If you’re worried about the ingredients in commercial toothpastes, don’t worry, I’ve gathered together a list of 12 natural toothpaste alternatives. Some are a bit weird and might shock you, but this list was made BY my readers FOR my readers.
Natural toothpaste alternatives are all the rage these days.
So, what’s wrong with commercial toothpaste?
Well, like most commercial health and beauty products on the market, toothpaste has been industrialized over the years.
Here are just a few of the questionable ingredients commonly found in commercial toothpaste:
Fluoride.
While fluoride is supposedly the ingredient that prevents cavities, it doesn’t do that job very well and can actually be very toxic to the body. In fact, if you suffer from acne outbreaks around the mouth and chin area, fluoride toothpaste may be the cause! (If you haven’t already, check out The Case Against Fluoride and The Fluoride Deception for more information.)
Fluoride-free toothpaste is becoming more common, but unfortunately, it’s not the only ingredient in toothpaste you should be avoiding. Read more about fluoride dangers here.
Titanium dioxide.
There are some concerns that titanium dioxide is carcinogenic. The biggest problem is that nano-sized particles of titanium dioxide can be absorbed through the mouth and may cause toxic damage in the cells of the body.
Glycerin.
This is found in almost every toothpaste on the market (even the natural ones). Glycerin helps give toothpaste its pasty texture and keeps it from drying out. But it can also leave a coating on your teeth that prevents them from remineralizing.
Sodium lauryl sulfate.
It gives you the foamy cleaning action we all expect from toothpaste, but sodium lauryl sulfate is also a strong chemical surfactant that doesn’t belong in our bodies.
Artificial sweeteners.
I don’t know about you, but I generally avoid chemical sweeteners like sorbitol and saccharin. Unfortunately, these are commonly used in commercial toothpaste to make them taste sweet.
So, what are some natural toothpaste alternatives?
I asked you on The Nourished Life Facebook Fan Page what you use instead of commercial toothpaste.
And as I expected, you all gave some great responses–so many that I really couldn’t list them all! But here are twelve ideas to get you started:
12 Natural Toothpaste Alternatives
1. Sea Salt
How much more natural can you get than brushing your teeth with salt from the sea?
It’s easy, too: just dab your toothbrush in sea salt and brush away as usual.
Concerned about abrasion?
Me, too. You can also dissolve the salt in water first and then dip your brush in the saltwater before brushing.
2. Baking Soda
This has got to be one of the most popular natural toothpaste alternatives.
Like sea salt, you can just dip your toothbrush in baking soda and brush like normal. Or you can dissolve it in water first and use the brine for brushing (just like the sea salt).
A lot of people use baking soda as a base for homemade tooth powder. You mix it with a few drops of peppermint essential oil and stevia to give your mouth a minty fresh feel.
3. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is known for keeping teeth clean and white, and many people use it instead of toothpaste.
Jessica on Facebook suggests, “Dip your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide and then in a 50/50 mixture of baking soda and fine sea salt.”
The only potential problem with hydrogen peroxide is if you have amalgam fillings: peroxide may leach mercury from your fillings.
4. Herbal Tooth Powders
Herbal tooth powders can be used in place of toothpaste.
They do a good job of cleaning, and the herbal ingredients can also help ease inflammation, pain and infection throughout the mouth.
5. Dry Brushing
It doesn’t get much more simple than this.
Tired of looking for a natural toothpaste alternative?
According to some, there’s no need to use anything at all: dry brushing does the job. But while it does seem to work well enough, there’s no minty mouth feel (like we’re all used to, of course) and might feel a little strange.
6. Brush with Pure Water
If dry brushing doesn’t quite cut it for you, try brushing with pure water.
This also works surprisingly well for clearing debris from the teeth, but you still don’t get that minty mouth feel.
7. All Natural Soap
Yes, you can brush your teeth with soap.
I’ve tried this one a few times, and while it does work, it also tastes pretty, well, soapy.
Not exactly the natural toothpaste experience I was looking for personally.
But if you decide to try it, trying a natural soap like peppermint castile soap.
8. Tooth Soap
For those who aren’t keen on using actual soap in their mouths, there are quite a lot of brands of specially designed tooth soaps on the market as a natural toothpaste alternative. Just try to find one without additives.
9. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is another great natural toothpaste alternative.
Why?
Its antifungal and antibacterial properties come in handy for mouth cleaning.
Coconut oil can be used alone and combined with other ingredients listed here (like baking soda and essential oils).
10. Waterpik
Getting a Waterpik has been on my to-do list ever since I read Cure Tooth Decay by Rami Nagel.
Now that I have one, I’m so glad I took the plunge! This little device can work some wonders cleaning teeth and gums. Some say the results are nothing short of miraculous. If you have braces or trouble with irritated gums, you definitely need to start water flossing.
Rami Nagel suggests in his book that you use salt water for oral irrigation, which can enhance the benefits.
11. Essential Oils
These can be bought at a local health food store or from a reputable online store. Learn where I shop for high quality therapeutic essential oils online.
