This recipe will take less than 5 minutes to prepare.
Why do I make my own homemade products? It all started when I made my first batch of homemade laundry detergent a few weeks back… since then I’ve been hooked! Now I am on a mission to make as many household products as I can. It saves me money and gives me a sense of joy and accomplishment! Up this week… homemade toothpaste!
When I make products I FOCUS ON EASE OF PRODUCTION, EFFECTIVENESS, and COST SAVINGS.
I am not only making this homemade toothpaste for the benefit of me and my family… I am also doing it for your benefit. I am passionate about empowering readers with the means necessary to increase both frugality and self-sufficiency.
SIMPLE INGREDIENTS
- 2/3 cup baking soda
- 4 tsp fine sea salt (optional – gives paste extra scrubbing power, but is okay to leave out if the taste is too salty)
- 1 – 2 tsp peppermint extract according to taste (or add your favorite flavor – spearmint, cinnamon, orange, etc.)
- water (add to desired consistency)
COST BREAKDOWN & SAVINGS
Here is the breakdown in cost analysis for 5.33oz of my homemade toothpaste (same amount as one tube of my old toothpaste):
- baking soda @ 16oz = $1.00 | 2/3 cup is 5.33oz which = $0.33
- fine sea salt @ 22oz = $2.00 | 4tsp is .66oz which = $0.06
- peppermint extract @ 1oz = $3.00 | 2tsp is .33oz which = $1.04 | Better yet, use 1tsp is .17oz which = $0.52
(**note** you can use as much or as little peppermint or other flavor as you wish, add the flavoring little by little until you reach an amount you enjoy.)
Prior to making our own, we were using Tom’s of Maine Spearmint Gel® costing an average of $5.00 for a 5.2oz tube. Based on the calculations above the same amount of my homemade toothpaste will cost me between $0.91 and $1.43 for 5.33oz, depending on how much flavoring I use.
The cost savings will be between $4.09 – $3.57 per tube!
Aside from cost, there are many other benefits of homemade products. By making this toothpaste not only are we cutting costs by upwards of 300%, we also know the exact ingredients and count time spent as fun, educational, and useful for all involved!
A SIMPLE RECIPE & MAKING OF A BATCH
Remember, each batch yields the equivalent of one 5.3oz tube of toothpaste which you can store in a small storage container somewhere close to your toothbrush. When you are ready to brush, simply wet your toothbrush, scoop or spread as much paste as you like, and begin brushing.
**Update** If you are grossed out by double-dipping with others but don’t want to make separate batches – do as DFA reader Lakita of Paneh Praise suggests – put the paste in a Ziploc bag and cut the corner off for a homemade squeezable tube. Thanks Lakita!
1. Start with these ingredients:
2. Mix together and add water until paste reaches desired consistency.
That’s it! You’re done. Now go get rid of that bad breath!
A few FAQ’s and answers:
- Where should we store the paste? In a container of your choosing close to your tooth brush. I use a small plastic ware container.
- Should we each have our own container, or can we share with others in our family/roommates? If cooties bother you then get your own container… if not then don’t worry about it. My wife and I share one.
- How do we get it onto our toothbrush? Simply wet your brush, scoop or spread on some paste, and brush away.
- Does this really work? Yes. I actually like it better than store bought and find it gets rid of onion and garlic breath better than any toothpaste I have ever used.
- Where do I get the ingredients? At pretty much any store, or you can buy them online through the links above.
- Is this toothpaste bad for me? No. But that is just my opinion since I am not a dentist, and because these claims have not been evaluated by the FDA. That said… all ingredients are commonly used products and otherwise regarded as utterly safe.
- What about fluoride, don’t we need it? Not in my opinion. Research I have done reveals fluoride as a toxic poison. Dentists typically say it is beneficial when applied to the teeth of children, but I encourage you to do a little research of your own… I’m guessing you’ll come out holding the same opinion as me.
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Wow Jabs, truly ingenious!
I’m pretty scared of making anything that goes into my mouth though… especially since my cooking skills are horrific!
What about the homemade teeth whitener though?
