The switch to zero-waste toothpaste has been a process for this tribe. I had a little apprehension about the effectiveness of straight baking soda in the beginning, but I think that I probably could have overcome it if it had only been myself that I was considering. Since I wanted to bring the rest of my tribe along in this journey, I knew that I might need to ease a couple of them into this one.
Our first try at homemade toothpaste that really stuck moved us away from non-recyclable toothpaste tubes + the unknown ingredients list, but still used a few (recyclable) packaged goods. I've never been a fan of this sort of substitution, so my goal was always to use this only as a beginning.
Next, I stopped using clay in the recipe (and added a bit more baking soda to it). Without clay, the toothpaste doesn't keep its consistency quite as well, but "leaves teeth + mouth feeling more clean" than the clay version. (via family reviewer) :) After a couple of rounds of that paste, I was ready to try leaving out the aloe vera...which results in tooth powder.
So...here is our zero-waste toothpowder! It's a mixture of:
4 Tbsp. baking soda (available in paper box)
pinch of xylitol (using the rest of what I have now- won't buy again)
8 drops peppermint oil (available in glass- again using up what I already have)
Baking soda :: Helps to remove plaque + reduces acidity. This is the main ingredient in most tooth powder/paste recipes. Though there are those who say it is too abrasive for everyday use, its abrasiveness is less than many commercial pastes. via
Xylitol :: I chose xylitol instead of stevia, because xylitol reduces tooth decay + plaque and promotes the remineralization of teeth :: via + via :: choose xylitol from birch wood, so it's non GMO
Peppermint Oil :: has antimicrobial properties, reduces cavities + freshens bad breath :: via
I stir this up with a chopstick. To use: we simply wet our toothbrushes, tap the excess water off, touch the toothpowder + brush as usual. We have all been to the dentist since our switches began. None of us were asked if we'd changed anything, and no one had any cavities.
Update 2019 :: We no longer use the xylitol, so now it's just a simple two ingredient toothpowder! Still working great.
This process of moving through the recipes is totally unnecessary, but I think it did help move my tribe along toward more zero-waste tooth care. Initially the consistency + the smell of the peppermint helped convince the skeptics. Now we're used to the taste + the experience, which will not change with this latest adaptation. Used in combination with dental lace (now coated in a natural wax instead of a petroleum product!) + bamboo toothbrushes...I feel good about our waste reduction in the oral hygiene department. :)
Love,
Jane
4 Tbsp. baking soda (available in paper box)
pinch of xylitol (using the rest of what I have now- won't buy again)
8 drops peppermint oil (available in glass- again using up what I already have)
Baking soda :: Helps to remove plaque + reduces acidity. This is the main ingredient in most tooth powder/paste recipes. Though there are those who say it is too abrasive for everyday use, its abrasiveness is less than many commercial pastes. via
Xylitol :: I chose xylitol instead of stevia, because xylitol reduces tooth decay + plaque and promotes the remineralization of teeth :: via + via :: choose xylitol from birch wood, so it's non GMO
Peppermint Oil :: has antimicrobial properties, reduces cavities + freshens bad breath :: via
I stir this up with a chopstick. To use: we simply wet our toothbrushes, tap the excess water off, touch the toothpowder + brush as usual. We have all been to the dentist since our switches began. None of us were asked if we'd changed anything, and no one had any cavities.
Update 2019 :: We no longer use the xylitol, so now it's just a simple two ingredient toothpowder! Still working great.
This process of moving through the recipes is totally unnecessary, but I think it did help move my tribe along toward more zero-waste tooth care. Initially the consistency + the smell of the peppermint helped convince the skeptics. Now we're used to the taste + the experience, which will not change with this latest adaptation. Used in combination with dental lace (now coated in a natural wax instead of a petroleum product!) + bamboo toothbrushes...I feel good about our waste reduction in the oral hygiene department. :)
Love,
Jane
