Homemade toothpaste on a Budget!

It finally came to the point where I needed to buy more toothpaste . .

I have made my own toothpaste in the past with ingredients such as charcoal, bentonite clay, herbs and spices. . However it did not taste great . . . Trial and error, I find its always fun to experiment with these things!

The challenge

I decided to look into how I could make toothpaste with the least ingredients possible. . . .

First of all, a way I used to brush my teeth was through oil pulling, this doesn’t even require a toothbrush, which may turn people off instantly.

Oil pulling, also known as "kavala" or "gundusha," is an ancient Ayurvedic dental technique that involves swishing a tablespoon of oil in your mouth on an empty stomach for around 15-20 minutes. This action is known to draw out toxins in your body, primarily to improve oral health but also to improve your overall health.

The reported benefits include:

Whiter teeth • Cavity and gingivitis prevention • Better breath (halitosis suffers also reported greatly improved morning breath) • Stronger teeth and gums • Less jaw pain (TMJ sufferers noted great improvement), sleep problems and sinus issues • Alleviation of headaches, hangovers and skin issues (reports have shown improvement in acne, psoriasis and eczema)

I would recommend giving it a go. . It was very easy to just carry a jar of coconut oil in my backpack. However I did miss the sensation of actually brushing my teeth. So I looked into other options this time.

Environmental brownie points for the oil pulling technique as there's obviously no toothbrush = less plastic, although bamboo toothbrushes are pretty great and usually come in paper packaging. You can get these toothbrushes in all your alternative wholefood stores or online.

The toothpaste I found to have the least ingredients with the most beneficial effects was the yellow number you see in the image below.

I call it my ‘Morning Sunshine Toothpaste’ (c)

The ingredients include

2 tablespoons coconut oil (raw organic) (cleansing, stain removing, extra nutrients)

1 teaspoon turmeric (anti inflammatory, antibacterial)

1 teaspoon baking soda (balancing the levels of acid in the body)

1 drop of food grade peppermint oil (freshness, kills anaerobic bacteria)

(I used peppermint essential oil which works also)

Just mix it all together in your preferred jar and Voilà!

Please feel free to ask questions, I’d love to help anybody trying to embark on the package free spaceship!

Smiles all round!