By Jessica Johnson
Introduction
Toothpaste is necessary for keeping your teeth clean and reducing bacteria in one’s mouth which reduces odor. While we can choose to purchase it from the store, there are recipes to create it in your own home. Let’s take a look at how we can use essential oils to create a delicious tasting toothpaste on a budget! It is important to note that many toothpastes have added sweetners in them, and this toothpaste does not, so it will not be overly sweet. (Eco-friendly brands of these products can be found at the end of this post.)
What you will need:
A non-metal reusable container (Note: Metal deactivates the bentanite clay) (we chose to use a soap dispenser to reduce bacteria from spreading from dipping the brush in a jar)
Coconut oil (we used two cups)
Calcium Bentonite Clay (we used three tablespoons)
Baking Soda (we used three tablespoons)
Essential Oils (we used about 120 drops of clove oil for this batch size) (note if you are pregnant or breastfeeding you may want to skip this step and if children are using this product you may want to use a food grade essential oil)
A non-metal bowl
A non-metal spatula
A measuring cup
A non-metal tablespoon
A non-metal funnel
Instructions:
Step 1: Scoop out two cups of coconut oil and put it in a small to medium mixing bowl and stir
Step 2: Scoop out three tablespoons of calcium bentonite clay and dump it in the mixing bowl
Step 3: Scoop out three tablespoons of baking soda and dump it in the mixing bowl
Step 4: Stir thoroughly to disperse any chunks
Step 5: Add in 120 drops of your essential oil of choice (we used clove but I imagine spearmint may be a great choice too)
Step 6: Stir thoroughly
Step 7: Place your funnel over the opening of your container and begin scooping in the toothpaste
Step 8: Swirl and push the toothpaste down into the container
Step 9: Repeat steps 7-9 until container is almost all the way full leaving room for the pump.
Step 10: Screw the pump on and enjoy!
Conclusion
Now that i’ve tried it, I hope that you enjoy it as well! While it may not be as sweet as other toothpastes, it provides an excellent polish and I have noticed that my teeth feel cleaner for longer! If you enjoyed this post or want to see other DIY’s like this make sure to let us know through our instagram @American-Sustainability. Thank you and remember to stay tuned and stay sustainable!
