This post was first published in April 2013 and updated in August 2015. If you found it via Pinterest (Hi! Welcome!), it is still the same recipe, with prettier pictures and a few tips and tricks added based on some of the questions I’ve received since it was originally published. : )
I have big teeth. How do you like that for a soft opener!?!
My teeth are not abnormally large or anything to that effect, but they are definitely one of the more prominent features on my face. Dental hygiene is pretty important to me as a result (Although I do believe it would be if the circumstances were otherwise, of course!), and I can be a bit obsessive about keeping my pearly whites just that. Strawberries are an excellent all-natural whitening agent as they contain malic acid which acts as an astringent when rubbed against the surface, removing discoloration.
When it comes to toothpaste, my favorite brand is a splurge so I often make my own mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide at home, which works just as well, if not better than anything I could buy at retail. The recipe here ups the ante by adding coconut oil – full of antibacterial properties – and a fresh peppermint flavor, but feel free to skip on either if you prefer something simpler!
- 3 tablespoons baking soda
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil - preferably at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons hydrogen peroxide
- Food grade peppermint oil to taste (Or your favorite oil, of choice!)
- Clean glass jar for storage
- Mix the first three ingredients together in a small bowl. Add your oil of choice. *If you are using an organic oil, or one that has a very strong flavor, just one drop of it should serve you well! Give the mixture another stir and store it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. While these ingredients will never "go bad", I prefer to make the toothpaste in a small quantity and keep it for a month at most.
cbraunc
April 24, 2013 at 7:46 PMwow. I’ve got to try this…thank u!!!
jjbegonia
April 25, 2013 at 8:12 AMYou’re welcome! I hope you like it!
Annalea
May 23, 2013 at 11:47 PMi just made this and brushed with it. can i just tell you that my teeth have never felt so clean!!! and i love having another use for coconut oil. yeah!!!
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May 24, 2013 at 7:41 AMIsn’t it the best!?! I am so glad you love it as much as I do! It’s about time for me to make another batch too : )
celestedimilla
June 10, 2013 at 10:41 PMI would never have thought about making my own toothpaste, but I’m open to it. Especially because I just read Kim Barnouin’s “Skinny Bitch: Home, Beauty & Style” where she spoke about all the toxic chemicals in toothpaste. This really frightened me. Thanks for sharing this! Celeste :)
jjbegonia
June 11, 2013 at 8:53 AMYou’re welcome, Celeste! I find that information frightening too, so I try to use all-natural products whenever possible. Plus, they’re fun to make : )
justmeactually
June 13, 2013 at 11:43 PMI’ve been making my own toothpaste with baking soda, coconut oil, peppermint oil and stevia but now I think I’ll try the hydrogen peroxide too! You just made my DIY smile bigger.
jjbegonia
June 14, 2013 at 10:13 AMAwww, I love that! The peroxide adds some extra whitening power : ) Have a nice weekend!
Patricia Gomez
July 25, 2015 at 9:39 PMHello,
is it possible to put this into a pumpable bottle?
and also wont double dipping the toothbrush make the toothpaste go bad?
thanks
-Patricia
Tanya
January 17, 2014 at 4:46 PMDo you heat up the coconut oil first?
jjbegonia
January 17, 2014 at 7:40 PMHi Tanya! No, you do not have to heat the coconut oil first.
monni3
February 27, 2014 at 11:11 PMI have been using this for several months. Sometimes, I add a few drops of 4 Thieves in addition to the peppermint. Plus, on another site, adding a quarter teaspoon of fine sea salt was suggested to remineralize teeth.
Over time, I have increased the coconut oil slightly. I have used this same recipe as an exfoliator to remove blackheads. LOL
It has become my favorite toothpaste.
jjbegonia
February 28, 2014 at 11:55 AMOh cool, adding sea salt to the mix is a great idea!
I am really glad you like the toothpaste – Thanks so much for sharing your suggestions, too : )
How Oil Pulling Works | jjbegonia
April 2, 2014 at 7:01 AM[…] interested in trying coconut oil on your teeth but want to opt out of the pull, you might like this homemade peppermint toothpaste, which uses the oil as a […]
karlee
August 3, 2014 at 4:57 PMCan I use something like cinnamon oil (if it exists) in place of the peppermint? Minty toothpastes seem to irritate me. And where do I find these oils.
jjbegonia
August 6, 2014 at 10:51 AMHi Karlee! Yes, you can definitely use cinnamon (or any other flavor), so long as you use a ‘Food Grade’ brand (meaning that you can consume it). You can purchase oils via Amazon, natural food stores, and Whole Foods. I hope that helps : )
Rose
December 30, 2014 at 10:19 AMHow long it last for?
vanessa
February 13, 2015 at 8:36 PMCan I melt the coconut oil to help mix it easier?
jjbegonia
February 13, 2015 at 9:12 PMHi Vanessa! Yes, you can melt the coconut oil. It will solidify once it cools : )
Jenniffer Whyte
March 28, 2015 at 8:53 AMThank you so much for posting this! Since the first time I tried it two months ago, I haven’t bought anymore toothpaste since. This toothpaste brushes all of my 5 kids’ teeth, and it seems like it’s whitening them too!
jjbegonia
April 5, 2015 at 11:04 PMYou are so very welcome! Thank YOU so much for commenting to let me know – That makes me really happy!
And I bet it really is whitening their teeth…It works for me ; )
jensmith2010
April 9, 2015 at 4:49 PMIs there different types of Hydrogen Peroxide? I’ve had mine for awhile. I believe I found it in the first aid section of the store. Will that work?
jjbegonia
April 10, 2015 at 12:41 PMHi Jen! That will work!
Katelyn Kelley
April 14, 2015 at 7:15 PMHow long does this usually last? Also, is it better to make small batches?
jjbegonia
April 17, 2015 at 9:43 AMHi Katelyn! This will last forever (!) as none of the ingredients have the potential to “go bad”. I typically make small batches, just because it’s so easy to do, and I like that better than keeping a tub of it around : ) – but you can do it however you like. You really can’t go wrong with this one!
Anonymous
May 28, 2015 at 10:46 PMHow long this homemade toothpaste will be good for using ?
jjbegonia
May 29, 2015 at 9:27 AMHi There! This will never “go bad”, however I make mine in small batches and keep it around for a few weeks, to a month, before making another one. I hope that helps!
Anonymous
March 7, 2016 at 12:47 PMWhat sort of hydrogen peroxide do you recommend? I find 3 %, 6% up to 30%.
Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Monika from Germany
Sharon
July 13, 2016 at 10:42 PMHi my daughter is allergic to coconut oil, is there any other oil that I can use that has the same great benefit of coconut oil ?
Sandra
September 27, 2016 at 4:39 PMI just made the tooth paste but it taste extremely salty, do you have a suggestion what else can I add so it taste a little better. Thank you
Anonymous
September 28, 2016 at 6:45 PMHow do you get it on the brush??
Anonymous
September 28, 2016 at 8:43 PMI have a little spatula but my daughter just put her toothbrush in her glass. I’m still not happy about the taste but I guess you can’t change the taste from the baking soda