Have you ever tried to make homemade toothpaste? Humans have been making their own toothpaste for centuries, but in today’s world toothpaste is readily available at most stores across the country. So, why would you consider making homemade toothpaste? Many individuals look for alternatives because of the synthetic ingredients found in store-bought options. But the question remains, is homemade toothpaste as effective as its store-bought substitute? Let’s explore.
Upsides of Making Homemade Toothpaste
DIYing your own homemade toothpaste comes with many benefits. Here are some that may want you to make your own toothpaste at home!
You Can Control the Ingredients
The recipe for DIY toothpaste can vary depending on your needs. Some typical ingredients include baking soda, coconut oil, sea salt, and essential oils. One major benefit of making your own toothpaste is that you know exactly what you’re putting into your body.
You’ll Reduce Consumption of Plastic Packaging
As you may be aware, the majority of store-bought toothpaste comes with its fair share of packaging including the tube and its box. Creating your own product means you are consuming less packaging.
There are Many Customization Opportunities
Because you choose the ingredients when making your own toothpaste, you have the opportunity to customize the texture, flavor, and abrasiveness. All of those factors depend on the ingredients you include.
Homemade Toothpaste May Have a Lower Cost
The initial cost of DIYing toothpaste is the most expensive part of the process. Once you have the proper ingredients the cost over time becomes much less than that of buying a tube each month from the store.
Downsides of Homemade Toothpaste
As you’ve read above, making your own toothpaste does have many benefits. However, homemade toothpaste does come with its fair share of downsides.
The Cost of Purchasing Supplies May Be High
To DIY your own toothpaste you will need to gather the appropriate supplies. These should include a container to store the toothpaste, mixing and measuring tools, and the specific ingredients from the recipe you follow.
Not Every Online Homemade Toothpaste Recipe is Safe
Some recipes that you find online may have ingredients that can be harmful to consume. Never include hydrogen peroxide or vinegar in your homemade toothpaste. These two ingredients will break down your tooth enamel causing staining and may also lead to gum concerns.
Some recipes of natural toothpaste may contain baking soda and salt, which might be too abrasive for your teeth and lead to worn down enamel. This can lead to sensitive teeth and gums as well as a higher risk of cavities.
You also want to make sure your recipe isn’t too acidic, which an lower the pH of toothpaste. Avoid ingredients like lemon juice or vinegar so that you don’t erode your enamel over time. This can contribute to tooth decay and sensitivity as well.
Homemade Toothpaste Doesn’t Contain Fluoride
Do consider that your homemade toothpaste will not contain fluoride. Fluoride is proven to be the most effective ingredient for preventing cavities and maintaining a healthy oral state. This ingredient strengthens your enamel making it more resistant to tooth decay. Read this blog to learn more about fluoride.
You Need to Make Sure You Avoid Contamination and Potential Allergens
If you don’t store your homemade toothpaste properly, it can become contaminated with mold or bacteria, which can lead to potential health risks. If you don’t use proper preservatives, it can also spoil more quickly than store-bought toothpaste.
You also need to make sure that your recipe doesn’t contain allergens. Some common allergens in homemade toothpaste recipes include coconut oil and essential oils.
Conclusion
Now that you know the pros and cons of making your own toothpaste at home, what are your thoughts? Will you try to create your own concoction of toothpaste? If yes, consider consulting your dental provider at your next visit. They can help you to make sure the ingredients you are using are safe!
If you are looking for a new dentist in the Twin Cities, we would be honored to part of your oral health journey. Please contact us today to schedule a dental appointment at our St. Louis Park, MN dental office or Bloomington, MN location.
