Rethinking Oral Health Care: A Homemade Toothpaste Recipe for Tooth Remineralization

229 Comments

1. I use food grade diatomaceous earth in my tooth powder instead of salt. It is a gentle abrasive without the saltiness. Thanks for the recipe. I may adjust mine. <

   1. Hmmm, I may adjust MINE! I’ve heard about using DE, but I didn’t know it would act as a gentle abrasive, thus reducing the saltiness. The saltiness is my biggest struggle for my children. And the baking soda does add to that saltiness, but if I could remove the salt, that would help! I will say, though, that with using real salt (Celtic or Himalayan or something similar, like the Real Salt brand), there are desirable minerals present, so salt is a plus for that reason, too.

2. I have been making my own toothpaste for a year or more. I tried the coconut oil but really had a hard time with it so I switched to glycerin. But now, after reading this post, next time around, I will try the coconut oil again. I have a hard time getting my kids to use the homemade paste, but I don’t put in any xylitol or any sweetener. They also don’t like the peppermint essential oil (“too spicy” according to them) and sometimes the spearmint is too. So I have given them Tom’s but then found they do use SLS, hm…so may be trying to concoct your recipe in hopes of my kids liking it!

   1. Try orange or some other essential oil “flavor” that the kids like. And stevia, but less than you think you’ll need at first (I accidentally put too much in, and my tooth cleaner is now fern green LOL)

   2. I was going to add glycerin to mine not too long ago, but then I came across the info. with the caution for not using it. I understand your struggle with coconut oil. I have a hard time with oil pulling using coconut oil, and I try to add it to a lot of foods, but I almost need to cover the flavor as it doesn’t appeal to me in most things or plain. 🙂 My children aren’t crazy about my homemade toothpaste (I won’t lie. I doesn’t have a fruity or bubble gummy flavor like Crest!), but the xylitol helps some with that. I have thought about trying orange like Dani suggested. That may taste a little better.

      1. Sweet leaf stevia sells flavored liquid drops. That may help with the flavor..

3. I had a strange reaction to xylitol in natural mints…it gave me an anxcious feeling…& it was During Church when I was sitting…So I tried them again & got the same anxcious feeling. So then I asked a few friends & one of them had the same responce.

   1. Interesting. Thanks for the info.! I’ve heard great things about xylitol, but I have also heard that it could be not so great because when it’s extracted as it is, it’s similar to white sugar in that it’s so processed. Hmm….I’ll have to look into that more.

4. This is a topic I’ve been interested in for quite some time. My mouth is also full of fillings (as is my husband’s) and I SO don’t want that for my daughter. I’ve been using a fairly similar homemade recipe (using stevia) for a year or so, but I still worry sometimes that I might be missing something. I really want to learn more. I’ll have to try that book!

   Where do you get trace mineral drops? And the calcium/magnesium powder? Thanks!

   1. When I said my mouth was full of fillings, I meant it…the majority of my teeth! I fear I may never be able to truly remineralize because of the damage done, but I’m hoping my children can have a different dental experience.

      I get my trace mineral drops from Cultures for Health. A small bottle goes a LONG way, too.

      1. Hi Courtney. I think this post is great and have already started making and using the very basic toothpaste for myself. After one use I’ve noticed results, one of the first being that I had more saliva production that usual.

         I just wanted to add a little holistic thought here. What you resist, will persist. We attract what we think about so if you’re constantly afraid that your teeth won’t remineralize, that’s exactly what’s going to happen. Stay positive and keep doing everything you can to maintain good health with the thought that your teeth are healthy and that’s what will manifest.

5. Cure Tooth Decay is a great book! I have been oil pulling and using homemade toothpaste for a while now. I started because I went for a cleaning and they said I had 3 cavities, my first 3 cavities ever, and I did NOT want to get fillings. So I started with oil pulling and taking cod liver oil, and using homemade toothpaste. I also used white oak bark powder, which is especially helpful if you’re on a bit more rigorous plan to remineralize teeth. The result: I cured my tooth decay. I have healthy teeth and a healthy body.

   1. That’s great! I’ve skimmed through that book, but I loaned it to my grandma before I got a change to really dig into it. I need to get that back. 🙂

6. Great, informative post, Courtney! We use Tom’s brand toothpaste, but I know it still contains fluoride. I’ve been wanting to try a homemade version! I’ve never had a cavity or any dental problems, but my husband has had a lot! I hope our girls get my genes ;)–or that we can try to take better charge of their dental health w/ your methods!

   Pinning your recipe! 🙂

   1. Some versions of Tom’s are fluoride-free. We used to use Tom’s and liked it. Tom’s does use SLS, though, and they stand behind its safety. Oh, how I wish I could say I’ve never had a cavity! I’ve had so many and at such an early age. My oldest two children had cavities by 18 months! My youngest three have never had one, and our dentist always comments on what a great job we’re doing.

7. As a senior citizen, I wish I had known this recipe years ago. Placque from teeth can get into the blood when you don’t floss and I am going through treatment for that now. Also, the coconut oil in your recipe is so good for many things that ale ya, including dementia. My husband has been on coconut oil for several years and it has slowed down his Alzheimer’s.

   1. I’ve heard that, too. And also that bacteria can seep into your bloodstream from root canal/crowns. Both are scary situations! Yes, coconut oil is great! I’m so glad to hear it’s helped slow down your husband’s Alzheimer’s!

8. I am a certified dental assistant and believe there is a lot of GREAT points and valid facts in this post. It was very nicely done, with some great information. However, dentistry in British Columbia at least is VERY focused on prevention vs. treatment, which is a huge shift from what is use to be in the past. Yes, you are very correct that yellow teeth can be a result of dentin showing through and that is because the enamel is becoming transparent {and enamel is the HARDEST structure in the human body}. But it can also be a result of intrinsic staining which is genetic. Reminerlazation can be very helpful but only as a prevention method (a great one). However, once caries and decay has began the only solution is restorative treatment. I would encourage everyone to ask their dentist all possible options for treatment and material used to reduce chemicals/toxins, because there is options out there. During my program I tried to argue and fine the most natural solutions for other treatment options, it was a huge struggle going against the grain, and I think is the post did it wonderfully.

   1. Thanks so much for weighing in with your thoughts as someone working in this field, Diana. I really appreciate it! 🙂

      1. Not a problem! If only this post was written when I was in my program last year, I could have tried to pass if off as reference in my reports! I read your comment that you brought you daughter in and the dentist said they made a mistake diagnosing a cavity. I could almost bet $100 bucks, that you are right with you conclusion that your were able to naturally eliminate it. I can’t see a dentist admitting that though 🙂

   2. Thank you, Diana! I, too, am grateful for your thoughts and expertise on this topic! I get discouraged when I think about how many fillings I have (and two root canals!), so I feel there’s not that much hope for me, but I want something better for my children. So, will I benefit from any remineralization even with fillings or is it once a tooth is drilled, remineralization is not at all possible? If a tooth has a filling in one area and a cavity not yet filled on another surface, can that unfilled surface be remineralized or is the tooth compromised?

   3. Thank you, Dianna! I, too, am grateful for your thoughts and expertise on this topic! I get discouraged when I think about how many fillings I have (and two root canals!), so I feel there’s not that much hope for me, but I want something better for my children. So, will I benefit from any remineralization even with fillings or is it once a tooth is drilled, remineralization is not at all possible? If a tooth has a filling in one area and a cavity not yet filled on another surface, can that unfilled surface be remineralized or is the tooth compromised?

      1. No only the surface that has been filled is compromised, so reminerlazation on the untreated surfaces will still make improvements. That being said, remineralzation on any surface even the filled ones would do any harm. I think it would just not penetrate the surface as their is material over it, so no harm is being done. Don’t be discouraged! It is never too late to start improving anything, including oral health (okay if you have full dentures, it might be too late 🙂 but you catch my drift)

         1. ooops! I meant that it would do NO harm on the treated surface!

9. Great post. This is relatively new to me but we have been trying to move to whole foods and no toxins for about a year now. Where can you get things like trace minerals and calcium magnesium powder? Thanks.

   1. Courtney may also want to respond to you, but I did link to the brand of calcium powder that she talks about. As for trace minerals, I know that my MIL buys drops similar to Courtney’s through our health food co-op, Azure Standard, and they are also available at many health/supplement stores. Another options for trace minerals (to add to toothpaste, not to water necessarily) is a clay like Azomite, which is high in trace minerals. We add it to our smoothies, but you could definitely use it in a toothpaste as well.

   2. Yes, Natural Calm is the brand of calcium magnesium powder. I get my trace mineral drops from Cultures for Health. I haven’t thought to look for them at my local co-op. (Thanks for that idea, Stephanie! And for the clay powder.)

10. Thanks Courtney for the great post. I just ordered the book Cure Tooth Decay and I’m going to try & make the toothpaste. I can’t believe I really have all I need to make it on hand!
    I have been buying natural toothpastes for years and making sure they don’t have fluoride. My dentists toothpaste brand is Spry. I just checked and it has vegetable glycerin and Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurite (whatever is that?). It’s sweetened with Zylitol and Stevia, so that’s a good thing.
    I have started oil pulling last month. I will read this book and delay the filling of my two small caries. They are in the exposed roots of teeth near the front of my mouth so I can easily watch what happens to them. The hard part will be giving up sugar. (Hmm, do I eat my stash or give it away??lol ) In the long run I’m sure I will be healthier in many ways. Thank you for the inspiration.

11. Great post. I like to make my own toothpaste too. I also add bentonite clay to my
    mixture. I also heard to use diatomaceous earth. I wish I would have known about remineralizing my teeth LONG ago. I would have saved alot of money in dentist bills.

    1. What’s your recipe? I use calcium bentonite, baking soda, xylitol, stevia, ground spearmint, coconut oil, grapefruit seed extract, propolis, tea tree essential oil, strawberry flavoring and spearmint essential oil in my daughters. Still playing with it though.

12. I have been using homemade toothpaste for quite some time now.

    I use diatomaceous earth, coconut oil and wintergreen essential oil. Wintergreen still gives you that “minty fresh” taste and feel without the bite that some people find too strong. Between oil pulling and my natural paste, my tooth sensitivity is nearly a thing of the past!

    1. What are the ratios? may i have the recipe (amounts)? I have everything but the wintergreen essential oil, I do have other essentials oils

       1. I put 2 T diatamaceous earth and just enough coconut oil to make it a paste. Remember that coconut oil is solid below 70 and a liquid above – since I live in Florida it stays liquid most of the year. I don’t put too much in there, but it is too wet, just add more DE. I probably add 15 or 20 drops of wintergreen – to taste.