.-= Financial Samurai´s last blog ..Get An Umbrella Insurance Policy – Your Teenager Is Going To Bankrupt You =-.
Great question sir… I employ that as well. All you need to do is swish hydrogen peroxide around in your mouth for 2-5 minutes each morning. Sound like a pain? Do it in the shower… you gotta be in there anyway. Cheers!
Sounds good Matt! Maybe I will add some minting Act mouth wash, b/c all I can think about with hydrogen peroxide is the stinging sensation when I had to dab a swab of it on my knees when I bailed skateboarding!
.-= Financial Samurai´s last blog ..Get An Umbrella Insurance Policy – Your Teenager Is Going To Bankrupt You =-.
Ha ha! Mixing it w/a little Act is not a bad idea, although the taste isn’t bad and there is zero stinging. The taste, by itself, is actually quite neutral.
I’m guessing that my coffee habit is not helping my new quest to find an alternative way to whiten my teeth!
Matt,
Sounds great but I don’t like the idea of “double dipping” the toothbrush.
Try the DIY toothpaste tube:
Simply put you mixture in a ziploc or sandwich bag and squeeze to the bottom corner.
Cut a very small hole in the bottom of the bag and squeeze out.
Kita
.-= Lakita´s last blog ..Carnival of Praise Dance #3: Personal Finance Edition =-.
Beautifully ingenious Lakita… I may just have to add that nugget of wisdom to the post!
Cool beans! It would cut into your cost a bit, but you would still save significantly.
Kita
Ok, you got me by throwing in the peppermint extract.
I’m going to have to try this!
For the record, I tried homemade baking soda toothpaste before but baking soda tastes like…well, that’s not really a polite thing to say, so it tastes nasty. Took a long time for me to get the taste out of my mouth (fortunately had listerine on hand). I think peppermint extract would probably be enough to cover that taste. Cool.
(Baking soda also works as a face scrub!)
.-= Mrs. Micah´s last blog ..Are Crazy Personal Finance Goals and Challenges Better Than Slow and Steady? =-.
I really like the idea – not because of the saving (the 12 or 16 bucks a year doesn’t do it for me) but because of the natural aspect of it.
.-= Evan´s last blog ..I Won a $1,000 – What am I going to Do With It? =-.
Yeah, there are many positive aspects to this and all homemade products… that is why I make them! I love doing it.
Okay, I will give it a try, too. Wonder what wonderful extracts could be mixed. Hmmm… lemon and mint?
I am not so much on rinsing with baking soda. Kind of foams in your mouth.
.-= Money Funk´s last blog ..7 Traits of Women Entrepreneurs =-.
That’s part of the beauty of it… you can create whatever you like! Cool eh?
I love these kinds of ideas, thanks so much for posting. I’m going to have to give this a try. I’m always trying to save money, and I love things that are natural and not processed or mass produced.
Do it Michelle… it’s so easy and I promise you will not regret it.
I found if I added too much water, the water separated from the mixture making it look gross. For my last batch I only used a tiny bit of water so its dry enough that you can shake the mixture. I prefer this consistency and dab my wet toothbrush in it. I tried using cinnamon extract. I didn’t like the taste. I was expecting a cinnamon gum taste, but it didn’t taste like that. Peppermint is my favorite.
I use straight baking soda. The taste takes some getting used to, but I get compliments on my white teeth. Anyway, I always see others put salt in it and no one could tell me why, so thanks for telling me why!
.-= Emily ´s last blog ..Whole Wheat Pasta – $0.24 =-.
Yeah, I’m sure I could do straight baking soda too if I wanted to save more money… although I doubt my wife would.
Hmm, my mom used to make us kids brush with straight baking soda if we ever ran out of toothpaste when we were little.
Doesn’t the baking soda hurt your gums in the long run?
Good question Karyn.
Actually baking soda (and hydrogen peroxide) are good for your gums.
That Tom’s stuff is NASTY!
And so what if flouride is a toxic poison? People have been using it for years, that is the way it has always been done. That has to account for something. Maybe that is where we get the saying, “what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.” ?
You should write a post on Seminary Matt. Come out with $40,000 of school debt to take a job that pays 30k a year with little to no benefits.
