Making your own toothpaste is a way to cut costs and more importantly for many, a way to cut out the chemicals. Many big brand toothpastes often contain parabens, triclosan, titanium dioxide (for whitening), high levels of fluoride, ethanol, silica and inactive “hidden” ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate, propylene glycol, sweeteners, artificial flavors, and food dyes.

There are a lot of more “natural” toothpastes on the market, like Burt’s Bees, Jason, Tom’s of Maine, Peelu and Herbal Choice Body. But if you’d prefer to save a bit of cash and to be sure exactly what is in your toothpaste, there are some very simple recipes for making your own.

Tooth powder recipe

This is the simplest homemade tooth cleaner. It’s dry so it is easy to store and very easy to make.

Ingredients:

• 3 parts baking soda (acts as both cleanser and sweetener)
• 1 part salt (acts as the abrasive)

Steps:

1. Thoroughly mix the two ingredients.
2. Store in a bottle/container. Ideally, use something with a small mouth, like a glass water- or soda- bottle.

To use:

• Pour a coin-sized amount into your hand. Dip in your dampened toothbrush and scrub your teeth.

Toothpaste recipe

While there are a few more steps to this than making a tooth powder, this takes less time than picking up a new tube of paste at the store. It’s not as foamy as commercial toothpaste, but it also doesn’t contain any chemicals that will dirty your bathroom sink.

Ingredients:

• 4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon flavoring: essential oils like peppermint, spearmint, sweet orange, clove, or cinnamon bark; or vanilla, almond or peppermint extract
• A few drops tap water
• * Optional sweeteners: a pinch of stevia powder or a few tablespoons of glycerin

Steps:

1. Thoroughly mix baking soda and salt.
2. Add the flavoring- either essential oils or extracts-, water and sweeteners (if you choose to use one) and mix well.
3. Mix until a smooth, thick paste forms. If it is too runny, add more of the dry ingredients.
4. Store in a squeezable bottle or a container with a tight-fitting lid.