          Good luck!

13. I have tried homemade toothpaste similar to this and it was awful! My mouth felt yucky. I didn’t even feel like I had brushed my teeth. If I used it I would have to use mouthwash with it and who knows what all is in it.

    Someone mentioned Spry Toothpaste. I bought some and then looked again at the ingredients. It has sodium benzoate in it! I couldn’t believe it.

14. I use a recipe similar except I don’t use baking soda. It can be to abrasive on your teeth everyday. I use benonite clay powder. It offers a mild abrasive while also drawing out toxin. Including mercury. Doesn’t have the strong flavir either more of a mild earthy flavor. I also had horsetail powder for adding silica.

15. In talking to (LOTS of) people in the natural community (even a dentist who breastfed her own kids and had NO problem with caries) and doing my own research, Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that slows or ceases the production of bacteria in the mouth.

    When the bacteria eat (natural or artificial) sugar found in the mouth, then produce waste product (poop). This “poop” is what eats away at the teeth, because it is acidic, not the bacteria. When you have Xylitol (made from birch NOT corn) in the mouth, since this slows the production of bactieria, there is much less “poop”/waste product eating away at the teeth.

    …at least that’s what I heard 😉

    1. Great explanation! 🙂

16. I’m so glad that you shared on this topic, Courtney. I am currently looking into this and reading through Cure Tooth Decay, along with two of my other close friends. We’ve all had some level of tooth decay and cavities in our families, both with the adults and the children, and we are all eager to halt that decay and prevent anything further. One friend is actually photo documenting the changes that they are making and the progress of her daughter’s cavity, as it (hopefully) begins to heal and fill in by itself. I can’t wait to share that success story in the not so distant future. 🙂

    And we just had a minor success story of our own. Although we don’t use a homemade recipe like what you have done (we currently use a natural store-bought brand w/o fluoride), we are trying to ensure that we get as many of the nutrients necessary to maintain strong tooth/bone health as we can (Vitamins A, D, E and K, as well as minerals like calcium and phosphorus and trace minerals) through eating traditional foods. This fall my daughter had two cavities, one of which we filled and one which we held off on. Over the course of the fall and winter, we kept up with our cod liver oil, lots of pastured butter and butter oil, and we also really upped our raw milk consumption (that was probably the biggest change). We took our daughter back in to the dentist a few weeks ago and what had been a two-surface cavity which should have required drilling had become only a pin-prick, one-surface cavity which didn’t need to be drilled. The dentist said that they must have made a mistake when they initially told us about the cavity, but I don’t think so. 🙂 I think her tooth actually began to remineralize- hooray!

    1. That is super cool, Stephanie. Your oil-pulling post a few weeks (months?) ago was the first time I’d really thought past natural-toothpaste-from-the-store. Now I wanna know more!

       Thanks for this post, Courtney!
       a

    2. What a great success story, Stephanie! And I can’t wait to see and hear about your friend’s experience!

17. Where do you get your xylitol and trace minerals?

18. Do you think this will help with sensitive teeth? I’ve got sensitive teeth, could it be that I need to re-mineralize them?

    1. can say that I did the oil pulling mentioned above with coconut oil and I had one tooth in the front that I could not put anything cold or hot on because it would send pain all through my jaw! The pulling helped tremendously! I am confident that this recipe would as well in time. Be Blessed!

19. In making homemade toothpaste. Just a couple questions Does one get the following ingredients at a Good Food Store, Magnesium/calcium powder, trace minerals, diatamaceous(sp) earth? And is it in bulk or bottle forms? Thanks for any help.

20. Great recipe! I hadn’t thought to add coconut oil. I’ll have to give that a try.

    I won’t, however, use xylitol. It’s highly toxic to dogs, so I won’t allow it in the house in any form in case the dogs get hold of it. I can’t speak to its safety (or possible lack thereof) for humans, but for dogs it’s deadly.

    I’m not a fan of stevia, so I just put up with the salty taste (which I actually don’t mind at all). The DE mentioned in the comments sounds like a great alternative to the salt for those who don’t like saltiness but don’t want to add any kind of sweetener.

    1. Xylitol isn’t safe for dogs because it increases their insulin production. Basically for humans it is the total opposite. it is ok for diabetics because it does not raise blood sugar, so it doesn’t increase their insulin production. Animals don’t always react to things the same way we do. Xylitol is perfectly safe for you to use in your household, just don’t put it where the dogs can get it.

21. We buy a natural toothpaste without flouride, for this busy stage of life it works best best for us, but as soon as I go back to being a SAHM, I am going to try and make this recipe! Thanks for sharing!

    1. I’ve made this in larger batches, too. (Well, older versions of the recipe, that is.) That helps to reduce the time spent on making it. I’m not sure, though, how long it lasts. That would be great to know. If you only have to make it every few months, it’s not too time-consuming. 🙂 That is a major factor to consider, as sometimes it makes more sense to go with store-bought during busy stages.

22. I use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide only. My teeth are whiter and my breath is fresh. No film afterwards, just a clean, fresh palate and teeth.

23. I have all these ingredients at home except for the trace minerals. What exactly is that?

    Thanks!

    Kathy

24. I have read good things about Black Walnut rebuilding teeth. I wonder if you could add the powder or extract to the recipe above?

25. Read your post and love what you say. I recently met Dr. Ellie (drellie.com or zellies.com). I think you’d enjoy an email with her. Much of what you say is what she is trying to help others with but she might have some input about the baking soda specifically.

26. I had a small cavity that couldn’t be filled when I was pregnant. A few months after the birth, I went back to have it filled. In the meantime, I had started eating a diet based on Nourishing Traditions and I had started using homemade toothpaste (basically consisting of coconut oil and baking soda). The dentist went to check for the cavity and said it had remineralized. I had no idea such a thing was possible. He, of course, said we should go ahead and drill it anyway. If I knew then what I discovered later, I would’ve told him no. So, proper diet and homemade toothpaste really does remineralize teeth! I also have less sensitivity along the gumline (where I had brushed my gums back), even though it’s been months since I used a commerical sensitive toothpaste.

27. As a Registered Dental Hygienist I’m always looking for evidenced based research supporting Natural and homeopathic ways to maintain oral health. Xylitol is an excellent, naturally occuring sugar alcohol that actually kills cavity causing bacteria…they are more attracted to xylitol than sugar itself. As for remineralization of teeth I’m still in favor of Fluoride…it is important to do adequate research and understand the microbiology in which it works, and what forms are considered “dangerous”. Remember Fluoride is naturally occuring in our bodies, ….it’s important it is used correctly and to understand different ways it is utilized, and also the different forms. You can never go wrong educating yourself to make the right dental decisions even if it means no fluoride for you.

28. As a dental hygienist for 28 years. I was really interested to read your post (and very intrigued by the oil pulling –of which I had never heard). I have been recommending plain baking soda to my patients for many years and always emphasize that it contains no artificial ingredients or carcinogens! People may have been led to believe that baking soda is to harsh to use daily; however, a recent study in one of my professional publications showed that, on average, most popular toothpastes are approx. 7x more abrasive than baking soda! (no wonder so many people have sensitive teeth!) Years ago, in the 80’s I worked for 2 different dentists, one in Chicago and one in the suburbs, who recommended a paste of baking soda, peroxide and water. I do need to mention that if peroxide is used orally, it should be diluted with equal parts of water to prevent a condition known as black hairy tongue in which certain papilla on the tongue turn dark and become upraised. Since baking soda is such a pH neutralizer, and acids are the culprit in eating away at enamel and causing redness of the gums, this make perfect scientific sense. Also, the addition of Xylitol is excellent! The benefits have been well-described here. As a sidenote, I became more aware of the ingredients of popular toothpastes when I had a physician/relative in a third world country making her children swallow their toohpaste for the fluoride content and I couldn’t get her to stop! Thank you for bringing light to this topic!

    1. Wow, a doc making children swallow toothpaste. All toothpastes that I have ever seen say to call Poison Control if swallowed as it is poisonous.

29. I have been a dental hygienist for 17 years. When I saw the above article I just had to say a few of things . . . First of all, you do not need to use toothpaste for brushing. The point of brushing is to remove plaque from the teeth. (The bacteria in plaque produce acid which “eats away” at the enamel, demineralizing it and eventually causing a cavity.) Plaque is removed through mechanical means, i.e. something needs to rub the plaque off the teeth. This is usually done with toothbrush and floss. The keys are to use the proper brushing and flossing methods, to spend adequate time brushing and flossing, and to brush and floss regularly. Most of the plaque on the teeth is found right next to your gums and in between the teeth. I would advise everyone NOT to use baking soda for brushing. It’s too abrasive. Remember, you’re cleaning living biological tissue, not pots and pans! Brush in small circular massaging motion using a soft (not extra soft) toothbrush. Gentle and thorough are the words to describe effective tooth brushing. Regarding fluoride: it is one of the best things to remineralize tooth surfaces that are demineralized. But it must be used in the proper dosage and concentration. (BTW, some well water has naturally occurring fluoride in it. If you have young children and drink well water, you should get it tested to see how much fluoride is in it. If there is too much, it could cause staining in your children’s permanent teeth that are forming. This is called fluorosis.)

30. My dentist will ask questions about our oral care and his comment it– whatever you are doing keep doing because their teeth look great!! 🙂 I am going to try weed in this homemade paste and am very interested in the diet that supports healthy teeth.

31. Just brush with some xylitol mixed with some natural mint flavoring/water of choice. Dip your toothbrush in that mixture, and go for it. You really don’t need all the abrasiveness or foaming to make toothpaste work well. In fact, brushing with baking soda regularly is so abrasive and can cause more gum recession, making your a higher caries risk. Regular rinsing with hydrogen peroxide often increases many people’s sensitivity. Xylitol studies have been very promising in its abilitly prevent and arrest caries. But like the dental assistant said, if the decay is there, it needs to be restored. And in response to whether would get any benefit from remineralization with all your fillings…definitely! You still have natural tooth structure around those fillings and crowns that could decay. Prevention also lies heavily in monitoring habits such as sugar (both commerical and natural, such as fruits and juices), acidic foods (fruits, sodas, coffee).
    And of course flossing…the best of everything doesn’t get where your floss can 😉

32. I’ve read that repeated use of baking soda can wear away tooth enamel. Is this not a concern? Thanks for the great post!

