body with harsh chemicals? The majority of commercial toothpastes, especially the varieties with whitening agents, are filled with an assortment of harmful ingredients. Xylitol (made from GMO corn), fluoride, glycerin, GMO soy lethicin, and sodium laurel sulfate can collectively have detrimental effects on organs, the brain, the reproductive system, and hormones.

One of the things that may leave people skeptical about this DIY toothpaste is the color. How can a black toothpaste help to naturally whiten your teeth? Don’t let the color steer you away because it is filled with some powerful ingredients that are superstars in the DIY health world. Let’s check them out below.

Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

One of primary oral health benefits of coconut oil is that it works to fight the Streptococcus mutans bacterium, which can cause cavities, gingivitis, or other oral health issues.

Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal helps to promote great oral hygiene by balancing the pH levels in your mouth. It also helps to whiten your teeth, removing coffee, tea, or berry stains.

Bentonite Clay

Bentonite clay is like a sponge, in that it expands and alters its electrical charge to absorb toxins and heavy metals. In oral care products, bentonite clay helps to neutralize bad bacteria and deliver and array of minerals that help remineralize teeth.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons bentonite clay
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• 1 tablespoon melted virgin organic coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons filtered water
• 1 dropper full of liquid stevia
• 5 drops peppermint essential oil
• ½ teaspoon activated charcoal
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves

Instructions:

• Combine all of the ingredients in a glass container and mix well with a wooden or rubber spoon.
• Store this in a cool, dark place.
• When you are ready to use, place a small amount on your toothbrush and brush your teeth for about two minutes. Rinse and spit out the toothpaste.
• Don’t use this toothpaste every day because it can be harsh on sensitive gums.

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There is more to keeping your teeth healthy than just brushing and flossing every day. When it comes to taking care of those pearly whites, watching what you eat is essential. Tooth decay and gum diseases can take a long time to develop, and as such, they can go unnoticed before we realize that there is a problem. This is why knowing which foods benefit and harm our teeth can help us prevent a lot of pain, and expensive visits to the dentist.

The Best

Apples

It is for various reasons that apples are on this list. The action of eating an apple produces enough saliva in your mouth to rinse away bacteria and food particles. Its fibrous texture can also stimulate the gums, while the fiber it contains can help remove traces of stains and plaque on your teeth.

Celery

Along with other crunchy veggies, such as carrots, celery can protect your teeth in two ways. The extra chewing that celery demands produces plenty of saliva, which neutralizes the bacteria that cause cavities. Additionally, its texture makes it naturally abrasive, meaning it gently scrubs and cleans other food particles off your teeth.

Leafy Greens

The reason why leafy greens, like kale and spinach, can promote healthier teeth is because they are high in calcium, which builds your teeth’s enamel. They are also rich in folate, which can be particularly beneficial for pregnant women, given that it can treat periodontal disease.

Strawberries

These berries contain malic acid, which helps to soften and dissolve stains on your teeth. They are also brimming with vitamin C, an antioxidant that is necessary for the production of collagen, a key protein that maintains strength of your gums.

The Worst

Chewy Candy

The stickier the candy, the worse it tends to be for your teeth. Candies like taffy or caramels stick to (and between) teeth for a long time, allowing bacteria in the mouth to leisurely feast on the remaining sugar. As a result, bacteria burns sugar to create acid, which dissolves the protective layer of tooth enamel, and causes cavities.

Pickles

As tasty as they may be for many people, pickles contain vinegar, which is highly acidic. This can demineralize your teeth, causing erosion and long-term damage.

Dried Fruits

Although they are still better than processed fruit snacks, and are used by many as a complement to their diet, dried fruits are still very sticky and high in sugar. They are like chewy candy, adhering to the teeth, and promoting dental erosion. If you eat dried fruit, strive to only purchase unsulfured varieties that don’t contain added sugars or other preservatives.

Crackers

Along with starchy foods, the refined carbs found in saltines and other types of crackers convert to sugar in the mouth very quickly, providing food for cavity-forming bacteria. Crackers also become mushy when chewed, turning into a paste-like substance that builds up in your molars.

Citrus Fruits and Juices (in excess)

Citrus fruits are beneficial in many ways. They are rich in vitamins and nutrients that are essential for the body. However, consuming sugary fruit juices (particularly grapefruit and lemonade) in excess can erode tooth enamel over time due to the high sugar and acid content.

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We have always been told to brush and floss our teeth. Some people are not as keen on flossing as others, but it does help to get food or bacteria out of areas that the toothbrush may not be able to reach. Brushing and flossing are undoubtedly necessary for a healthy mouth, but are these oral hygiene practices preventing you from getting cavities?

Recent studies have revealed that that the cause of cavities may be, first and foremost, a nutritional problem. Certain foods have a tremendous impact on your oral health and eating these foods, even if you are brushing and flossing, may cause you to develop cavities or tooth decay. This is why some researchers believe that it is possible to naturally heal and regenerate your teeth just like any other bone or bodily tissue.

Dr. Weston A. Price, who was a dentist and researcher, studied past groups of people all over the world and despite having no access to dentists or modern oral hygiene products, they had healthy teeth. Tooth decay was more prominent in other cultures with different diets. What was it about those diets that made people, who were living somewhat primitively, have near perfect oral health?

Through his research, Dr. Price found that these diets contained fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K2. These cultures consumed high fat diets, primarily eating animal fats from seafood, organ meats, plants, and raw milk and raw cheese (i.e. unpasteurized). Dr. Price discovered that fat-soluble vitamins, specifically vitamin K2, tell the body where to properly place minerals (in teeth and bones) and where not to place them (in joints or arteries).

Can You Reverse A Cavity?

Your teeth are like sponges; things can go in and things can go out. It stands to reason, then, that they can gain or lose minerals. If your teeth gain minerals (remineralize) faster than they lose them (demineralize), it is possible to avoid tooth decay and maintain oral health. You have to eat the right foods that promote remineralization in order to naturally repair cavities.

Foods That Promote Remineralization

• Natto
• Dark Leafy Greens (chard, spinach, or kale)
• Apples
• Celery
• Avocados
• Green & White Tea
• Wild Caught Fish

Foods That Promote Demineralization

• Packaged Oatmeal and Cereals (high in phytic acid)
• Bread
• Sugary Yogurt
• Sugary Drinks
• Processed Foods
• Saltine Crackers
• All High Glycemic Index Foods

Your Diet Affects Your Teeth

After years of research, many experts have concluded that diet plays as big a role in oral health as hygiene practices do. To help prevent cavities, it is important to avoid the foods that cause demineralization. You should also focus on including enough minerals and enough fat-soluble minerals to help with the remineralization process. The last factor is how well your body can absorb the minerals that you eat. It is best to minimize your consumption of foods that are high in phytic acid because they have been linked to mineral deficiencies, tooth decay, and osteoporosis.

If you want, you can make your own remineralizing toothpaste if you seek out the proper ingredients. Oil pulling is another great option and you can read this article for how to properly do it. You can also benefit from focusing on plant-based foods high in vitamins A, D, E, and K2.

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