The Best and Worst Toothpaste Ingredients

There are many great reasons to make your own toothpaste. One is that commercial toothpaste brands often contain toxic ingredients that are harmful to your health. And let’s not forget that fluoride, the most common active ingredient in most toothpaste brands, can be poisonous in excess!

In this guide, I discuss the best ingredients to use when making your own toothpaste and ingredients that you should definitely avoid.

It’s funny how many people I see buying only organic, non-toxic sunscreen, and yet think nothing of using a blue, sparkly toothpaste daily.

But even if you plan on making a DIY toothpaste, it doesn’t mean you can’t do damage to your teeth. I’ve seen plenty of DIY toothpaste recipes sent to me by patients and readers that are harmful to enamel or even the microbiome.

Here’s everything you need to know about making your own DIY toothpaste, as well as how to choose ingredients that will provide the most benefits to your dental health.

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Why Make DIY Toothpaste?

Many mainstream brands of toothpaste contain harmful or even toxic ingredients, including:

• Triclosan. A pesticide and hormone disruptor.
• Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). Causes canker sores for many people.
• Artificial colorings. Linked to ADHD and hyperactivity in children. Toothpaste does not need to be blue!
• Fluoride. Toxic if swallowed and doesn’t even work in toothpaste.
• Titanium dioxide. Added to make toothpaste white. Most of the data shows it’s safe and is not absorbed by the skin, but I have yet to find a study done to measure absorption by oral tissues. The EWG has a good list of safety concerns around titanium dioxide, but the take-home message is that it’s just there to make toothpaste white, not to improve your health. So why bother with it?
• Highly abrasive ingredients. Damage enamel, making teeth sensitive and more prone to gum recession and cavities. Toothpaste should only be a little bit abrasive—this graininess aids the brushing motion to remove the biofilm of the tooth.

Glycerin is an ingredient I’m asked about often. In my extensive research, I have never found any evidence to support the theory that glycerin could impede remineralization. Since glycerin is water-soluble, it does not create a permanent barrier that prevents minerals from being absorbed by the enamel. Instead, any glycerin coating that may be present on the teeth can be quickly and easily washed away by saliva or water, allowing minerals to reach the enamel and support the remineralization process. I wrote this blog post “Should I Avoid Glycerin in Toothpaste?” and recorded this podcast episode for anyone looking for my reasoning here or for language for your patients to relieve their concerns about glycerin.

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The Best Ingredients to Use in DIY Toothpaste

• Coconut oil. Can help boost the microbiome in your gut (remember, the gut begins in the mouth!) and naturally prevent candida in the mouth. There is limited evidence that coconut oil might help reduce cavity-causing bacteria—either way, it can only help, so long as it’s not used as a replacement for flossing, brushing, and tongue scraping.
• Trace mineral drops. Beneficial especially if you drink reverse osmosis water, which removes bad stuff from the water but also removes the good stuff. I use Liqumins Trace Mineral Drops, which were recommended to me by integrative physician Elson Haas.
• Crushed cacao nibs. Believe it or not, the ideal DIY toothpaste would be chocolate toothpaste, since compounds in cacao beans promote remineralization better than fluoride (and of course, much more safely). Depending on the grain size of the cacao nibs, it could be a safe abrasive to break up the biofilm — just like ground walnut shells are used to polish jewelry!
• Bentonite clay. A natural polisher that is rich in minerals and not too abrasive. It’s also alkaline, so it helps reduce acidity in the mouth. Don’t be afraid of putting “dirt” in your mouth—we’ve been brainwashed into thinking that we need to sterilize our mouths with mouthwashes that remove “99% of germs,” but vibrant dental health is actually about achieving a balanced ecosystem of bacteria in your mouth, which protects us from illness and promotes tooth remineralization. Clay is actually used to clean and polish exotic cars without damaging the finish.
• Xylitol. For its ability to reduce cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth. Just don’t add too much since it’s a sweetener — too much can reprogram your taste buds to crave too much sweetness.
• Baking soda. For its alkalinity. Our teeth and mouths are constantly under attack by acids thanks to the foods we eat. Neutralizing these acids with vegetables and water is essential to maintaining proper pH in the mouth to encourage the right bacteria as well as protect the enamel from decay. Baking soda has a pH of 9 to 11 (alkaline), so it helps to neutralize acids while not being too abrasive to teeth.

Leave it Out: Ingredients to Avoid

• Anything acidic: I recommend grabbing pH strips from Amazon to test the acidity of any homemade toothpaste. Anything you make and use should ideally have a pH of 7 (neutral) or higher. Tooth enamel is built to resist acids, yes, but teeth are usually under constant acid attack–often in the form of constant snacking, the wrong foods, or even the right foods. Sipping on kombucha doesn’t give teeth a break from acid, preventing remineralization and making your teeth prone to decay.
• Hydrogen peroxide. Yes, this is the same ingredient used in whitening products and it does work — just not in the form of toothpaste. For hydrogen peroxide to whiten teeth, it needs to be held up against the tooth for an extended time–ideally with a custom-made tray, but also possible using whitening strips. You can’t just brush hydrogen peroxide on for a few minutes–it’s not long enough to have an effect. Hydrogen peroxide should be held up against only tooth enamel–ideally, it never comes into contact with gums, tongue, and soft tissues of the mouth, where it creates free radicals, which age us.
• Essential oils. This one may be a surprise! Since essential oils have antibacterial properties, many of them ideally should not be in the mouth. We want to nourish and feed the delicate balance of bacteria in our mouths, not kill it off! Doing so can set the stage for poor oral health, bad breath, and other imbalances. Bacteria are important. There are exceptions to this rule, such as anise essential oil.