33. This is such an important topic and I am so glad that this has been posted to Keeper of the Home. Like some of the other individuals who have responded, I have concerns about traditional toothpastes and prefer natural remedies for oral care. I was a dental hygienist for 19 years and I have seen the good, bad and ugly of dental care! I agree with most of what has been said except for two things…
    (1) please, please, please reconsider rinsing with hydrogen peroxide, full strength, on a daily basis. I noticed it mentioned in the original post. The reason I say this is this…peroxide kills bacteria, which is good, but it can kill your beneficial bacteria as well. A healthy mouth is an ecosystem of beneficial bacteria that aid in digestion (among other things) and rinsing with peroxide can destroy them. Also, rinsing with peroxide can lead to excessive sloughing of the tissues which leads to all kinds of other problems. Peroxide should only be used full strength for an acute infection…not long term.
    (2) I disagree with the comment on dentistry not being focused on prevention. If I had a nickel for every time I discussed oral hygiene practices with my patients, as well as nutrition changes they can make, I would have retired years ago! Maybe other people havent had that experience with their dental office, but most offices I worked in, prevention was the most important conversation.
    But, in light of these posts, I want to share that there is an emerging profession in dentistry called “Holistic Dental Hygienist” which is a profession that focuses mainly on nutrition and healthy living…relating the oral environment to many systemic conditions.
    Just my two bits…

34. Treatment does become necessary at times for some patients, but as a dental hygienist, my main focus is prevention!

    I commonly recommend xylitol products to my patients, specifically young children. We’re not born with the bacteria (s. mutans) that causes decay. It’s passed to us by family, most often mothers by kissing, sharing utensils, etc. If this bacteria can be kept from colonizing, much lower rates of decay occur. Basically the bacteria can’t digest the xylitol the way they do simple sugar, so they produce less acidic waste, multiply less and really are just not able to thrive.

    Spry is my favorite brand for xylitol. I recommend parents start chewing the gum before baby is even born. Less bacterial load in their mouths means less chance for transmission. Spry also makes a kids tooth gel that I have used (and still use) for my children and recommend to all my patients.

35. I don’t understand the concept of xyiltol as a natural or safe ingredient; xylitol is highly poisonous to dogs. It can’t be good for us!

    1. There are many foods not good for dogs that are good for us. Right? Like chocolate.

       1. Xylitol isn’t safe for dogs because it increase their insulin production. Basically for humans it is the total opposite seeing as it is ok for diabetics because it does not raise blood sugar. Animals don’t always react to things the same way we do.

    2. Chocolate is poisonous to dogs too but we still eat it.

    3. Sugar and chocolate is not recommended for dogs either.
       Xylitol is a natural sweetener and can be found in lots of fruits eg. raspberry.
       It’s also proven that helps to prevent decay.

    4. Elaine, I agree with you. Xylitol may exist in nature, but that doesn’t guarantee that it’s “natural” — isn’t it chemically separated? Remember, the use of “natural” in product marketing/labeling doesn’t really mean anything…

       I listened to a presentation the other day by David Getoff and he claims stevia is the best sweetener, but it must be processed by water extraction. He mentioned Sweet Leaf and Stevita as the two brands that use water extraction. David also mentioned a lot of xylitol comes from GMO corn, so that’s another thing to keep in mind. I haven’t had a chance to do much further research yet, but based on what I have found I’m leaning towards sweetening my toothpaste with stevia.

       1. Now brand xylitol is derrived from the inside of corn cobs and it is labeled natural and GMO free. You have to pay attention to the way something is labeled.. It may say natural, but that doesn’t mean it’s not derrived from a GMO source. Unless a package says directly natural, organic and GMO free I don’t touch it. However I used this brand and it’s perfectly safe. However I did hear that the best type of xylitol is those derrived from birch. Haven’t been able to find that in sores anywhere so ou may have to search online.

36. Hi. I’ve heard bicarb soda is no good on the teeth in the long term. I’ve heard it whitens teeth due to its abrasiveness taking a tiny layer off the teeth ( a bit like polishing a car). Do you know anything about this?

    Thanks. So so interesting.

    1. bicarb is less abrasive than what’s in the average toothpaste.

37. Great post here! If we may be so bold, we suggest that rather than adding only peppermint oil, perhaps add both cooling oils (mint family) and warming oils to balance the effect on the body. Otherwise, only using cooling oils may imbalance the system with long term use.

    For example, peppermint is known to aggravate gerf, what is called acid reflux. This is because peppermint relaxes the esophagial sphincter and allows stomach acid to back up into the esophagus.

    We have all sorts of helpful, free video tutorials, articles and downloads at our site OraWellness.com. We welcome anyone to come take a look. We help folks navigate to greater oral health using organic and time tested tools.

    Holler with any questions. We’re here to help.

38. This is really helpful! I’ve been using homemade coconut oil based tooth soap for almost a year now, and my mouth and teeth feel so great, I’ll never go back!

    Here’s a link to my recipe, it’s a little simpler (although probably not as beneficial. You really just need coconut oil and castile soap, although you could add the other ingredients to make it taste better.

    1. Where’s the link? 😉

39. what in the world is this oil pulling you speak of? I must go follow the link and read up! I have horrible teeth, the dentist said something about the ph of my saliva being high or something. I would love to strengthen my teeth! 🙂

40. Wonderful article. We highly recommend making your own tooth paste or buying all natural as well.

41. Hello, I can’t wait to try this recipe. I have a comment on fluoride that I want to share. We thought our son (now 6) was allergic to egg. I had stopped all fluoride (for other reasons like it is a toxic chemical) and a while later noticed that his eczema was gone. So intuition led me to give him egg (because his “allergy” was NOT life-threatening – just the eczema) and he had no reaction at all.

    If I had used products/drugs to treat the symptom of eczema, I might never had made this connection. In hopes this might help another parent/child(ren).

    Tracy

    1. Thank you for sharing, Tracy! I wonder how many others have this reaction and blame other things, or just suffer.

42. Although I am aware of coconut oil’s antimicrobial effects and why that would be beneficial in a toothpaste, I am curious as to why glycerin (which is water-soluble) would be considered detrimental in a toothpaste due to filming on the teeth preventing remineralization but coconut oil (which is NOT water-soluble) would not also prevent remineralization by forming a barrier.

43. Thank you for this information! As someone with Celiac who was undiagnosed for years, I had a lot of damage done to my teeth, they are very sensitive to cold & hot foods, and seems they are yellow no matter what I do. I still use Crest, but have been looking into natural options recently! Thank you!

    1. How does Celiac affect dental health?

44. I find this fascinating, I have been steering clear of regular toothpaste for about a year now. I am using Tooth Soap (www.toothsoap.com) The ingredients are organic EVOO, organic coconut oil, spring water and essential oils. It is a little pricey (right now they are having buy one get one free) but it seems to last a long time.

45. Why do most dentist’s say not to use baking soda on your teeth? I always thought it was too abrasive and damages the enamel. Any more accurate info you could share on that topic? ( or maybe I should read the other comments before I comment to make sure this hasn’t already been discussed.)

46. Thanks sooo much for this article. Dental care is of huge importance in my home. From what I understand Xylitol is great for your teeth. I just have a couple question or concerns though…you didn’t mention what type of container you store this in or how you dispense it without contaminating your storage container with germs and you didn’t mention how long this can be stored without worrying about it going bad or how long it will last approximately depending on usage. Still, love the article and thanks soo much again.

47. Having two amalgam fillings-I have been advised against using peroxide in my mouth.

48. ok, I still like the idea but….. went and spent a but load of money to get the ingredients for this. After tasting it I started to wonder how 2 Tbl of xylitol could possibly counteract 2 Tbl of Baking Soda (sodium), 2 Tbl of the Calsium Madnesium powder (way bitter or salty, I can’t tell anymore) as well as the 2 tsp of salt. I have no idea how I would ever get my kids to use this when I can’t even use it. It almost sizzled on my toungue and about turned my face inside out. Any solutions from anyone who’s tried this???

    1. It’s stevia that counteracts the saltiness because it’s a natural sweetener. Do you use it in your toothpaste?

49. Hi Stephanie

    Love this post. I’m going to syndicate to my site, if thats ok with you!
    Thanks for your time and effort
    Shelley 🙂

50. I can’t recall how long I’ve been using a similar toothpaste recipe as the one you share, but about a year. I notice that my teeth feel clean longer with the coconut oil based brushing. I have mineral drops and am going to add them to the next batch, thanks for sharing!

51. Wow! Awesome article. Thank you so much, Courtney and Stephanie! And great commentary by everyone else, too. Very helpful. I saw one note with my same question but wasn’t certain about the answer… Where online is the best place to purchase the ingredients listed? Thanks!

52. I really want to try this. I have most of it except for the calcium magnesium powder and stevia. Is the stevia for taste?

53. Very interesting! I would add a word of caution on xylitol – it is deadly to dogs & cats, so if you have pets use extreme caution with it. Many “sugarless” candy and gum have killed pets because of this.

54. I recently made a tooth soap that uses coconut oil, Dr. Bronner’s pure-castille soap (peppermint), stevia and peppermint essential oil… simple to make and I love the way it makes my teeth feel! No more store bought toothpaste for us!!!

    1. Hi Leslie, would you mind sharing your recipe?

    2. Lesley, I would like to know your recipe, too:) Thanks!

55. I am a dental hygienist and fully believe in prevention. I found your article to be full of great information. I am very happy with the research so far on xylitol and I’m glad that you approve of it for your home routine. However, I personally believe that for some people fluoride is very beneficial and is not harmful IN THE RECOMMENDED doses as prescribed by dentists and/or allowed in drinking water. I hope that this home remedy works for you. I will be continuing to recommend Colgate or Crest toothpaste and flossing frequently, good eating habits, and regular dental check ups that include dental x-rays, periodontal probing and exams by my excellent dentist.

56. Is there an alternative to the coconut oil? I would love to try this but my husband is allergic to all things coconut 🙁

57. Do you think I could use liquid Stevia in place of the powder?

    1. I think you can use both. xylitol is really good at killing the bad bacteria in our mouths. Its found in gums and mouthwash. My dentist highly recommends it.

    2. Yup you can. I do.

58. what are trace minerals? thank you for the recipe.

59. Sounds good except 20 drops of essential oil, especially peppermint, is way too much. Peppermint is meant to be used in a much lower dilution or it can have negative effects, especially if swallowed. If you only need one drop in a whole bath to feel it’s effects, you certainly don’t need 20 drops in a toothpaste. Other than that, making your own toothpaste is a great idea! 🙂

60. Here’s an article, written by the same man who wrote that book you have linked to (Ramiel Nagel), about the questionable safety of xylitol.

    http://www.naturalnews.com/022986_xylitol_health_sugar.html

61. i also make my own toothpaste with coconut oil, Dr. Bronners (peppermint flavor) and baking soda. Where do you find the calcium magnesium powder and the trace minerals?

