Going Green - Homemade Toothpaste

This post is part of my "Going Green" Series, in which we are making our own products in order to rid our home of chemicals and other harmful ingredients.  Read my other post from this series about making your own shampoo here: http://thrivenaturalfamilyliving.blogspot.com/2013/05/going-green-no-poo.html.

During my health coach certification I quickly learned to read the ingredients list on EVERYTHING!!  When I read all of the ingredients in my toothpaste, I was shocked!!  I mean look at this list below!!  You don't have to read it all...simply skim through it.  There are parabens, dyes, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Flouride, the list goes on.

Sensodyne original flavor

Active Ingredients:   "Fresh Impact" Potassium Nitrate 5% Sodium Fluoride 0.15% w/v fluoride ion 5% Potassium Nitrate and 0.15% w/v Sodium Monofluorophosphate (Extra Whitening) or Sodium Fluoride (Fresh Mint, 0.15% w/v; Baking Soda, 0.15% w/v; Cool Gel, 0.13% w/v; Tartar Control, 0.13% w/v; Tartar Control Plus Whitening 0.145% w/v; Original Flavor, 0.13% w/v), or Sodium Fluoride 0.15% w/v fluoride ion (Fresh Impact). Sensodyne Fresh Mint, Sensodyne Fresh Impact, Sensodyne Cool Gel, Sensodyne with Baking Soda, Sensodyne Tartar Control, Sensodyne Tartar Control Plus Whitening, Sensodyne Original Flavor and Sensodyne Extra Whitening contain fluoride for cavity prevention and Potassium Nitrate clinically proven to reduce pain sensitivity for relief of dentinal hypersensitivity resulting from the exposure of tooth dentin due to periodontal surgery, cervical (gum line) erosion, abrasion or recession which causes pain on contact with hot, cold, or tactile stimuli.

Inactive Ingredients:    Baking Soda: Flavor, Glycerin, Hydrated Silica, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Silica, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Saccharin, Titanium Dioxide, Water.

Extra Whitening:   Calcium Peroxide, Flavor, Glycerin, Hydrated Silica, PEG-12, PEG-75, Silica, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Saccharin, Titanium Dioxide, Water.

Tartar Control:   Cellulose Gum, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Flavor, Glycerin, Hydrated Silica, Silica, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Saccharin, Tetrapotassium Pyrophosphate, Titanium Dioxide, Water.

Tartar Control Plus Whitening:   Cellulose Gum, Flavor, Glycerin, Polyethylene Glycol, Silica, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Saccharin, Tetrapotassium Pyrophosphate, Titanium Dioxide, Water.

Cool Gel:   Cellulose Gum, FD&C Blue #1, Flavor, Glycerin, Hydrated Silica, Silica, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Saccharin, Sorbitol, Trisodium Phosphate, Water. Fresh Impact: D&C yellow #10 lake, FD&C blue #1 lake, flavor, glycerin, hydrated silica, sodium benzoate, sodium hydroxide, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium saccharin, sorbitol, titanium dioxide, water, xanthan gum

Fresh Mint:    Inactive Ingredients: Carbomer, cellulose gum, D&C yellow #10, FD&C blue #1, flavor, glycerin, hydrated silica, octadecene/MA copolymer, poloxamer 407, potassium hydroxide, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sodium saccharin, sorbitol, titanium dioxide, water, xanthan gum.

Original Flavor:   Cellulose Gum, D&C Red No. 28, Glycerin, Hydrated Silica, Peppermint Oil, Silica, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Saccharin, Sorbitol, Titanium Dioxide, Trisodium Phosphate, Water. 

(via drugs.com)

Even from a quick skim, I knew I wanted to use a more natural toothpaste.  Therefore, I started buying Tom's of Maine toothpaste, which still has some unfavorable ingredients like SLS plus it is expensive!  I quickly decided to make my own!!  It only takes a few minutes and is made with three simple ingredients: Baking Soda, Coconut Oil and Essential Oil  (I like Peppermint, but you can use Spearmint, Wintergreen or whatever you like).   I use a 50/50 ratio with the Baking Soda and Coconut Oil combined with several drops of Peppermint Oil.

In my most recent batch I used:

4 tsp Baking Soda (aluminum free)

4 tsp Organic Coconut Oil

10 drops Peppermint Oil (I now use Young Living Essential Oils)

Mix all of the ingredients in a sterile clean glass container.  (I bought this one at Target and really like it.  They have different color seals so you can differentiate between all of your homemade products).

I love it!  It will not suds up like regular toothpaste because of the lack of the cheap detergent Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, but remember that this is a good thing!!  It simply takes a little while to get used to the new feeling.

UPDATE 7.6.13 ~ I have started squirting a little Hydrogen Peroxide onto my toothbrush after I put the toothpaste on for a little extra whitening power.

Check out our other posts in the "Going Green" Series:

Going Green - Creating a Non-toxic Kitchen - Products I Love

Going Green - No Poo - A Homemade Shampoo

Going Green - Homemade Non-toxic Household Cleaners

Enjoy!!

Sources: Drugs.com and tomsofmaine.com