Hey Joe: For more on fluoride visit the Fluoride Action Network. You’ll be amazed what you find when you start digging.
As for a post on Seminary… I’ll wait for your guest post on that!
Seems penny wise and pound foolish. Toothpaste is very inexpensive and with coupons, almost free. Without fluoride this should not be recommended for kids. Let’s save money, but in a smart way.
.-= Big Spender´s last blog ..Your Email Hints at Your Credit Score =-.
Ahhh, but you are only considering the financial aspect my friend. I encourage you to look outside the box – there is so much more to this than saving a few pennies.
If you’re truly worried about kids then I encourage you to study fluoride (it is a toxic poison) and check out all the other toxic ingredients in most over the counter toothpaste brands.
Cheers!
Interesting, but does your container keep your homemade toothpaste fresh over the life of its use? That’s one advantage of traditional toothpaste. Plus, I find a tube of toothpaste lasts so long, its hard for me to justify the savings here (what is it, $3 a year?).
Freshness? Guaranteed for the life of the baking soda.
Savings? Depends on the brand used. Between my wife and I we will save around $40/year on toothpaste. Would you take $40 is someone wanted to give it to you?
Question – what are the ingredients in your traditional toothpaste and where do they come from?
Cheers!
Ivory soap on your toothbrush works fantastically well.
I can thank this recipe for all the cavities I had when I was a kid. My parents kept me on a strict no-sugar diet, and made sure I brushed my teeth every day with this same home-made toothpaste (I wasn’t allowed regular toothpaste as a child, just this homemade stuff). I had TONS of cavities growing up. Then, when I was a teenager, I finally got to switch to REAL toothpaste, the kind with fluoride in it, and the cavities tapered off and I stopped getting so many (even though I started eating things with sugar in them!)
Seriously folks, the lack of fluoride really is bad for your teeth. :/
Readers should be made aware now (before a debate ensues) that fluoride as a dental necessity is highly controversial and debatable. While BD holds the opinion that it is helpful, and I hold the opinion that it is harmful (based on our individual research/experience) you are encouraged to do your own research.
Just be aware when doing your research that the ADA supports fluoridation, but some of the strongest opponents are dentists who disagree with the findings and hold that there is corruption involved in the policy stance by the ADA.
Great idea!! My husband has been rinsing his mouth with baking soda to cut down on canker sores.. Also make a paste with baking soda and liquid dish detergent (small amount) and It cleans showers great with a scrubby sponge…
Our family has been using straight baking soda for 2 years. There are 6 of us, so i found adorable little glass jars and filled them each up with baking soda. Each one has a different colored lid that matches each persons toothbrush. No double dipping in our house
We also use plain hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash (I haven’t had a sinus infection since we started doing this and i used to have 2-3 a year). Our teeth are white and sparkly, baking soda is abrasive so whitens your teeth naturally. Our dentist is pleased with our teeth, and is respecting our wishes to be flouride free.
How refreshing to get an email from someone who has been doing this for years and has seen positive results!
I too use Hydrogen Peroxide for mouthwash… and it whitens along with the baking soda toothpaste. This system works so well and costs a fraction of what store bought toothpaste, mouthwash, and whitening systems cost!
Thanks Heather… cheers.
I just made this. I am not sure about the consistency. So far it seems a little too loose. I probably put in too much water. Teeth have that squeaky clean feeling though. I am excited to see how this works out. I have tried the dishwasher and clothes detergents with great results so far. Thanks Matt. You need to tackle shaving solutions next.
Thanks! Yeah, if you put less water in you should be good – pour in w/a cup instead of using the facet to lessen the likelihood of mistakes.
For shaving I use a bar of homemade soap (we don’t make our own… yet) but my wife still uses shaving cream.
A lot of people who make homemade shaving cream go WAY overboard w/the project… taking way too much time & using way too many uncommon ingredients.
I always prefer quick and simple! Some simple alternatives for shaving cream include: soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and baby oil.
Matt,
this recipe is so much better with REAL peppermint essential oil. You can use less oil than extract. Also, if you add in some calcium carbonate, you can add in the ‘whitening’ ingredient. All natural!
