DIY tooth powder

We have been using tooth powder for more than 6 months now and I have been dying to share the recipe. I wanted to wait until the kids went to see the dentist and see how their teeth checked out. They went to their dentist today and she was amazed at how good their teeth were. Gushing compliments over their pearly whites. I felt able to finally share this with you all! 

First of all,  why tooth powder? Well,  we don't like to use toiletries that have unnecessary chemicals in them. Funny,  but when our kids used the standard toothpastes with flouride they had bad problems with decay. Bad enough that our one son had to be put under general anesthesia at the hospital and have several extensive repairs totalling more in medical bills than we paid for his birth! 

     I began using the EWG skin deep cosmetic database to find products with better ratings to help minimize the risks associated with all the things we put in and on our bodies. We switched to Tom's of Maine toothpaste (good rating) ,  but we felt we could make less waste with making our own. Further research showed us that sodium lauryl sulfate can cause canker sores,  which we all seem to get. Also, glycerin leaves a coating on your teeth which can prevent remineralizing of the teeth. Tom's of Maine contains both of those ingredients. 

Armed with this new info,  I set out to find a sanitary,  healthy alternative to commercial toothpaste. I feel tooth powder in a shakeable container is best for us. It doesn't get contaminated by the family sharing it,  so there is less waste. We tried a few recipes,  but this is the only one the kids would use. We all seem to like it and we had a good dental checkup after half a year of use,  so I think we have a winner! 

The first time you try this,  you need to keep an open mind,  especially if you have been using a foamy toothpaste from a major brand. This will be much different. Seeing brown spit when you rinse may seem counterintuitive when you are trying to make your teeth cleaner,  not dirtier. However,  we have found that our smiles are much whiter now. We use an electric toothbrush,  but I'm not sure this matters with this tooth powder or not. 

I keep the tooth powder in an oil/vinegar cruet. I widened the hole on top with an awl. It is great because I can see how much we have left and the small hole on top helps keep us from wasting the powder. 

Here is our current recipe:

Tooth Powder 

4 tbsp. baking soda
3 tbsp bentonite clay
1/2 tbsp ground stevia (the herb, not the white powder in grocery stores)
1/2 tbsp myrrh gum powder
20 drops of spearmint oil
10 drops of peppermint oil

To use this, just wet your toothbrush, then pour a little powder on it and brush as usual!

Once again, great places to look for ingredients are amazon, mountain rose herbs, and bulk apothecary.