Sometimes I just use a drop or two of peppermint oil on my dampened toothbrush if I want a quick and easy way to get my mouth feeling clean and minty fresh.
12. Oil Pulling
Never heard of it?
Here’s a post that explains what oil pulling is and how to do it.
Basically you swish about one tablespoon of oil (I use coconut oil) for several minutes. Then brush with plain water or use one of the methods listed above. Trust me, your teeth have never felt this clean!
Do you have a favorite natural toothpaste alternative? Please share in the comment section below!
More Articles and Recipes for Oral Health:
- Natural Whitening Toothpaste Recipe with Activated Charcoal
- 7 Natural Toothpaste Recipes
- Black Oil for Natural Teeth Whitening
- Homemade Mouthwash Recipe for Whitening and Remineralizing
- Honey Mask For Acne
- Best Essential Oil for Face
- Why Do I Crave Peanut Butter?
- Homemade Lotion Recipe
- Lighten Hair Naturally
- Where to Buy Beeswax for Lip Balm
- Difference Between Refined & Unrefined Coconut Oil
- Benefits of Raw Eggs
More Natural Toothpaste recipes:
- DIY Toothpaste
- Why I Threw Away My Toothpaste
- Homemade Toothpaste Recipe
- Homemade Squeezable Toothpaste
Jen S. says
I signed up for your email list
Thepeacefulcoach says
I’ve also been using the coconut oil/baking soda mixture, and I’m happy with the results!
I’ve been enjoying reading the various natural recipes/remedies on this site. Thank you for creating awareness around the power of going raw and natural vs blindly following the commercial hype!
Best,
Luca,
http://www.peacefulcoaching.webs.com
CBG says
I use an excellent product (mentioned above) called Tooth Soap, with a Sonicare electric toothbrush. First, to get rid of that “fuzzy feeling”, I’ll brush with the dry Sonicare. Then I’ll wet the Sonicare and use the Tooth Soap. My teeth and gums have never looked or felt so clean and strong. Sometimes I’ll also use magnesium gel before or after brushing with Tooth Soap to whiten my teeth, and it works very well. I found out about this by reading “The Magnesium Miracle” by Dr. Carolyn Dean. Yes, using a soap product to brush my teeth was weird at first, but I’ll never go back to toothpaste, which definitely does leave a film as there is vegetable glycerin in it. One of these days, I want to try the “oil pulling” technique.
CBG says
Update – I’ve done the oil pulling technique with e v olive oil. Then I tried it with the e v coconut oil. Both worked very well for me in taking the fuzziness off my teeth along the gum line. I have found baking soda to be too abrasive.
There is a Himalayan market down the street from me, so I stopped in there one day out of curiosity. They carry all kinds of Ayurvedic products. I picked up some Meswak ayurvedic toothpaste, and some ayurvedic Monkey Brand tooth powder. I don’t use the toothpaste every day because I use Tooth Soap shreds most of the time, but I have to say that this particular brand of toothpaste is excellent and it tastes fantastic if you like the taste of licorice and basil. A couple of times a week and also if I’m going on a date, I’ll combine this toothpaste with the Monkey Brand tooth powder and regular plain cinnamon,(which whitens teeth) and brush with the sonic care. Wow – this is an awesome formula and my teeth look so white and my gums are nice and pink and very healthy. I’ve always gotten compliments on my teeth my entire life, now I get even more.
Elizabeth Walling says
Thanks for the tip! That sounds like a great product.
Anneliza9853 says
I make my own soap, with lard I rendered from healthy pigs, olive oil and coconut oil. I use that to brush my teeth. You could also use Kiss My Face olive oil soap, or another soap that has all natural ingredients, no additives. On occasion, I rinse with sea salt and/or baking soda dissolved in water, or diluted hydrogen peroxide. But not every day — maybe once a week.
Joy Speights says
Not dissing waterpiks, but a cheaper alternative way to ‘pik’ is by swishing! You can get some serious jaw exercises in here plus clean out stuff between your teeth. I swish after meals, coffee, first thing in the morning, before bed time. Mostly anytime I drink water. For a mouth wash I put 10% peroxide, 90% filtered water and a few drops of my favorite essential oils, clove, peppermint, licorice. I like to brush my teeth with just plain ol’ finely ground licorice root!
Elizabeth Walling says
I think you’re onto something, Joy. Swishing does do something for oral health, and I think that’s part of why oil pulling works so well.
Mary says
I like to swish after flossing and before brushing. Plus then I am not just spreading the loose stuff all over the teeth afterwards.
Jesse M says
Wow, what great suggestions. I have been struggling to find a natural toothpaste that we like and doesn’t have the “yuck” in it. Thank you for this post – I am going to try several of these and see what I can get my family on board with 🙂
Elizabeth Walling says
You’re welcome! I hope one of these methods works for you guys. I know sometimes it can be hard to get the family on board with this kind of thing!