Jesus bless you!
two things
1) I occasionally buy toothpaste at the dollar store, so it’s costing even less than your homemade version here (being a dollar)
2) I actually make a very similar homemade concoction as a POWDER and I believe it’s cheaper. I make it on a weekly basis – simply put a couple tablespoons of baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon or so of salt into a small dish I have for this purpose (actually use a decorative salsa dish I got as a souvenir in Mexico) and I add a couple of drops of peppermint essential oil (a 0.5 oz bottle lasts all year – or longer! – and costs about $4). Essential oils are available at health food stores or by mail order from places like Rose Mountain Herbs (add your shipping expense to overall cost)
.-= Rebecca´s last blog ..By: Lisa =-.
Great idea! I’m adding your link to my website. I’ve been using just plain old baking soda added to my toothpaste to whiten and because it really does give you that squeaky clean feel to your teeth and gums. My only suggestion is to get the $1 travel size squeeze tube if you are worried about germs. Even with the cost of the tube, it’s still cheaper, and I know what all the ingredients are
I forgot to add this – you may find my moisturizer solution interesting
http://moneysavingmommies.blogspot.com/2009/07/olive-oil.html
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Another Homemade Deodorant Recipe =-.
I love you’re using products already in the house, containers already in the house…it’s great in so many ways-even though a few years ago I was all about “all natural” products like “Tom’s” myself, I love going that extra step now. My kids think it’s great that we make our own “products” , often naming them! Like Superty Duperty Sudsy Soap, or something fun and brag about it all the time. I love that when we go to the store they will think about what we can re-purpose the container for when we buy something- like “if we buy this item, we can use the jug for home-made chocolate milk sauce”, etc. It’s great the internet makes it so easy for us to share these kinds of ideas and how easy it can be to be green without trying, and amazing ourselves with how much we save in dollars today and future environmental dollars-like transportation/road cost and landfill expenses.
Thanks for the post and the all the sharing.
Hey Sandy, you’re welcome – thanks for stopping by and commenting!
What you said in your comment totally embodies the spirit of making homemade products! So many people just plain do not understand it… because they have never chose to focus on all the other benefits. Rather than see the joy and harmony it creates in the home they seem to only focus on how it will “only save a few dollars.” Even if it was only saving money… isn’t that enough? But it delivers so much more.
It is nice to hear from someone else who can see what I see.
While baking soda is an ingredient in a lot of commercial toothpastes, I was told by my dentist it’s too abrasive to use daily all by itself. I also really worry about the baking soda and salt for people with high blood pressure, kidney problems, etc. as you WILL swallow some. Might be good to check with an MD and/or dentist before using if you have health problems &/or small children. I get the do-it-yourself appeal, but I’ll just either buy one of the brands that’s regular-priced for about $1, or favorite brand on sale with a coupon.
I am 41 years old and my tooth enamel is wearing thin in my “old age”. This causes pain at the base of my teeth as well as pain when I eat sweet or cold foods. Because of this, I would never use baking soda to brush my teeth. Also, I would not reccomment its use to others because it is very abrasive and could wear down healthy enamel. BTW, extra floride from toothpastes such as sensodyne actually seem to strengthen my enamel because the pain lessens when I use it.
Why oh why do people think just because people have always used something, (like floride) and aren’t dead, that it is ok. Have you not all noticed the increase of many many health problems over the years (like autoimmune diseases, cancer, autisim, ect.) I am not saying floride causes all those things, but floride, along with a whole bunch of other things we are fed because they are “good and safe” when really they aren’t….
Floride worked great on teeth, back in the early 1900’s when people where malnurished. That is the basis on which all the “floride is good for your teeth” stuff comes from. Dentists still believe it because that is what they are told in school.
I do think that using straight baking soda could be a bit too abrasive though. Maybe it could be mixed with coconut oil or something? Hmmm…
I’m getting ready to make the toothpaste, but have to back Matt up here on with the flouride issue. People, PLEASE do your research on flouride!! It is a toxin and is dangerous to your teeth and health. Not only should you worry about it being in your store-bought toothpaste, but added to your drinking water as well.