62. Like Lesley, we use Dr. Bronner’s because we really like to have the bubbles or foaming to feel like it is tooth paste. But I may try adding Courtney’s added ingredients for the reasons she has given. We have not used toothpaste in several years but have not liked those healthier ones that do not bubble up.

    1. The reason Dr. Bronner’s causes it to bubble up is there is glycerin in Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap. So only use it if you are not concerned about having glycerin in your toothpaste. I read on another blog that it takes 21 toothbrushings to completely remove the glycerin film from your teeth. That would mean a week and a half of brushing twice a day before you would reap the benefits of not having the glycerin in your toothpaste. 🙂

       1. Wait, wait…. I got my product ingredient list wrong… Dr. Bronner’s doesn’t have glycerin. Gee whiz. LOL!

          1. Yes it does, here is the ingredient list for Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castille Liquid Soap Peppermint: Ingredients: Water, saponified organic coconut & organic olive oils (w/ retained glycerin), organic hemp oil, organic jojoba oil, organic peppermint oil, mentha arvensis extract, citric acid and vitamin E.

63. Great article! I also love doing my own tooth paste. I use white clay (it has lot of minerals and the texture is perfect), sea salt (whitening), thyme, mint and a few other ingredients, but I’m gonna try your recipe next time.
    Thanks!

64. This is a wonderful article. And I will definitely be trying it soon. Only one thing…if you have a corn allergy, watch out for xylitol. Some of the makers in the U.S. extract it from corn.

65. As a Dentist, the information on this sight (is ok…) but is not entirely true. Fluoride, the form that is in toothpaste, is NOT toxic when used correctly (ie: not eating tubes of it for dinner). It is actually the Fluoride particle that gets integrated into the Hydroxyapatite crystaline structure of your enamel. This allows the crystal to be stronger, and less susceptible to the acid challenges your teeth face every time you eat or drink; thereby allowing your teeth to become more resistant to decay. Using fluoridated toothpaste and mouth rinse are two of the best things you can do to help protect your teeth. This is especially important for children who are still developing their teeth. Having the fluoride integrated into their enamel from a very young age can help protect the teeth from a lifetime of decay.

    1. Dear Dentist,

       I must strongly disagree with you on the use of fluoride. As a young child I was given fluoride tablets and was always taken to the dentist on a regular schedule for cleanings, which included fluoride rinses. In addition, I was fed very nutritious meals and religiously brushed and flossed every day. Needless to say none of that mattered for me or my teeth. In my almost 40 years of life I am now left with 13 crowns, 9 root canals and teeth that continue to decay. In fact, the fluorosis on my teeth at this stage from the over abundance of fluoride that has been given to me since I was a young child and the addition of it in drinking water has left me with huge holes in my remaining teeth. I would challenge you and every single dentist and the ADA to show me the actual studies that have been done which show fluoride to be of benefit. I truly believe that it is so much more than simply throwing fluoride at the issue and look forward to the day when the dental community takes into consideration a person’s pH levels of their body/mouth in addition to identifying other issues such as long-term effects of teeth grinding and misalignment of the jaw.

       I do hope that you and others have taken a moment to read my comment and that you take it into consideration in your practice and spend some time researching the other side of fluoride.
       Sincerely, Diane E.

       1. I don’t have many problems with my teeth, but I’d have to say that I agree with Diane. The U.S. puts fluoride in the water supply using claims that it helps your teeth, but here in Europe, they’ve banned the use of it in water. It’s still in the toothpaste though, but now that I’ve found this site, I don’t have to worry about that anymore.

          1. I’m 20 years old and my mom has always bought FLUORIDE FREE toothpaste for me and my younger brother, she has never allowed a dentist to give us fluoride treatments, nor have we consumed it in our drinking water (filters), i have NEVER HAD ONE cavity in my whole life 🙂 thank you mom for being smart and not just following orders from dentists that just want your money haha

             1. Kudos to your mom, Katie! However, I would like to point out to readers that filters like Brita and Pur do not remove fluoride. Removing fluoride requires distillation, reverse osmosis, or activated alumina filters.

                Here in Canada, fluoride content is listed on bottled water. It would be nice if the US would list the fluoride content, as it varies widely from brand to brand. I was surprised to see that it is in Aquafina, which is Pepsi’s purified water. All major beverage companies purify their water for the simple reason of product consistency. This would mean it is safe to assume that any Pepsi product likely contains fluoride. You may not drink their sodas, but Pepsi makes lots of other non-carbonated drinks. Dasani has no fluoride. Dasani is Coca-cola’s purified water. I’m not making any endorsement, I just like knowing what to buy when I’m away from home.

             2. You can buy a fluoride filter to add to the Berkey system. All in our family drink more water now that we have a Berkey water purifier system. We use to have a PUR faucet mount and can tell our water tastes better. My children have commented that drinking fountains no longer taste good. My husband noticed that bottled water (when at work) no longer tasted good. Here is where we bought our Berkey, great customer service we’ve ordered additional items from them, as well, http://www.morethanalive.com/?a_aid=837c265b (this is my referral link)

             3. WOW! I didn’t know that!! Pepsi’s Auquafina has fluoride. You are probably right that all of their products contain water that is fluoridated. That sucks. And thanks for informing everyone that those filters do not remove fluoride. I am wondering if anyone knows of any on faucet or fridge pitchers that do…

66. I agree with Dr. Richards. As a dental hygienist, I am always recommending fluoride to my patients, whether it be children who have new erupting teeth or adults with demineralized enamel from pop consumption or what have you. Fluoride is NOT toxic unless like Dr. Richards said, you plan on eating tubes of toothpaste for dinner. You are misleading people with your information. I suggest you leave the dental education up to the professionals.

    1. But floride does take the place of calcium in our teeth and it is a more brittle chemical bond than calcium so teeth are more fragile.

67. Would this be useful not only for tooth remineralization but also for remineralization of the bone itself?

68. what’s the shelf life of this toothpaste mix?

69. I was wondering how important the coconut oil ingredient was in making the toothpaste? My neighbor has to buy expensive special toothpaste because she is allergic to Sodium Laurel Sulfate and coconut oil.
    Thanks for you time
    shannon

    1. I’m not sure whether the coconut oil is crucial as far as the toothpaste being effective (although it does contribute some helpful atributes, like being anti-bacterial), but you would need something to help make it into a paste. I bet Courtney (who wrote this post) would have a suggestion, but she just had a baby a couple days ago, so she probably won’t be checking in any time soon. 🙂

       Does anyone else have an idea for a coconut oil alternative?

       1. I would say just don’t use it. A tooth powder works just as well as a tooth paste. I dip my toothbrush in a capful of hydrogen peroxide, then dip it in my little bowl of baking soda and peppermint oil. Adding xylitol or stevia would alleviate the salty taste, but I don’t mind it and since peppermint oil is so strong, my mouth just ends up feeling minty, not salty. I also only use this powder every other day, and brush with a dry toothbrush between. I have read that baking soda is too abrasive to use every day.

       2. You don’t need to bother with making it a paste. I make my own as a tooth powder and it works great! I use baking soda, real sea salt, and essential oils that I combine in a small ball jar and keep on my counter – it lasts for about a month. I just dip my wet tooth brush into the powder and brush away.

       3. If you can’t use coconut oil, maybe just another ‘carrier’ oil. You typically need a carrier oil to dilute essential oils…coconut oil is just a common one.

       4. how about extra vigin olive oil, first press it should act like a carrier

70. So, I’m all types of jazzed to start making my own toothpaste (thank you for this great post) and I zipped over to Amazon to order what I would need. I read that Calcium Magnesium can aggravate the bowels and cause loose stool. Has anyone experienced that? I have two family members with IBS and I want to be sure before making the switch. I don’t want my new toothpaste to hurt them. 🙁

    1. Magnesium can act as a mild laxative. In doses as small as this (spread out over many servings) it shouldn’t be an issue. You can look up Natural Calm on-line to find out more of the details or check it out at the local health food store to read the labels. This a link to the site and they do have a number to call with questions. http://www.calmnatural.com/naturalcalm

71. I have a ? for those who are dentists posting to this. If you say fluoride is ok if you are not eating it for dinner, then why do dentists tell you to drink it in your water?

    1. Fluoride in drinking water is at a concentration around 0.7 parts per million. Fluoride in toothpaste is closer to 1500 ppm, with prescription toothpastes at a much higher concentration upwards of 10,000 ppm.
       Toothpaste is meant to be used topically, not ingested. The higher concentration of fluoride in toothpaste is why you should not enjoy tubes of toothpaste for dinner, as well as the reason why parents should always supervise their children when brushing with fluoridated pastes.

72. I will definitely be trying to make this toothpaste. I noticed that someone on here recommended mouth rinse – I believe this is not very good for mouth flora as it just wipes everything out. We actually are meant to have all sorts of bacteria in our mouths, it’s really our teeth/and immune system that need to be stronger to prevent decay.
    Do you by any chance know how to rub off dark stains from teeth? My 2 year old has them on 3 of his front teeth – caused by antibiotics when he was 6 weeks.

    1. This will not go away, his teeth are just stained, from the inside. The adult teeth should come in normal. You could choose to have covered with a compoite material for short term.

    2. I believe that “Concerned” was correct in their answer and that your 2 year old’s teeth are stained from the inside due to the antibiotics but the adult teeth should not be affected with the same staining.

73. Thanks for this recipe. I just made this and it was a bit too salty and abrasive, so next time I will leave the salt out. I think the salt+baking soda together is overkill. This would probaby be excellent with diatomaceous earth instead of the baking soda and salt, too. I added 1 tbsp of peppermint Dr Bronners for extra cleaning and ground some of my calcium magnesium supplements in the coffee grinder since I already had them handy. My teeth feel very clean with just a hint of mint flavor, not the harsh medicinal taste you get with conventional toothpaste. I got the ingredients from Vitacost, for those that asked. Get $10 off of your first order:

74. Oops, forgot the link! This is for $10 off your purchase at Vitacost http://www.vitacost.com/Referee?wlsrc=rsReferral&ReferralCode=90293941
    Don’t mean to spam or anything, just want to share the love! :))

75. I’ve been making my own tooth powder for about 5 years now, and I don’t ever see myself going back to a store bought brand. I love how clean my teeth look and feel. I’ve had way less cavities than I used to when I used conventional tooth paste. I stick with baking soda, real sea salt, and essential oils. I have at times used just baking soda when I run out of my own concoction, but I do not recommend this for too long as I found it did not truly clean my teeth and they started to develop yellow and brown stains which vanished within three days of going back to my typical mix.

