Home made, almost plastic free toothpaste.

Toothpaste has been one of the problems for my zero waste green lifestyle. We all go through them a lot and they almost always come in plastic tubes. Not to mention all the chemicals in them.

As a dentist, I have became very fascinated with finding a solution to this problem. So, I got to work and started experimenting all kinds of options.

Here is my final recipe after months of research, trial and errors.

Disclaimer:
Even though i am a Dentist, I am not giving you my professional advice here and am just sharing my own recipe. Please consult your dentist with any problems, or professional questions.

You will need:

. Xylitol 6-8 packs
. Hot Water 2 tbsp
. Hydrogen peroxide 2 tbsp
. Vegetable glycerin 4 tbsp
. Spearmint extract 40-50 drops
. Baking Soda (As needed)
. Dr. Bronner all in one liquid Castile soap( Not in the picture)
.Tums Extra (Optional, also not in the picture)*



1. Dissolve 6-8 packs of Xylitol in two tbsp hot water.

2. Add equal amount of Hydrogen peroxide and vegetable glycerin. I start with two tbsp of each.

3. Add spearmint or any other flavor extract you enjoy as needed. I put around 30 drops.

4. Add 1 tbsp of liquid Castile soap.

5. Mix everything together.

6. Add a small amount of baking soda gradually till you reach your desirable texture.

7. Add more vegetable glycerin as needed if it is too hard.

8. Place it in your jar and live it open. The Hydrogen Peroxide might foam up and free some oxygen. Mix it after a while to let the oxygen out and help your paste to form.

Done.



 . Xylitol is a natural form of sugar. Research has shown that it is beneficial to the oral hygiene and it helps the re-mineralization of teeth before the occurrence of dental caries. It also reduces the growth of some bacterias that are involved in decay generation by interfering the bacterial growth and regeneration. In our case, it also gives our toothpaste a more pleasant taste by sweetening it.


. Hydrogen Peroxide is an excellent germ killer. It fights the non aerobic germs that are one of the causes of periodontal diseases. It is also a strong whitener. You don't want to overdue the usage since it will also destroy the good germs and your natural bacterial environment in your mouth. That could cause the reduction of your mouth's defence system. Without the Healthy and natural bacterias in your mouth, the so called opportunistic germs and specially fungus could attack your mouth causing canker sores. You also want to make sure you are not allergic to Hydrogen Peroxide.


. Vegetable glycerin. For me, glycerin has been better that coconut oil. The reasons are, coconut oil's texture is unpredictable. It solidifies in cold and liquefies in heat. That could cause your toothpaste to change texture with the outside temperature changes. Coconut oil is also transported and imported traveling usually a long way and it's production has a high impact on the environment. The glycerin acts like a lubricant and reduces the damage the baking Soda could cause due to it's abrasive nature. It also improves our toothpaste and gives it that creamy soft  and smooth texture. They are some debates over the benefits Vs contraindications of glycerin in toothpaste. It is said that it creates a film over the tooth and it does not allow the enamel to re-mineralize. As a dentist, to accept this statement, i need to see some solid researches. When i place a sealant over the grooves of a tooth prior to it getting decays, i am sealing the tooth. My gut feeling on this issue says, if there are decays, they need to be addressed as soon as possible and if they are no decays, the glycerin film might even be helpful by sealing the minerals in and protecting the enamel from the attack of bacteria and acids. But that is my opinion and i have not seen any researches regarding this matter yet. Please do your own research.


. Spearmint extract. I love the freshness it brings after brushing. But you can choose any flavor.


. Baking soda is purchased in bulk and I bring my own bag to store. Thus, zero waste. It is a mild abrasive that whitens teeth. It is very effective in removing the plaque and even some tartars. I have heard stories of people using it with Vinegar though. This is a NO NO for me. One of the problems we have these days and have been seeing more often lately, is erosion of teeth due to high acidity levels in the mouth. It could be caused by heartburn, high consumption of Sodas and acidic drinks, and ironically, the higher amount of salads with vinegar and lemon juice for healthy eaters have been causing some serious erosion and sensitivity. So, last thing we need to do is to add more vinegar or lemon juice to our daily regime (Sorry Dr. Oz, but i respectfully disagree with the lemon juice on teeth). Another thing you need to note is that Baking Soda might be too abrasive for cosmetic works. So if you have anterior work done, the Baking Soda might remove the glaze and it is not recommended. It also should be used only with very soft tooth brush since it is pretty abrasive and could cause gum recession. I highly recommend you to brush gently and never scrub vigorously when using this recipe.


. Dr. Bronner's all in one Baby Mild Liquid Soap. Just a small amount gives our toothpaste a very nice foaming effect that makes the whole brushing process more pleasant. The liquid soap cleans and flushes away all the unwanted debris from the mouth. I like to use Baby Mild kind that has no scent and is mild. The liquid soap can help to reduce the harsh effects of all the abrasives and cleaning agents in the mouth.  For more information, follow the link on the name.

*.Toms Tums Extra ( Sugar free). Now this one I came up with for people that have acid erosion and sensitivity on the teeth. High acidity could be due to stomach problems, heartburn, consuming too much Soda and acidic food including salad dressing. You can dissolve one tablet of Tums in your hot water along with Xylitol and just continue as the recipe says. Tums will neutralizes the acidity and also helps to re-mineralize your teeth due to high level of Calcium.

We use a Popsicle stick to scoop up the paste and place it on our brush. The consistency changes over time and you can easily add more baking Soda or Glycerin to re balance the texture.

What is your favorite toothpaste? Do you have a recipe you would want to share here? please do so.

Thank you
Paris