Su Red says
Vita Myrhh zinc plus herbal toothpaste is fantastic and tastes great!! so is trader joes fennel 🙂
Cnconline says
I have combined sea salt with baking powder. Does a great job. For oral rinse a few drops of peppermint oil and hydrogen peroxide with a pinch of sea salt.
Jennifer says
I brush with magnesium oil. I put some in a dropper bottle added a bit of peppermint extract for flavor and minty freshness…then put a few drops on my toothbrush and brush like normal….and it is super good for your gums too!
Elizabeth Walling says
That’s a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
Sandrine Hahn says
It was recommended to me that the hydrogen peroxide be food-grade: this was well reviewed — http://www.amazon.com/35-Food-Grade-Hydrogen-Peroxide/dp/B0050DS18U/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Elizabeth Walling says
That’s a great suggestion! I’ve heard a lot of good stuff about food grade hydrogen peroxide.
Sandrine Hahn says
Also, I just pointed to this article in a post: http://nourishingourchildren.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/1131/ – thank you for the resources!
Elizabeth Walling says
Thanks for sharing this post, Sandrine! 🙂
Deanna Munson says
actually ive been using baking soda with an organic lemon squeezed over it.my teeth are hella white now
Raquel Salazar says
I would be careful with using Lemon on your teeth for to long, It can remove the enamel.
Brenda says
Please be careful using lemon on enamel. If you are brushing with an acid it brushes into micro pores and will etch and acid weaken. It doesn’t take long for damage to show. Baking soda is ok if it stays off the gum tissue. Acid erosion is non reversible so maybe drink the lemon and rinse after it! That’s what I tell my patients. Good ideas here
newfoundqueen says
are any of these safe for dogs?
Elizabeth Walling says
To be on the safe side, coconut oil, baking soda and sea salt are probably the best options for canines.
C says
Never give Xylitol to dogs. Salt and coconut oil would be a good recipe for a dog, and just the brushing action would do a lot!
Joanna @ActualOrganics says
I like using clay on my teeth. Earthpaste is simply bentonite clay, sea salt which is flavoured with cinnamon essential oil. It is surprisingly effective at whitening the teeth.
Elizabeth Walling says
Clay is an interesting idea, I never thought of that!
Mary says
I found Ipsab tooth powder does not clean very well. My teeth were pretty stained from coffee/teas.
I got it because it does not contain glycerin. Not worth it, though.
I have temporarily gone to standard toothpaste because of that.
Elizabeth Walling says
It can take a little trial and error to find a toothpaste alternative that works for you. Luckily there are a lot of ideas out there to try out!
Angel says
Remember not to spit the coconut oil in the drains! The oil is solid in room temperature so as soon as it meets anything temperate or warmer it will go solid and ultimately clog your pipes. Spit in the toilet instead.
Elizabeth Walling says
Thanks for the tip! That’s good to remember.
Jill B. says
So I usually use a well-known toothpaste brand made with baking soda. I’ve been meaning to get a different type because for some reason, my mouth just tastes horrible after I brush. Something about the after flavor left from the toothpaste really bothers me. I tried sea salt with some ground clove to brush initially, then I added a couple drops of peppermint oil to some bottled water and rinsed my mouth with it. My teeth feel amazing and the only aftertaste I have now is mint with a hint of clove. The initial shock of salt in your mouth is slightly off-putting, but I think I may stick to it from now on and ditch the commercial toothpaste. It didn’t strike me as overly abrasive, maybe because salt seems to dissolve pretty quickly.
Thanks for the sea salt alternative idea. 🙂
Elizabeth Walling says
Cool! I love how effective these simple, natural combinations are. I don’t know what it is about salt, but it really does make my mouth feel clean. Like you said, the initial salty sensation is kind of odd, but it really feels clean afterwards!
carie says
My four kids and I have used a variety of the above toothpaste ideas. My concern is our dental appointment this month. What kind of polish do we allow. I am sure what they use is not at all natural. I also would like to tell her we will not be doing floride treatments anymore….and all those X-rays…well.
Christianne says
I concur about the water pik! It gets back there in the molars where you can’t reach very well with the floss, and behind your teeth too–I have some overlap, and it gets in all the hard to reach places–my gums are super healthy now too because of it.
Benjy says
Brushing without anything didn’t work for me. After about six months I had brown spots on my teeth which went away with a single brushing with toothpaste.
Elizabeth Walling says
Thanks for the comment, Benjy, that’s good to know. I personally don’t feel comfortable brushing with nothing (I do like the minty clean mouth feel!), so I’ve never done it.
Olivia says
This might sound a little crazy to some, but I actually brush my teeth with a mixture of powdered cloves and cayenne pepper.
When I’m done, I add a couple drops each of cedarwood essential oil, cypress essential oil and spearmint essential oil to a glass of water and use it as a rinse.
Can’t believe how much whiter one or both of those processes has made my teeth!
Elizabeth Walling says
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing. I’ve never thought of using cayenne pepper before–I would have thought it would burn!