Charcoal Toothpaste Recipe

Making your own toothpaste might feel intimidating but it is probably much easier than what you think! There are many benefits to making your own charcoal toothpaste recipe such as it is free from fluoride, the ingredients are simple and clean, and it is great for whitening the teeth as well as cleaning them.

Charcoal Toothpaste Ingredients:

Why avoid fluoride in toothpaste?

Fluoride has been around for years however, there has only been research done in recent years on the adverse health effects of fluoride. According to this study, fluoride can have a direct link to Alzheimer’s disease. I encourage you to read the study for yourself in order to understand how fluoride attacks our central nervous system.

Fluoride is in many things within our environment such as conventional toothpaste, drinking water, and so much more. Using a DIY charcoal toothpaste is just one way you can reduce your intake of fluoride.

Whitening teeth with coconut oil and baking soda

Using coconut oil for oral health is not a new trend, this has been done for years, specifically in India. As it becomes more popular across the world, people begin to notice that coconut oil whitens your teeth. Teeth whitening is a great benefit of adding coconut oil to a charcoal toothpaste recipe, but there is also an added benefit of coconut oil helping to prevent gum disease (source).

When you read the ingredients list on toothpaste, you will typically see baking soda listed. Baking soda can be beneficial when used in toothpaste. There is evidence to support that baking soda in toothpaste can help to reduce plaque and stains, whiten teeth, and kill bacteria in our mouth.

As you can imagine, coconut oil and baking soda make a dynamic duo for an activated charcoal toothpaste recipe.

Charcoal toothpaste benefits

Activated charcoal is becoming more popular as an aid to whiten teeth. To sum it up, activated charcoal works to absorb stains on the surface of teeth which in turn makes our teeth appear whiter.

Although there is not a significant amount of data available on activated charcoal used in toothpaste, I have personally noticed a difference in the whiteness of my teeth when using this charcoal toothpaste recipe.

Activated charcoal is great for many other uses, not just teeth whitening. I always keep some on hand to use when the stomach bug hits our house, it is great at drawing out the virus and stopping the symptoms within an hour. I also love it for my skin. Check out my DIY charcoal face mask recipe here.

Essential oils for teeth and gums

There are a few essential oils that can be beneficial for our teeth and gums.

Peppermint: Peppermint is a common oil used in natural toothpastes. Besides the great cooling effect it has on the mouth, there are some benefits like the ability to kill oral pathogens and common bacteria in our mouth. By killing these common pathogens, there is a reduction in the possibility of developing cavities and gum disease.

Clove: Clove essential oil is great for those with sensitive teeth. There is an old wives tale that clove oil helps when you are experiencing tooth pain. It is important to note, clove oil is not recommended to be used by pregnant women.

Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a powerful anti fungal, making it great for a charcoal toothpaste recipe. Like the other oils, cinnamon can help to prevent or reverse gum disease due to its ability to kill off unwanted bacteria in the mouth.

Like with all essential oils, be sure to only use a small amount in the charcoal toothpaste recipe. This toothpaste should not be swallowed, only used to brush your teeth.

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How to Make a Charcoal Toothpaste Recipe:

Ingredients:

1/4 Teaspoon Activated Charcoal
2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
1 Drop of Essential Oil (I use Peppermint)

Instructions:

Melt the coconut oil over a double boiler.
Once Melted, add coconut oil into a bowl with the remaining ingredients.
Mix until combined and transfer to container of choice.
Allow the mixture to solidify before using.

Notes:

This charcoal toothpaste recipe is much easier to mix when the coconut oil is melted. If you are in a hurry, you can skip the melting step.

Activated charcoal will make your teeth look black while you are using the charcoal toothpaste, don’t fret! Rinse your mouth as you normally would and the black residue will go away.

Feel free to omit the essential oil in this recipe if you aren’t comfortable with using it, just know there won’t be much flavor at all. Alternatively you can add a few drops of peppermint extract for added flavor, although its important to note that this will not have the same benefits that peppermint essential oil provides.

I would omit any essential oils in this recipe if you plan to use it with your young kids. Not ideal, however if this is swallowed by young kids it is not harmful to them – that is the great thing about making your own charcoal toothpaste recipe!

Watch the full video tutorial here!