“Natural toothpaste is becoming more popular, but that does not mean they are safe for teeth,” warns dentist Hamid Mirsepasi in Dallas, Texas.
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Making Your Own Toothpaste Has Many Benefits
Toothpaste manufacturing companies may be of interest to you for several reasons. For instance:
- Make sure you know what’s in your toothpaste
- Reduce the use of plastic packaging
- Change the texture, flavor, or abrasiveness
- Reducing costs
Making Your Own Toothpaste Has Some Downsides
You’ll Need Supplies To Get Started
You’ll need the right supplies to make your own toothpaste, such as a container to store the mixture, mixing and measuring tools, as well as the ingredients.
Recipes Found Online May Contain Harmful Ingredients
Natural toothpaste recipes should not be trusted, even if they seem harmless. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or vinegar when making homemade toothpaste. This combination of ingredients can damage your gums as well as yellow your teeth.
Fluoride Is Not Present In Homemade Toothpastes
You won’t find fluoride in homemade toothpaste. Fluoride is the most effective ingredient in toothpaste for preventing cavities.
Fluoride toothpastes are the only ones endorsed by the American Dental Association (ADA) and are considered safe for use.
According to Mirsepasi, fluoride can improve dental health by strengthening enamel and making it more resistant to decay.
Take A Look At These Toothpaste Recipes
If you’re still determined to make your own toothpaste, you can experiment with some natural recipes to clean and whiten your teeth.
The ADA does not recommend these methods.
1. Toothpaste Made Of Baking Soda
Baking soda is often an ingredient in toothpaste. In a study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, baking soda:
- Suitable for use
- Agent that kills germs
- Gently abrasive
- (In commercial toothpastes) Fluoride works well with it
Using baking soda will wear away the top layer of your enamel, which won’t grow back. If you are watching your salt intake, remember that baking soda is a salt-based product.
Instructions
- Add 1 teaspoon. Add a little baking soda and water (depending on the texture you prefer).
You may want to consider adding essential oils to your toothpaste (such as peppermint). Research is needed, however, to confirm essential oils’ effectiveness in treating dental conditions.
Essential oils and baking soda should not be swallowed.
2. Coconut oil Toothpaste (oil pulling)
Oil pulling involves swishing oil in your mouth in order to promote oral health, but research on its effectiveness is limited.
Each day, move a small amount of oil around in your mouth for 5 to 20 minutes at a time. Studies found that oil pulling with coconut oil reduced plaque after seven days.