76. Hi!
    I made this mix without the xylitol or green stevia powder. I used;
    Calm brand mag/calcium, no flavor added
    Tropical Traditions Gold Label coconut oil
    Redmond Real Salt Ancient All Natural Sea Salt
    ConcenTrace Trace Mineral Drops
    365 brand Baking Soda
    AuraCacia Peppermint essential oil.
    All these things I have on hand. After mixing, the mixture was white. After the course of a week, the mixture has been getting darker. First a light tan, then dark tan, and now bordering on light brown. The mix doesn’t stink or taste strange. I keep it in a clean small glass jar with a lid.
    Has this happened with anyone else? Is it cause for concern?
    Thanks!

    1. How are you getting it out to use it when brushing?

77. Just made this and tried it out…it’s so great! I have experimented with several different toothpaste recipes and like this one best, not only for flavor but because the ingredients both clean and strengthen teeth (most just clean). Love the inclusion of trace minerals and calcium/magnesium. I used 10 drops peppermint and 10 drops sweet orange since straight up peppermint is a little strong for me. It was great! Thanks, love your blog post too!

78. I will definitely be looking into the remineralization.

79. Hi! I recently was told by my dentist that I ‘almost’ have a cavity. I’m almost 30 yrs old and have never had one…. He said it looks like a cavity but doesn’t feel like one. He went on to say that if it doesn’t hurt or bother me, I wouldn’t need to anything. That’s what lead me to researching remineralization. I’ve come to think that maybe I did have one starting, and it began to remineralize it self, and was healing when he saw it. I love this post, because it basically confirms that that may be possible.

    I do have a question about the coconut oil though… I use it for my kids hair, but when I do, I have to warm it from a solid to an oil. How does it work in ths process? It’s solid if I don’t warm it, but I don’t see that mixing well with the powders. I haven’t looked through all the comments, but are there instructions on preparation for this recipe? The solidd form of the coconut oil doesn’t seem to ‘powder’ at all to mix with the rest. What am I doing wrong?

    Thanks!!

    1. Coconut oil freezes in cold countries.But does not loose its properties.Applying to the hair,as it is in countries like India,they use coconut oil for hair,daily….before applying they warm it ,and rub it to the roots so that roots get the benefit .

80. I just made this last night and I love it, but two questions – what do you store it in (right now I have it in one of my small pampered chef bowls) and how do you get it out? LOL It was wonderful last night, but this morning when I went to use it, the coconut oil had re-solidified and I had the hardest time getting any on my toothbrush… Any thoughts? Also, I didn’t have the trace minerals – what are those and where can I get them?

    1. Try whipping it together with a hand mixer, that may keep the coconut oil from re-hardening.

81. Sounds good, except the essential oils, which are endocrine/thyroid disruptors. You might go with a peppermint tincture or extract, which is not harmful. All “minty” tasting processed food generally has essential oils, including Tom’s and other natural toothpastes. You can also use a simple herb, called Yarrow, in tincture form, for teeth-brushing. it’s a common weed, so you can make your own. I use 100 proof vodka, because it tastes better than grain alcohol, which is what most commercial extracts/tinctures are made from. My Mom used it when she had her teeth pulled to make dentures, and her wounds healed within a couple of days. Yarrow is also a great wound healer.

    Green Blessings!

    1. Cedar Cat, please be more specific. We’re all here to share our knowledge with each other, and while I don’t doubt that was your intent, it’s hard to accept your comment about essential oils being endocrine/thyroid disruptors since you don’t provide any details or references. I wasn’t able to quickly find information online regarding essential oils as endocrine disruptors, except for one study which only involved three boys. I found the following link to be helpful: http://www.thesmartmama.com/ii-50/

       Essential oils can have medicinal properties so it’s always a good idea to do your research and consult with a professional if you have any concerns. I’ll be checking with my clinical herbalist before deciding how to flavor my homemade toothpaste.

82. Hi,

    I bought my ingredients from Amazon.com. I did find the toothpaste to be salty tasting even with the 20 drops of peppermint essential oil, but my teeth haven’t felt this clean in a while! 🙂

83. Be cautious with the xylitol. If it comes from China, it is made with gmo or a synthetic. You want pure birch bark xylitol. Here is a site I found when I googled. There are other’s so do your homework. http://store.xylitolusa.com/5lb-xylitol-bag-north-american-birch/

84. Great post!
    @CedarCat thanks for the tip about the essential oils. Never heard that before. I’m going to definitely look into that and try your suggestion. Greener and natural is definitely the way to go.
    Thanks!

85. If you have a problem with coconut is it processed coconut products or raw coconut? I recently looked at a bag of coconut flakes and some of the ingredients are: propylene glycol (preserves freshness) and Sodium Metabisulfite (preserves whiteness). You may in fact be having a reaction to these types of preservatives rather than the actual coconut…

86. I love the idea of making my own. I just ordered all the stuff I need, but for you guys who are gluten free look up Ener-G baking soda substitute. It also lets you omit the calcium and magnesium because it’s in that soda already, thus makes it a tad cheaper. I’m also using Dr Bronners hemp/peppermint instead of the peppermint oil. Hemp has a lot of amazing properties.

87. Also just to add to my last post. I have lived in many different countries and I feel going to the dentist as much as we do and having them poke with that thing, creates crevasses that get cavities. In fact, I actually had a dentist from another country tell me that. I don’t feel fluoride is necessary either.

    1. That “thing” is called an explorer and it CANNOT create crevices. Enamel is the hardest material found in the human body, it is harder than bone. A thin, flexible, metal point the size of 1/5 of a millimeter in diameter will not and cannot create a crevice in a tooth. If the enamel is weak to begin with, has become demineralized due to decay, then it can break through the weakened areas of enamel.

88. About fluoride: the cavity studies were done on water which had naturally occurring fluoride in it. The fluoride they put in water & dental products is a different fluoride compound which is a byproduct of the aluminum industry. Follow the Money trail. The aluminum industry petitioned to have it put in municipal water supplies so they didn’t have to pay to get rid of it as a toxic waste. It is a major brain toxin now also put in SSRI antidepressants. Hitler used it to make prisoners more susceptible to mind control. It leaches calcium out of our bones and along with soda consumption is a major contributor to osteoporosis!

    1. You’re absolutely correct.

       Many areas across the U.S.A and Canada have aimed, and have been successful at having this toxic waste material removed from the water supplies.

       Though, 100% removal overnight has clearly been out of the question. But we’re pushing back hard.

       In Canada, there is the COF-COF (Canadians Opposing Fluoridation). In the U.S. I’ve heard Laura Presley down in Texas was taking initiative.

       Good luck in the endeavor of sharing truth 🙂

89. Thanks for the great recipe. I prefer not to use products containing flouride. I think a person could get fluoride overload from it being in the water, brushing our teeth with flouride toothpaste and a lot of the mouth rinses contain fluoride too. I question how much is too much? I think we get enough from the water jmho. I am almost out of toms of maine toothpaste and am looking for an alternative.

90. My husband has always had trouble with his teeth, since he was little. His mother told him he just had bad teeth, but never inforced brushing. So, now his teeth are really bad. They will just crumble and fall out. He doesn’t brush regularly because he says it hurts and his gums usually bleed.
    I have tried telling him maybe if he suffered through the pain for a month or so it would start improving. (Not sure if its true)
    Suggestions, tips, advice?

    1. That does sound like an oral hygiene problem to some degree, but it also sounds deeper than that. Tooth decay is more a result of nutrition and overall health than it is of tooth care, from all the reading I’ve done. I would highly recommend the book Cure Tooth Decay as a place to start! A remineralizing toothpaste (like this, or the other recipe that I linked to at the top of the post) would be helpful, of course. I believe that his gums bleed (as mine do when I floss, because they’re so tightly spaced together and hurt to floss, so I avoid it and then they bleed). Just get the softest brush you can, have him try doing it for a short period of time each day, gradually working up to brushing longer and then twice a day, etc. until he can handle it with little to no pain. The gums just need to be gradually toughened up, but also, the nutritional suggestions in Cure Tooth Decay will make a big difference in gum health as well.

       1. Hi Stephanie,

          I have been reading through some of these comments and came across this particular one about flossing, among others. I am a Registered Dental Hygienist and just thought I’d share some knowledge.

          When it comes to flossing, or the lack thereof, the reason the gums bleed is because the plaque bacteria is not being removed from in between the teeth. No matter how healthy your gums are, when it is left there for long periods of time, it irritates the tissues and the body recognizes it as an infection. Your body then sends white blood cells (infection fighting cells) to the source of bacteria to try to fight it. Therefore, you have more blood to the tissues, more swelling and inflammation, and more tenderness. It’s your body’s way of telling you there is an infection! Unfortunately, the plaque bacteria is pretty resistant and the best way to get rid of it is to physically removed it ie. brushing it off or flossing it out. I know it hurts to floss at first, but healthy gums do not bleed. It’s like a sliver, it hurts when trying to get it out, but removing it is the only way for it to heal. The more you floss, the less your gums bleed and the healthier they are. The body is pretty amazing at trying to fend for itself. If the plaque is still not removed, the tissue is broken down, a pocket is formed where plaque can collect and escape from the toothbrush bristles and the infection spreads to the underlying bone that anchors the teeth into the jaw. This is called periodontal disease or gum disease. Most people aren’t aware of this and it is far more common than you would think.

          If you feel that your teeth are too tight to floss, might I suggest Oral-B’s Glide Floss and wrapping the flossing tightly around the tooth as your slide it through the contact. Snapping the floss only damages the tissues more. I have yet to find a patient whose teeth I have not been able to floss because they were tight. It’s all about technique and sometimes a little patience.

          One thing some people seem to forget or do not understand, is that no matter how strong your teeth are (meaning-no cavities), if you don’t have healthy gums and bone to support your teeth (which anchor and hold your teeth in place), you are in trouble! We sometimes joke with the saying “only floss the teeth you want to keep,” but there is a lot of truth in that. In severe cases of gum disease, people literally lose their teeth.

