This has been a huge subject of conversation and research in our house recently.  Commercial toothpastes have so many chemicals, additives, sweeteners, artificial colorings and a whole host of other stuff not to mention fluoride!  I’ve been on the hunt to find something all natural that works and doesn’t cost too much.  We’ve tried a few, but nothing we were 100% sold on. 

I do use [amazon_link id=”B0044XHG5G” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Tom’s of Maine[/amazon_link] for the kids, but just couldn’t find something for us.  Then a friend of mine suggested a novel idea!  I had asked her what they use and she said, “Bethanie, I’m surprised you don’t just make your own.  You make everything else don’t you?”  Huh!  What a thought!  How come I didn’t come up with that?

So I did some research.  I found quite a bit of info on the internet and YouTube on how to do it.  It really is super simple… and it’s almost the same ingredients as the homemade deodorant.  I wonder what people would say if I said I brush my teeth with my homemade deodorant!  Haha!  I’m sure I’d get some fabulous comments!

I don’t… I made a new batch and the ingredients are a little different, but not much.  In fact I can’t even take credit for making it.  Tonchi did!  He measured and poured and mixed!  He even told me as he was mixing that there was too much water in it and that he needed to add more baking soda!  A man after my own heart!  Cooks by the looks!

Ingredients:
2/3 cup baking soda
4 tsp fine sea salt
1 – 2 tsp peppermint extract or 10-15 drops peppermint essential oil (or add your favorite flavor – spearmint, orange, etc.)
Water (add to desired consistency)

 Instructions:

Just mix it all together!  I put it in a [amazon_link id=”B000LNW8Z6″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]½ pint jar[/amazon_link] and had a bit of room to spare.  I also added a popsicle stick in it to stir it and scoop some out for use.  I didn’t want everyone sticking their brushes in there and risk growing some unwanted guests!

We used it last night… it definitely tastes salty, but it works and my mouth felt super clean afterwards!  I really liked the peppermint flavor a lot.

When Tonchi was mixing it together he said it smelled like Christmas candy.  I saw him dip a finger and lick… it definitely wasn’t what he expected!  But he now calls it the Christmas toothpaste!

I found this breakdown of the cost on one of the websites I researched!  Even more incentive to make my own.  You know money talks to me… especially when it is in my pocket and not someone else’s!  I found it very interesting!

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
• Tom’s of Maine Spearamint Gel® cost 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.

Give it a try and let me know what you think!