By now, you have probably figured out that we like making things ourselves. We find it easier to have multi-use ingredients on hand and make things as we need them. Doing so saves us time, feeling overwhelmed (There are so many kinds! Which one to I use?) and money (when is a quick Target run for a few things ever actually quick or cheap?). Plus, making things on our own saves packaging waste, which we consider to be a good thing. And not having to always rely on stores for everything has recently become a plus (thank you Coronavirus!). One of the first things we started making was toothpaste. As it turns out, it takes no effort to concoct for yourself a little bit of toothpaste.

Actually, we make two different kinds of toothpaste. Both are easy, but the first one I will show you is ridiculously so. Only two ingredients are needed – three if you are feeling fancy. By utilizing the benefits of coconut oil, we make a safe and effective toothpaste. For the majority of our household, coconut oil toothpaste is the go-to.

Coconut oil toothpaste
Coconut oil
Baking soda
Essential oil (optional – we go traditional with peppermint)

-Mash together equal parts of coconut oil and baking soda (add more coconut oil if it is too gritty for your liking). Add some drops of essential oil to the mashing process, if you would like. To use, scoop some on your brush and use as normal.

Yup. That is it. Easy peasy.

But, you may be asking yourself, how come only the MAJORITY of the household use the coconut oil toothpaste? Well, because, after a few days, the baking soda bothers my gums. While rare (some people even brush their teeth with just baking soda), it can irritate the gums of some people. Yup, I am high maintenance like that. Anyway, I found my own easy beneficial toothpaste recipe.

Bentonite clay toothpaste

2 Tbsp. bentonite clay
2-4 Tbsp. water
pinch of Real Salt (optional – use for some mineral benefits)
10-15 drops of essential oil

Mix all together in non-reactive bowl. Do not use a metal spoon, as it messes with the good parts of the clay. Keep covered to avoid drying out. Scoop on toothbrush and use as normal.

Although we could purchase our toothpaste like regular folks, we find it convenient to make our own. While it may not sound convenient, whipping up a little bit of toothpaste is actually quick and quite easy. It is also nice to know that we are using ingredients that benefit our bodies without harming the planet. Plus, having one less thing to remember to go out and buy in today’s world is kind of nice…speaking from experience.