          You are spot on with brushing with an extra soft toothbrush though. We never recommend using any bristle harder than soft because it can cause recession and root sensitivity. An electric toothbrush like a Philips Sonicare is fantastic for plaque removal on the outermost surfaces of the teeth. Remember that if you are only brushing alone, you are only cleaning about 60% of the tooth surfaces in your mouth. The other 40% need to be cleaned in between the teeth with floss or an small brush that is designed to fit into this tight space (called a proxibrush).

          You are also correct in how big of a role nutrition plays in tissue health. It helps with elasticity and tissue strength. However, you cannot rely on nutrition alone. Good home care practice is the most important aspect-period, with nutrition close behind that. All dental problems (cavities, periodontal disease) are caused by plaque bacteria.

          In order to understand the process of remineralization, you have to understand its opposite-demineralization. A cavity forms through the process of demineralization. Plaque biofilm forms on your teeth as soon as it is brushed off (which is why we recommend brushing 2-3 x day, it’s just the nature of the germ). Plaque is called an acidogenic bacteria-meaning that when it mixes with sugars from our diet (even healthy sugars from natural sources), it produces an acid, which lowers the pH of the saliva, and dissolves the mineral structure of the enamel. This is how a cavity is started/formed and why we advise against such sugary foods and treats. True, when a cavity is small-it can be remineralized and the structure can become strong again. This is what we want! Fluoride is one of the best resources for remineralization as it reacts with the partially dissolved enamel and attracts calcium and phosphate ions in the saliva to the demineralized enamel. This enhances new mineral deposition and crystallite re-growth. I promise, it is not toxic. People have been using it for years and are just fine. I have seen first hand what can happen when there is no fluoride exposure. But as with anything, it must be used correctly, in the right concentration. You can die from water intoxication for pete’s sake! Water!

          As a hygienist, it is my job to educate, educate, educate about prevention. That is what I’m most passionate about. That’s what I spent the majority of my whole 4 years of training on. However, most people don’t care what I have to say or get most of their information from unreliable sources. It’s unfortunate really. And I echo what others have said, not all dentists are in their profession for the money. We really do care about the health of others. Your oral health is so important to your overall health (which is a completely different, but related topic). It’s extremely unfortunate that there are some dentists out there that are crooks and make the whole profession look bad. If you are going to a dentist that you feel is cheating you, find someone else. A good dentist and/or hygienist will explain everything and answer all questions. It’s called good ethics and every single licensed dental professional has had to take courses on that subject alone.

          I hope I’m not coming across as rude. I’m not trying to prove you wrong or make you look bad. I just thought I’d share my knowledge and let people know that there’s always two sides to a topic. We’re all in agreement on one thing though-we want healthy mouths! So I thank you for sharing your insight as well.

          If you have any other questions about oral health, please let me know! And I’m always open to natural alternatives as well. There should always be a good balance of both. Thanks!

    2. If his teeth and gums are in that poor of health, he should really see a dentist. Where they are “crumbling and falling out,” I’d be prepared for them to recommend full dentures. I know it sounds scary, but keeping those teeth in will likely lead to abcesses or worse.

    3. Ok- if his gums are bleeding he has gingivitis or periodontal disease. (I am a licensed dental hygienist by the way) get him to a quality dentist that is going to do perio charting- you need to get to the root of the problem. Gingivitis is reversible- periodontal disease is not. Although both can be treated.

       His gums hurt/ bleed because of what I said before. If its just gingivitis yes 1-2 weeks of quality TBing and FLSing will reverse the bleeding and pain (suck it up technique there, its no ones fault but his own he hasnt been maintaining proper hygiene, so he’s the one who must deal with the consequences)

       It he has periodontal disease and has calculus under his gum tissue that is going to need to be removed by a dental professional- a hygienist or doctor.

91. I just came across your blog looking for how to use water keifer but somehow I landed here too. It was soooooo encouraging because I have just been reading the same book since last week Cure Tooth Decay and would like to discuss it with someone too. I have been doing mown toothpaste for about 7 months now. My recipe is very similar to yours. But we don’t go to the dentist and are trying to reminerilize our teeth too. But I have questions about the diet recommended in the book.

92. Wow! Thanks for posting this recipe. I’ve been looking and looking for something without fluoride and glycerin in it!

93. Which Natural Calm did you use for the toothpaste?

94. Brandy, can you give your tooth powder recipe?

95. Thank you for posting this! I made it last night and used it twice now; it cleans my teeth better than any paste I have ever used. I keep running my tongue on my teeth because they are so polished! Thanks!

96. Coconut oil is one of the healthiest safest oils out there…it is one of my favorites for cooking and creams etc. Go to Tropical Traditions or even Amazon…
    Tori, Gingivitis and even pyorrhea, can be genetic.. ( a predisposal for) Although it can be from the lack of oral hygiene it can also be genetic. It ran in my dad’s side of the family, and despite brushing several times a day (with the softest of toothbrushes) and flossing one to two times a day and more often depending on the meal, and healthy meals, my gums bleed after a 3 month lay off from the dentist. Most insurances only cover 2 time cleansing a year… The only thing that has helped was a supplement from a naturopath that was supposed to be good for dental bone (growth). After taking it for several months, the dentist was amazed that the improvement in a tooth that he felt was going to need a “procedure”. (this dentist does NOT believe in natural things) It is Bio-Dent from Standard Process and you can get it on Amazon. It is a totally natural product..

97. Please, please, please be aware that xylitol is deadly to your pets, even in very small amounts for a huge dog. It destroys their liver/kidneys and if caught immediately, they can be rescued with complete transfusion. Watch the gum and candy as well. I like it, but try to ban it from my home. Please double check my information for yourself.

98. I took a biochemistry class in college while obtaining my biology degree. In that class, I remember the professor basically telling us that yes, your teeth can remineralize. Its not a myth. It is a fact that can happen. Some dentists may not feel it is necessary to tell you this.

    1. My dentist in Germany only filled when absolutely necessary. He always gave us the opportunity to heal a small cavity and gave us advice to improve oral health.

99. I loved reading about the homemade toothpaste, as I am going all natural as well! I work two days a week in the office of a massage therapist who does nutritional evaluations and guidance. She supplements with Standard Process, Biotics, Xlear, and other food sourced supplements! I was reading about the toothpaste and thought I’d share that there is a company that makes pretty much what you have created and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg!!! Xlear, Inc makes a line called Spry. There is a Spry toothpaste sweetened with Xylitol, of course we carry the non-flouridated toothpaste! It works wonders, and as you stated above its amazing the difference you can feel in your mouth from getting away from the “store” stuff!! Wonderful post! Can’t wait to read more!

100. I think you are all nutcrackers! You realize, this blog is being circulated on pinterest as “go to the comments and watch the hippy trippy moms rip each other apart or stinky earth ingredients”. It’s pretty good entertainment. Too bad kids are involved in this voodoo toothpaste though. Just like they say, all idiots think they are geniuses. It this blog had any scientific value at all, there would be studies up the wazoo backing you up. Oh, but I guess you don’t believe in those either. Mighty convenient to avoid a $2 toothpaste, and find something so exciting that it keeps you from doing what you should really be doing like figuring out how to help earn money or talk to your kids. For the love of! Quite being such dorks! You can’t heal cavities. There are people who know more than you and are smarter. Those people are dentists. Science is science. It does not change because you are bored and no longer feeling like you have a special secret.

     1. Actually, you can heal cavities. I know because I’ve seen it happen, and know of many others with the same experience. Unfortunately, the field of dentistry can be just as driven by money and profits as anything else (ie. dentists staying in business by filling a whole bunch of cavities once they happen, rather than trying to prevent them or treat them before they must be filled). Dentists don’t want people to figure out how to heal cavities. Why would they? Just like doctors don’t want us to learn how to stay healthier, use home remedies, and avoid pharmaceuticals. It’s just not advantageous to them financially or to the system as a whole, so they’d rather convince us with their “science” that we’re helpless and dependent on them. But it’s not true.

        Sorry you think we’re a bunch of crazy moms, but we’re really ok with that label. 🙂 Thanks for the comment! I do appreciate your perspective.

        1. I don’t appreciate their perspective. lol I don’t appreciate ignorance paraded as opinion either, but hey – call me crazy.

           I already use fluoride, SLS free toothpaste and have seen a similar recipe to this as well! Thanks for sharing!

        2. I’m curious as to which ingredient in this magic healing toothpaste is healing the cavities in the teeth. I’d love to see your research. I work at a pediatric dentist office and we council every parent on diet and the best habits to help prevent decay. We have many children who’s diets are horrible (pop, candy, koolaid…) all day, everyday. We see many children with small cavities starting and never fill them until the decay has progressed past the enamel layer of the tooth. It is rude and unfair to write that dentists and dental professionals are only concerned with money and not overall health for our patients! We would love for our kids to have fewer cavities. We have a huge waiting list of new patients (some in pain) who we cannot get in soon enough because of our current patients decay. People do need to take responsibility for their oral health but I think that sound research should be a bigger part of health decisions than just opinions! Thanks!

           1. You obviously didn’t read all of the previous comments.. There are even quite a few from dentist who are commending us on this practice. Xylitol is great for preventing tooth decay, far better than flouride does. calcium bentonite clay helps to remineralize teeth naturally along with the saliva. Commercial toothpastes have glycerin which put a coating on your teeth, that takes up to 30 brushing to get off, that prevents your saliva from naturally remineralizing you teeth like it is supposed to.. if so many people who have been using this type of home remedy along with oil pulling are having their dentists second guessing themselves as to if they misdiagnosed a cavity in their previous visit, that is saying something.. There is research on natural remedies, you just don’t dig deep enough… Plus personal experience from many people who have had a full recovery from decay by using this recipe is different than just giving an opinion. We have tested this on ourselves, taken that risk and have our dentists commend us for how great our teeth are… Proof enough..

        3. Wow. I take huge offense to this and I’m not even in the medical field. What on earth has made you so cynical? My doctor and dentist are both wonderful, honest people who went into their fields not to make tons of money as you claim but to improve patients’ lives. Medical school is insanely difficult and hugely expensive. They have to have a real passion for it just to make it through. They are open to discussion of home remedies and are willing to offer extra advice for any “crazy idea” I might come up with. I think, apart from an awful view of humanity, your problem is your dentist. If you really don’t trust him/her, find a new one. Don’t risk your kids’ health.

101. Courtney, I found your article so interesting. I tried a natural toothpaste (Toms) with no flouride in it. After 2 weeks of using it, I had extreme sensitivity in my teeth, with some pain in a couple of areas. I went to the dentist and she told me that I needed to start using flouride again as I had some small cracks in some of my teeth. Once I started using the flouride again, my teeth stopped hurting. I would prefer to not use flouride and start with your recipe, but not sure if I should now. Any thoughts/advice? Thanks!