First, fluoride is one of the most toxic substances on earth, on par with arsenic and lead. It has no proven biological use inside the human body (teeth included). There is no minimum daily requirement for fluoride. And second, it is a cumulative poison. Only about half of what we consume is excreted.
The other half collects in the teeth and bones, making them dense, but brittle. Those little white spots visible on the teeth of many children are called dental fluorosis, a condition which not only predisposes them to decay, but also provides a sign that systemic fluoride poisoning is taking place. Dental fluorosis appears to serve as a red flag for future bone fractures as well.
The neurotoxic nature of fluoride is also linked to motor dysfunction, IQ deficits and learning disabilities. In the year 2000, a group of Boston physicians concluded:
“Studies in animals and human populations suggest that fluoride exposure, at levels that are experienced by a significant proportion of the population whose drinking water is fluoridated, may have adverse impacts on the developing brain.”
I could go on and on and on. Just google “dangers of flouride”. I don’t want to distract from Matt’s great posting for the homemade recipe, but wanted to give additional information to those who are concerned about it not containing flouride.
Thanks for the great site!!!
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Not trying to start a debate here, but I had to comment on BD’s post:
“I can thank this recipe for all the cavities I had when I was a kid. My parents kept me on a strict no-sugar diet, and made sure I brushed my teeth every day with this same home-made toothpaste (I wasn’t allowed regular toothpaste as a child, just this homemade stuff). I had TONS of cavities growing up. Then, when I was a teenager, I finally got to switch to REAL toothpaste, the kind with fluoride in it, and the cavities tapered off and I stopped getting so many (even though I started eating things with sugar in them!)
Seriously folks, the lack of fluoride really is bad for your teeth. :/”
First of all, before our family decided to go the toxic-free route, our daughter was brought up on Colgate (WITH flouride). She had so many cavities in her baby teeth she had to get caps put on most of them. My spouse was also raised on traditional chemical filled toothpastes (WITH flouride) and had to have 25 – yes, you are reading this correct – 25 cavities filled about 5 years ago. All while using toothpaste with flouride.
Now that we have adopted the toxic-free (including flouride-free) lifestyle, guess what? No more cavities!!! No one in my family, including my daughter and spouse has had cavities in over 5 years. Go figure.
So to say just because you didn’t use flouride caused you cavities and when you started using flouride they stopped has no basis. Because we got cavites USING flouride and STOPPED getting them when we didn’t use flouride. Everyone and everyone’s eating habits, brushing habits, genetics, dental care are different. You can’t lu
Dental health is more than just the toothpaste you use. There is evidence that heredity plays a big part in getting cavities. A good, healthy, low-sugar diet (includeing cokes, soft drinks, etc), along with regular flossing and dental visits will help keep cavities at bay.
You rock Matt!
Made the toothpaste last night and all went well. I went to Walmart this morning and bought an 8 pack of Glad Ware “Mini Round” tight sealing containers. There a perfect 1/2 cup size and each family member can have their own container without having to worry about germs or double-dipping!
One more thing I just thought about. When I buy baking soda for cooking purposes, I buy the aluminum-free baking soda. When I bought the baking soda to make the toothpaste, I just bought the Arm & Hammer brand and wasn’t sure if it was aluminum-free. Does anyone know? If it’s not, it might be better to buy aluminum-free baking soda. Thanks!
Another way to get rid of bad breath is to simply chew fresh parsley!
Thanksfor the recipe, Matt. Will definitely be trying it asap. People often don’t stop to think of the dangers of flouride, as well as other chemicals in toothpaste, shampoos, shower gels etc. it is generally assumed that, because the item has made it to the shelf for sale, that it is safe for use/consumption. Another extremely toxic ingredient in toothpastes, shampoos, shower gels etc, is sodium laureth sulfate/sodium lauryl sulfate, not to mention parabens and perfumes. If anyone needs confirmation of this, they are welcome to go to http://www.naturalnews.com and see what Dr Mike Adams aka the Heath Ranger has discovered regaridng these products. I for one, am phasing out as many chemical items from my life as possible, and am already noticing a difference.