DIY Toothpaste – no tube required
by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC
Speaking of toothbrushes in landfills – what about all those tubes that can’t be recycled? I switched to natural toothpaste long ago and enjoy the benefit I get from essential oils and other natural ingredients, but I’ve been long considering the whole DIY idea for toothpaste because I’ve never found a way to recycle the tubes (or get all the paste out of them). Well, I’m sorry that I put it off because I’ve discovered not only that it is super simple to do, but it’s good for your dental health.
The only ingredients I didn’t have on hand was vegetable glycerine, which was easy to find at the food market. Here’s the basic recipe from OraMedia Dental Self-Sufficiency: Mix 3 parts baking soda with one part sea salt. Add an essential oil for taste and/or therapeutic benefit. This can be used as a tooth powder. If you prefer a paste, add 3 tsp. of vegetable gylcerin to each 1/2 cup of powder and enough water to make a paste. (Apparently, gylcerin can require extra rinsing for demineralization so some people prefer to substitute plain water.)
Additional ingredients and variations is where it really gets fun and therapeutic! You can substitute raw apple cider vinegar for water in the above recipe and/or moisten your toothbrush with hydrogen peroxide before using powder or paste. The OraMedia site is also a great resource for research and testimonials. (I’m hoping to find a version tasty enough for pets.)
There are many variations to help you match your needs. For instance, you can also add:
Vit. C powder – antioxidant
Clay – alternative to baking soda
Tea tree oil – anti-bacterial
MSM powder – soothes gums
My own experiment included coconut oil, which gave the paste a creamier texture and a great taste. This site says that making your own toothpaste or powder can provide a year’s worth of use (for a family of 4) for about $1.50! Wow.
I’m just happy to be tube-free! Here’s smiling at you!
August 13th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
I’m so trying this! And will post the results for everyone to see.
Oh, and I’m thinking about posting an english version of the blog… We’ll see.
August 14th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
Great – We’ll compare recipes!
Let us know when we can read you, Bamboo – we’ll look forward to it.
Tao
August 24th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
[...] packaging, like that of a toothpaste box (why is toothpaste in a box anyway?? Another reason to DIY!). BTW, glossy stuff can be added to magazine recycling. Some cities are including paper in their [...]
November 7th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
[...] Preserve toothbrushes and razors are made from recycled materials and you can send them back to the company (postage paid) to be recycled again. There are plenty of chemical-free toothpastes out there, but if you are tired of throwing out non-recyclable tubes, you can make your own. [...]