FAQ

Two DIY Toothpaste Recipes to Try Today

Now that you know which ingredients to include when making your own DIY toothpaste at home (and which ingredients to avoid), I want to leave you with two of my favorite recipes.

DIY Probiotic Toothpaste

Print Recipe

This recipe is made with cacao nibs, so it’s perfect for anyone with an affinity for chocolate. Cacao are the raw, beanlike seeds from which chocolate (as well as cocoa and cocoa butter) are made. And, as previously mentioned, cacao nibs contain compounds that promote the natural healing of cavities, in addition to providing a decadent, chocolate flavor. The addition of prebiotics and probiotics help to support the oral microbiome.

Here’s how to make it:

• Author: Dr. Burhenne
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 5–7 days for a family of 4 people (used twice a day) 1x

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 tablespoons Cold-pressed Organic Coconut Oil
• 4 tablespoons Food Grade Bentonite Clay
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 2 tablespoons Xylitol
• 1/2 teaspoon Hyperbiotics Prebiotic Powder
• 2 crushed capsules Hyperbiotics PRO-Dental
• 1/2 teaspoons Cacao Powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Ginger Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon Vitamin E Oil
• 4 tablespoons distilled or filtered water (divided)

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Instructions

1. In a small saucepan, heat coconut oil over low heat until melted, about 1 – 2 minutes.
2. Add bentonite clay, baking soda, xylitol, prebiotic, probiotic, cacao, ginger and cinnamon to a food processor or high-speed blender and blend for 10-15 seconds until all powders are evenly combined, tapping sides and top of blender so powder will fall to the bottom.
3. Wait a couple of minutes before opening to allow powders to settle, then pour one tablespoon of coconut oil into the blender. Blend for 10-15 seconds; mixture will be crumbly. Take the small end of a wooden spoon (a chopstick or small spatula will also work) and run it along the inside edge of the blender, making sure to combine all the powder with the oil.
4. Add the vitamin E and remaining coconut oil, and blend another 10 – 15 seconds. A this point, the mixture will be runny. Again, run the wooden spoon end along the edge of the blender to make sure all the powder is incorporated. Blend again if necessary to create a smooth and creamy texture.
5. With the blender running, slowly add the water and blend for at least 30 seconds, or until it is thoroughly mixed.
6. Transfer to a glass container with a plastic lid or a nontoxic refillable squeeze tube.

Notes

Storage Tips & How to Use

Dip a clean spoon into the toothpaste and apply to your toothbrush. Store half at room temperature and use toothpaste within 7-10 days. Store the rest in the refrigerator for later use (it’s good for 4 weeks). Alternatively, fill a refillable squeeze tube with your toothpaste and squeeze about a quarter teaspoon onto your toothbrush twice daily for best oral hygiene. Store in your refrigerator for extended freshness.

If you are interested in healing gum disease using a food as medicine approach, here’s a powered by neem leaf variation of the probiotic toothpaste.

DIY Kids’ Toothpaste

Print Recipe

5 from 1 review

It’s important for adults to avoid store-bought, sparkly blue toothpastes, but it’s even more critical for children. The dental care products that are marketed to children are often designed for entertainment—not optimal dental care. With that in mind, I think it’s especially important to make your own kids’ toothpaste whenever possible.

Here’s how:

• Author: Dr. Burhenne
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 5–7 days for families with 2 kids 1x

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 tablespoons Calcium Carbonate
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 teaspoon Cold-pressed Organic Coconut Oil (melted)
• 2.5 teaspoon Distilled Water
• 1–2 drops Anise Essential Oil
• 1 capsule Hyperbiotics PRO-Kids (crushed)
• Xylitol (2 tablespoons plus 1 additional teaspoon)

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Instructions

1. In a bowl mix the calcium carbonate, the xylitol, the baking soda and the optional probiotic with a fork until they are thoroughly combined.
2. Add water to form a paste, incorporating all the liquid.
3. Slowly add the coconut oil in while mixing the paste vigorously.
4. Add the anise essential oil and mix until smooth and no lumps remain.
5. Paste should be smooth, creamy and closely resemble the consistency of commercial toothpaste. (Feel free to mix in a food processor if necessary, in order to achieve the desired consistency.)

Notes

Storage Tips & How to Use

Store in a glass jar or refillable squeeze tube. Keep out only what you’ll use within 5-7 days and store the rest in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

For kids who have a hard time changing routines, add a small amount of the DIY toothpaste to their brush along with the toothpaste they are used to. Gradually increase the amount of the DIY toothpaste while decreasing the amount of the commercial paste.

Consider discarding the used toothpaste (i.e., what’s left in the mouth after brushing) in the trash to avoid clogging sink pipes, as the coconut oil can leave a residue over time.

Don’t let toothpaste be an afterthought. The toothpaste you use can have a tremendous effect on not just your teeth, but your overall health as well.

Mark Burhenne DDS