Smile Now
This all-natural DIY toothpaste ?will make your grill gleam
If you have teeth, you have toothpaste (we hope). But most store-bought brands contain a bevy of questionable ingredients. In this DIY recipe, common household items do the heavy lifting: coconut oil takes care of bacteria and baking soda gently scrubs off plaque and food, while salt does both. Your teeth will feel uber-clean, and the money you’ll save will have you grinning from ear to ear—so you can show off those pearly whites!??
Toothpaste Base
– 3 Tbsp. organic coconut oil (more if desired)
– 3 Tbsp. fine aluminum-free baking soda* (aka sodium bicarbonate; 1lb, $3.50, mountainroseherbs.com)
– ½ to 1 Tbsp. fine salt (1lb, $3.50, mountainroseherbs.com)
* Buy USP- or NSF/NOP-grade baking soda from a reputable source.
Gently warm coconut oil until liquid. Mix all ingredients (enough for two months’ worth of brushing) in a bowl using a fork. Store in a lidded 2-ounce glass jar; salt will preserve your paste indefinitely but if it starts to smell funky the oil might be going rancid, so always trust your nose and your instincts. To use, dip a dry toothbrush in.?
Pimp Your Paste
Choose your favorite organic essential oil, and start with 3 drops. Mix well, and add more to taste. Do not exceed 12 drops total. If you like your toothpaste sweeter, add about a teaspoon of xylitol, which promotes dental health. Charcoal naturally removes surface stains; open five capsules of activated charcoal, which can be found in the digestive health section of your local health food store, and mix directly into the paste. Leave the paste on your teeth for 3 minutes. Substitute one tablespoon of baking soda with bentonite clay to help decrease cavities. (Always buy clay from a reputable source, like Mountain Rose Herbs, that certifies the purity.) –Jentri Jollimore
ILLUSTRATION: Megan Reddi
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