     1. Start using more xylitol. I also use calcium bentonite clay to help remineralize

     2. Belinda I am a dental hygienist and I would guess that you probably are experiencing most of your sensitivity from recession (areas of your tooth where the gums have receded and your root of your tooth is now showing). Fluoride is so so so important when you have roots of your teeth showing. The root of your tooth has no enamel on it so cavities spread like wildfire on your roots, and fluoride is so important to prevent the cavities and to help with sensitivity. There are little canals in your teeth on the roots that go from the outside to the nerve inside, and causing you sensitivity. When you use a sensitivity toothpaste it helps to block these canals so a pain isn’t sent to the nerve causing you sensitivity.

102. I’ve read that the best oils to use are refined sunflower oil or sesame oil and that other oils have been found to be less effective and thus were not recommended.

     Perhaps this is why the coconut oil didn’t yield great results? Very curious to see someone try them.

103. Where can you find/get ingredients #3,4 & 7?

104. Fluoride is actually a key component in tooth enamel. Fluoride also fights sensitivity and indirectly kills bacteria. As a dental professional, I can tell who grew up using fluoride and who didn’t. I know fluoride is controversial. Please remember that in regards to fluoride, anyone can find any study to back up his/her opinion (whether for or against).

     I use natural products as often as possible and I am a DIY-er. I wouldn’t mind using my own toothpaste, but I would follow it up by using a fluoride product (either prescription gel or fluoride mouthwash). And I would not let my kids go without fluoride in some form.

     Also, xylitol also kills cavity causing bacteria when used within a certain protocol. Unless I already had stevia only available, I would use xylitol instead of stevia for this purpose.

105. A tooth can only remineralize if the decay hasn’t gone through the enamel. No competent dentist would fill a cavity that could remineralize. They’re called incipient cavities. The moment the decay gets through the enamel, no home remedy is going to fix it.

106. where do you find ingredients 3, 4, 6, 10? also the coconut oil is that the cooking coconut oil?

107. As a Registered Dental Hygienist I couldn’t help but read this. As a dental health care professional I cannot help but caution those interested in preventing decay to consult their dentist or hygienist before “buying” into this approach to dental decay prevention. We as dental health care providers strive to educate our patients that prevention is at the top of our concerns for our patients. Decay is treated by “drilling and filling,” only when decay has reached the dentin layer of the tooth. When decay is in the enamel layer it is possible to “reverse decay,” or remineralize tooth structure. Again I stress to ask your dental health care provider before considering this approach. I also have concerns with the ingredients of day to day products and their long term effects on the body, but I also know that fluoride is a naturally occurring element and it has been a huge asset in helping patients maintain their oral health.

108. I was on board till you stated xylitol. In your research you didn’t see all the problems it cancer cause? Really? Good luck when your kids get diarrhea from it.

109. I agree with a lot of your post. I have been a dental assistant for 8 years. The things that I do worry about in your post is that on pinterest it is being hailed as a “cure for cavities” and that you can “heal your cavities instead of having them drilled and filled” It is true that VERY small cavities and spots of demineralization can remineralize, however how it is coming across sounds as if you can heal a present cavity. I am hoping that everyone who reads this will take with a grain of salt and implement some of it if they wish, but I know that some out there will think that by doing these things their cavities will be healed, when in reality if the cavity has broken through the enamel and is into the dentin it will just progress into a worse cavity. The people who keep thinking their cavities might just be healing will end up with root canals if they let them go to long. Also you need to be very careful with using abrasive things in your mouth such as baking soda, They are just to abrasive and can cause gum recession. Even if you use store bought toothpaste you really shouldn’t buy tatar control or whitening toothpaste, they are abrassive, and whitening toothpaste will only whiten your teeth if you have stains from smoking or drinking coffee. And lastly if you feel like your dentist (or doctor) isn’t suggesting preventative measures and just wants to take all your money by fixing anything they can find, find a new dentist. It is not bad to “doctor shop”. At our office we will watch cavities for 5+ years and only fill them when it becomes necessary, suggesting that the patient take preventative measures to keep those area’s super clean in hopes that we could put off placing a filling for as long as possible!
     Thanks! That’s just my 2 cents!

110. I use xylitol….. I’ve done research in it and I recommend reading Dr. Ellie Phillips blog…http://askdrellie.blogspot.com/ I use the system she recommends and have used it for about a year now. It’s a great system and my teeth are no longer as sensitive to cold. The xylitol actually rebuilt some beginning cavities in my back teeth…. and some small cavities as well.

111. This post really concerns me! I’m a hygienist, and I would NEVER consider using something like this on my own teeth. First of all, you mentioned rinsing with hydrogen peroxide. While it does have it’s purpose used orally, in a very limited way, it can be very damaging if used on a regular basis. Fluoride is not toxic in regular toothpaste, otherwise MOST children would be hospitalized from ingesting the fluoride. Someone would have to ingest several tubes of fluoridated toothpaste in order to have any type of toxicity from it. Fluoride, also, does not inhibit remineralization if it’s in a thin layer on the tooth surface. That’s what you want! Fluoride is what remineralizes the tooth surface, unless you get into some of the stronger remineralizing pastes (MI paste) that contain other remineralizing agents other than fluoride. While xylitol is a great supplement for aiding in cavity prevention, it does not remineralize the tooth structure. It has an effect on the metabolism of the bacteria causing tooth decay. In your toothpaste recipe, there is nothing in it to remineralize the actual tooth structure. Not to mention, the ingredients in the paste are extremely abrasive. Most adults have some form of sensitivity or recession, and those abrasive agents will only make it worse, wearing away either the actual enamel (the hardest outermost layer of the tooth) in combination w/ the mechanical action of toothbrushing, or it will damage and cause abrasion to any exposed root surfaces caused by recession.
     The slimy layer that’s always on your tooth is called biofilm. Unfortunately there is no way to remove it from your mouth. Your mouth will never be plaque free. Studies have shown that the biofilm layer does not inhibit remineralization, so really, what is the need to scrub your teeth on a daily basis w/ pumice paste? Would you also recommend a hard bristle toothbrush as well?
     If you are worried about decay in your children, focus on their diets and making sure they get the gunk off their teeth. It takes saliva in your mouth 20 minutes to neutralize the acid caused by drinking any liquid(other than water) and 40 minutes to neutralize any food. Don’t let them snack continuously, and limit their sugary drinks. Also, fluoride varnish provided by the dentist has been proven to be one of the greatest preventive strategies against tooth decay. If you belong to a dental practice that you feel isn’t very conservative, ask the dentist to show you on an xray where the decay has invaded your tooth, or switch dentists to one who is more conservative.

     1. I am a hygienist and we learned in school that it would take something like 32 gallons of fluoride to cause toxicity… Agree w everything u said!

112. is there a substitute for coconut oil im allergic

     1. you could use sesame seed oil for oil pulling, and castor oil works great to for brush your teeth with.

113. I wanted to add a comment. Im a dental hygienist- you say dentists should focus on preventions. THATS MY WHOLE JOB! The problem- people don’t listen. I whip out the tooth brush show brushing technique, show flossing technique, discuss diet and cutting out sugar and acid. I bet 1 out of 100 people actually listening to everything we tell them too. You dont even have to change your diet. If you get a good electric TB (Like a sonicare) with a timer on it- brush with that for 2-4 minutes at least 2 x daily and floss at least 1 x daily you are going to keep the bacteria off your teeth. You can brush with just straight baking soda to remove plaque. Clean teeth with no plaque equals no cavities. But you are correct in that prevention is key. And to add to another comment dentists do not fill incipient decay- it has to be broken through the layer of enamel. Once the decay breaks through the enamel layer and is into the dentin layer it can spread quick. This is due to the fact that dentin is less dense than enamel.
     The dentist i work for is anti-fluoride. I’d like to try out this toothpaste you made.

114. My husband is a pediatric dentist and he tries to focus on prevention but the truth is, there are so many parents (& kids) who just don’t care. BRUSH YOUR TEETH. FLOSS. It doesn’t get any simpler. Of course genetics play a role and diet too, but of you’re brushing for 2 mins twice a day, you can counteract a lot of the diet effects. No dentist I know pushes for treatment over prevention, but the people who don’t care about taking care of their or their kids’ teeth don’t come in til they’re in pain and it’s too late for any other option. It’s really sad to see 5-yr-olds who need teeth pulled bc their parents didn’t care about prevention. It’s not all on the dentist, ya know.

115. Hi there! I have been using coconut oil and sometime a little oil of oregano for over two years. I love it. My dentist laughs at me but says whatever I am doing…keep doing it! I have very little plaque and my teeth are in great shape! two years ago, I had periodontal disease and they wanted to do some kind of antibiotic injections…so I found oil pulling and while I was not successful with it…it totally freaked me out..but now I am a pulling pro…I thought I could start with brushing my teeth and build up! Try it a few times before giving up!!

     1. So you just brush with coconut oil and the Oreg. Oil? Or in conjunction with toothpaste?

116. Courtney,

     As a licensed dental hygienist, I absolutely agree with you that prevention is a much better tool than waiting to fox problems after the fact. And certainly, better oral health makes for better overall health. However, cavities cannot simply be remineralized with new toothpastes and changes in diet. If a carious lesion (cavity) progresses to the point where it is able to “break” through the enamel, it needs to be treated in a dentist’s office, as home treatments will no longer be sufficient.

     If you really want to help your kids avoid fillings, I would, as dental auxiliary, advise the following:

     – Ban soda from your house. soda, energy drinks, and sugary beverages are the number 1 bane of children’s teeth. When I see what we refer to as “rampant ECC” (tons of decay in kids), carbonated sugary drinks are usually involved.
     – Make sure your children are eating calcium-rich foods alongside vitamin D for the best mineral uptake.
     – Give your kids some kind of dairy after each meal. Eating creates a more acidic oral environment, and dairy is basic, so it helps neutralize acid
     – Switch over to xylitol as much as you can. Xylitol is a sugar that the bacteria in the mouth can’t digest, so by starving them, it prevents decay from forming.

     Fluoride – my mother feels the same way you do. However, when fluoride interacts with enamel, it created a very hard crystal that is difficult for bacteria to penetrate, called fluorapatite. I understand eliminating fluoride from drinking water over concerns of interaction with the digestive tract, but I advise a fluoride mouthrinse, or a fluoridated toothpaste.

