Over the years I have strived to change out conventional health and personal care products for healthier alternatives. I make my own deodorant, follow the no-poo method, use coconut oil as a hair mask, shaving cream, and moisturizer, and use essential oils for physical and emotional well-being.

However, one thing that I have not switched out has been toothpaste, which is crazy because it is so simple to make yourself. You see, I have a problem with tartar control, so it takes a strong toothpaste to keep everything in check.

I also have an obsession with black tea so I need a toothpaste that will brush away stains and maintain whiteness.

What I needed was a homemade tartar control toothpaste that was affordable, effective, and easy to throw together!

But first, here’s some reasoning on why you should consider making your own toothpaste too!

Why Make Your Own Toothpaste?

So why would you make your own toothpaste?

There are several benefits to making your own toothpaste, especially one that pinpoints an issue like tartar, cavities, dry mouth, sensitivity, or stains.

Formulating your own toothpaste recipe gives you complete control over factors like:

Price

Basic toothpaste on the market is generally cheap, but as soon as you need a natural alternative for a specific problem, the prices start to rack up. I’ve seen some natural toothpaste that cost over $12 a tube!

Making your own toothpaste means that you will be using ingredients from your own kitchen like baking soda, salt, coconut oil, xylitol, stevia, bentonite clay, essential oils, etc.

All of these ingredients are economical, healthy, and effective. Often, you can mimic your favorite brand and make a recipe for homemade toothpaste that lasts a month or more for pennies on the dollar!

Ingredients

Commercial toothpaste often contains many harmful ingredients that actually negatively impact our health, some of which include:

Artificial colorings- These have been linked to hyperactivity and ADHD in both children and adults. It’s not just the sugar in candy that makes children bounce off the walls, take a look at their toothpaste!

Flouride- Has been proven to be a neurotoxin and does not actually prevent cavities.

Glycerin- While not toxic, glycerin coats the teeth with a film that prevents remineralization and alters the mouth’s microbiome, both of which are important for cavity prevention.

Highly abrasive ingredients- Using toothpaste ingredients that are highly abrasive too often can cause gum recession, tooth sensitivity, and cavities. Ideally, toothpaste should be mildly abrasive for regular use.

Sodium laurel sulfate- This ingredient causes canker sores and other oral reactions in many people.

Triclosan- This is a pesticide often found in commercial toothpaste that disrupts hormones.

Avoiding these ingredients, or simply making your own pure natural toothpaste is the best way to improve and maintain oral health.

You may not know this, but our oral health tells us a lot about our health in general so if you have consistently bad oral health, you may need to delve deeper!

What About GOOD Ingredients for Homemade Toothpaste?

Alright, so what about the good stuff?

I’ve known people who only brush their teeth with baking soda and were happy with it, but are there other ingredients you can use to make your own effective toothpaste?

Quite a few actually! The ones below are going to be your best go-to ingredients for homemade toothpaste that balance PH, keep teeth polished, and kill cavity-causing bacteria.

Baking soda- Non-toxic, low-level abrasive that neutralizes acid in the mouth. This is the baking soda I use.

Bentonite clay- A low-level abrasive that helps polish teeth, promote demineralization, and reduces acidity. My favorite bentonite clay is by Redmond.

Coconut oil- Not only does coconut oil balance the microbiome of your gut, but it also does so in your mouth! Its antibacterial properties also help kill odor-causing bacteria like plaque.

Essential oils- Freshen breath, reduce plaque, and fight gingivitis using these powerful plant essences. Some favorites include cinnamon, clove, myrrh, peppermint, and spearmint essential oil.

Salt- Using Himalayan salt is an amazing way to remove tartar naturally! Salt also heals oral wounds, promotes saliva secretion (great for those with dry mouth), and kills bad bacteria. I use Real Salt.

Stevia- Add sweetness to your recipe without the sugar. Powdered stevia works well.

Trace mineral drops- Some studies suggest that using trace mineral drops can improve remineralization. These are my favorite drops.

Xylitol- A natural sweetener that boosts tooth strength and reduces cavity-causing bacteria. I like xylitol made from birch.

You can mix and match these ingredients to find what works best for you and your needs.

Homemade Tartar Control Toothpaste

Now that you know which ingredients to avoid and which ingredients to include, let’s get on with the recipe for homemade tartar control toothpaste!

Here’s what you’re going to need:

• 2 TB baking soda
• 1 TB Himalayan salt
• 1 TB coconut oil (Use more or less depending on the consistency you want. Also, use refined coconut oil if you don’t want your toothpaste to taste like coconuts)
• ½ - 1 teaspoon xylitol (adjust for flavor as needed)
• 5 drops of trace minerals (add more if you don’t mind the taste)
• 10 drops peppermint essential oil (for cooling freshness)
• 10 drops spearmint essential oil (for a sweet cooling flavor)
• A tube like this, or a small jar for storage

Don't want to make your own? Try this all natural salt toothpaste by Weleda!

It's what I use when I've run out of the homemade version and it's amazing.

How to make Homemade Tartar Control Toothpaste

1. In a small bowl, mix the baking soda, salt, and coconut oil together until well combined. Add more oil if you want a runnier consistency, and add more salt and baking soda if you want a firmer consistency. You may need to warm the coconut oil if it’s too solid OR you can use fractionated coconut oil. Be aware that it will taste coconutty.
2. Next, add in a little bit of xylitol at a time. Taste often until you find the sweetness you desire.
3. Next, add in a few drops of trace minerals and the essential oils.
4. Mix well and store in a squeeze tube or in a small jar.

This recipe tastes very salty but it’s the key to removing tartar. The Himalayan salt acts as a powerful abrasive that buffs away stains and tartar after just one use. I use this recipe on my teeth using an electric toothbrush once a week when I have problem areas. After that, I only need to use my DIY tartar toothpaste when needed, about every couple of months.

I cannot recommend using an electric toothbrush enough with this recipe. The reason is that you can REALLY get in there and buff off tartar. I use this electric toothbrush with this attachment brush.

Do you have any natural remedies for removing tartar? Please share below!