     Finally, if you must use homemade toothpaste, I would strongly suggest putting it through the spice grinder before you use it. Large particles are very abrasive, and can wear away protective enamel, which puts teeth at risk for caries. Smaller particles clean but do not cause damage.

     1. Amen!!!! That was perfectly said. I am a recent graduate from dental hygiene and just took my state exam a few weeks ago and I am
        So glad you addressed this post Jessica. Well said. 🙂

     2. As a practicing dentist who sees primarily growing children, I wholeheartedly agree with Jessica. She states this wonderfully!

     3. I am currently a dental student and I couldn’t agree more with your post, Jessica! This is very well-written, nice work!

     4. I have actually remineralized my daughters cavity. She had one on her front tooth, so I immediately stopped using commercial toothpaste since the glycerine in it prevents remineralization. I made my own and used it twice a day while also giving her cod liver oil and butter oil supplements and it healed itself in a month. There are many stories like mine, the key is that it takes up to 21 brushings to remove the glycerine from the teeth so it can take some patience!

117. Amazing info and natural toothpaste recipe, i never would have thought to use calcium magnesium powder mixed with the baking soda, i must try. T hank u so much for your knowledge on this matter as im very concerned with my oral health.

118. This was very interesting and I want to try it. My only concern is the rinsing with hydrogen proxcide. This is very strong to be using on your teeth. Long term daily use, it can do more harm than good to your gums and teeth. You should look into it

     1. I have read that you should dilute the peroxide with water, half and half. I have been rinsing with this for a few months now and I love it . It leaves your mouth feeling clean without any flavor. My teeth feel clean and are shiny!

119. I found this to be way too salty. Will try again with less salt.

120. Great post!! I agree with it all. As far as what the “dental pros” posted, I absolutely agree about the elimination of soft drinks- I think they should be banned since they do no one ANY good except for the manufacturers. My kids have never had them and when I see a mom putting coke in a sippy cup at the store, I just want to scream!!
     On the other hand, I do find it very strange that the pros recommend eating dairy after eating a meal – which is so un-natural to our bodies. Dairy products are taxing on our digestive system as well as others systems in our body. Fruits and veggies contain all the “calcium-rich” foods anyone could ever need.
     Thanks for the informational post, I will definitely be trying this toothpaste recipe.

     1. Wow, you want to band pop? Who made you the freedom police? Why is it your business if I have a pop. Would you enjoy it if I came over & told you that you shouldn’t be able to use things you like but I don’t? Or if I told you how to practice your religion? Hands off my pop. Grow up & get a clue.

        1. *ban

121. Any suggestions for where I can find trace mineral drops? Also can I just grind up calcium magnesium tablets to get the powder needed for the recipe? Thanks?

     1. you can get ConcenTrace trace mineral drops for a great price at Viatcost.com

122. Perhaps I am the only one that noticed this, but it jumped out at me and made me question the validity of the rest of your article.

     Para 3: This begins in utero (even pre-conception),when the teeth and jaw structure are formed,

     Um you do know what conception means right? And what pre means? I would like to know how you plan to prevent cavities pre-conception…

     1. I think the sentence was just worded in a confusing way. She means that this begins in utero, while the teeth and jaw are being formed, and can also be prevented pre-conception due to the mom having excellent nutrient stores (particularly minerals) that ensure sufficient nutrients right in the very early stages of pregnancy before you even know that you are pregnant. Pre-conception preparation does make a difference, because some nutrients are stored by the body, and many women struggle to get in solid nutrition in the early weeks and months. If the nutrients were already there, baby is much more likely to get what it needs for excellent health.

123. This all sounds great…the dental people know their stuff….but I just want to caution you people on one thing….DO NOT LET YOUR DOG GET A HOLD OF ANYTHING WITH Xylitol IN IT. XYLITOL CAN KILL YOUR DOG REALLY FAST. Xylitol is found in just about every kid of chewing gum. If you use it in your toothpaste make sure your dog don’t get into it.
     http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/xylitol.asp

     1. Xylitol is actually found in few types of chewing gum since it is expensive. It has been proven to inhibit the growth of Streptococcus mutans which is a key player in caries development. Thus, if a type of gum has it, companies make sure you know it’s in there by saying so on the label. I don’t know whether or not it’s toxic to dogs, but if you’re worried you can know that it’s not in most types of gum and it’s easy to find out if it has it.

124. The susceptibility to decay is not caused by the drilling and restoration. The drilling removes all of the decay and the restoration simply fills the hole. Once a person has bacteria that causes decay in their oral environment it wont go away.

     Prevention is the best way to prevent decay. MI paste is a fluoride free calcium based recalcifying paste. The home made toothpaste seems like a good recipe I suggest adding some tea tree oil as it has bactericidal properties.

125. Can you use magnesium powder in place of calcium magnesium powder?

126. Natural calm gives me horrible nightmares.

127. I would add bentonite clay in there as well. 🙂

128. I have found a dentist that focuses on remineralization and has a specific program to follow that she has done a lot of research on and has used on her own family. Your teeth feel wonderful and what she says makes a lot of sense. You might want to check out her website and blogspot where she will answer your questions. http://www.drellie.com and askdrellie.blogspot.com

129. I couldn’t help but notice there aren’t any references to back up all the “evidence” you presented in your post. I don’t think I’m the only one who is interested in where you got your “facts”. A lot of comments sound like a similar scenario of having a broken leg and praying it will heal itself because you heard that doctors are bad people who only went into their profession for money. As a Registered Dental Hygienist my job is to educate my patients and ensure they go home with correct knowledge on how they can prevent cavities. Notice I’m placing the responsibility on each and every one of my patients because I’m not at their house every day to brush and floss their teeth for them. I commend people who stand up for what they believe in, but I think it’s unfair and cruel of you to let your readers believe things based on your personal opinion when their overall health and well-being are at stake…

     1. Thank you for your comment here Jen. I too, am a Registered Dental Hygienist and completely agree with your statement. I am offended by the statement that “the foundation of today’s dental philosophy is similar to the mainstream medical model in that it focuses on treatment and not prevention.” I dedicate a HUGE portion of my time teaching my patients how to care for their mouths and better their overall health through good oral health. Dentistry is one of the only professions which consistently works to put itself out of business (by trying to teach people how to PREVENT cavities!) I understand your concern over what you put into you body, but please do not suggest that dental professionals are concerned about our patients and their overall health.

130. Doesn’t Baking Soda strip the enamel off your teeth?

131. I can’t use coconut oil.. What could I replace that with?

132. I am a dental hygiene student in my senior year now and we have had our brain pounded about this stuff. I am very proud of all the hygienists for sticking with their guns and continuing to educate those not in heir office. Fluoride is very very very important! It not only helps your teeth develops but gives your teeth the chance to remineralize by slowing or stoping the pregression of plaque buildup. Also, a dentists whole job is based on treatment. That is what they are there for. If you are visiting your dental hygienist every 6 months to 1 year, you should know this is her job. If you visit and still don’t know this, get a new hygienist. She is there to educate you on prevention. Yes the dentist should let you know this too but it is not his job. That is why he hires a RDH. People just need to start caring and realize that their mouth is connected to the rest of their body and can help or hurt many diseases in the body.

133. Obviously prevention is super important but I’d like to know what these dental “experts” would recommend for those of us who can’t afford to go to the dentist at this point or have insurance at a new job which won’t start for some time but are worried about tooth decay? Obviously getting treatment from a dentist would be good but what can we do at home.

134. I am a Registered Dental Hygienist, and I have access to and read many dental related EVIDENCE based research papers and find this article grossly inaccurate. The only helpful piece of information in this article is oil pulling as it has been shown to have great benefits in clinical trials. Baking soda and salt should NOT be used as a toothpaste as it is far too abrasive and leads to increased enamel wear and gingival recession which increases your risk not only to cavities, but to root caries as well, which decay much faster and often result in the tooth having to be extracted if it has moved below the gumline. SLS is a detergent and is found in many other products around the home I don’t advocate for it as quite a few people have allergies to it, but if you’re going to speak against it you should be mentioning all the products that contain it as well if it’s in the interest of public awareness. As for fluoride, when it was first introduced into the drinking water system caries rates decreased by 53%… that’s massive! Fluoride is toxic if taken in large amounts, but you’d have to drink about 4 litres of it. That’s why you’re not supposed to swallow toothpaste and kid’s toothpaste does not contain fluoride as they don’t have as much bodily control. Furthermore most big cities and many towns have a government regulated fluoride limit in their drinking water which must be kept between 0.7 and 1.2 ppm, which is even more than contained in your toothpaste which is usually around 0.02%. Fluoride helps to remineralize your teeth by drawing minerals- mainly calcium from your saliva and diet back to the tooth surface, helping to strengthen enamel and prevent sensitivity. There are oodles of trials and research supporting this! As a dental hygienist MY ENTIRE JOB is PREVENTION!!! That’s what we do, unless you are the perfect brusher and flosser, which even I am not, and all your teeth are perfectly aligned, you will always develop a calculus buildup and no amount of brushing will ever take that off- professional care is required. Also, your insinuation that dentists will just fill any lesion is inaccurate and goes against their professional code of ethics. An incipient lesion (one that is not through the enamel, also the type that CAN be remineralized) will not be filled- this article explains nothing about this, and any cavities already having reached the underlying dentin will only get worse and by discouraging a visit to the dentist you are encouraging poor oral health which is directly linked to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and the list goes on! Also having a filling does NOT put you at an increased risk to more cavities… breakdown of the filling over many years combined with poor oral hygiene may lead to recurrent decay around the filling but that is in no way caused by the filling. I would expect the author of an article like this to have significantly better research skills- AND REFERENCES and to present the facts, not a one-sided personal opinion as it may have the ability to seriously affect someone’s health.

135. I have to disagree with Lexi. I’ve never had a cavity in my life, yet I received four drills and amalgam fillings in my brand new molars as a child, because the dentist said the grooves in my teeth were “too deep.” I’ve since learned this was standard practice in the eighties, to pad the dentists’ pockets. So if they will drill healthy teeth, they will drill a tooth that can remineralize.

     Also, my toddler has clearly visible dentin on a front canine, yet that tooth is remineralizing through the use of cod liver oil, butter oil, a grain free diet, and brushing with virgin coconut oil. I have photographed the healing process weekly, and I can tell you, the enamel is “growing” back. (How he got the cavity is no mystery to me. I’m sure he is intolerant to grains. His apraxia is completely “cured” in a matter of months, and all signs of autism are gone. Grains are poison to some folks.)

     Google “how to heal dental caries” and “how to remineralize teeth.” You’ll find published research stating it can be done and how.

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