Out of toothpaste this morning? No need to rush to the supermarket: here's how to whip up your own in no time, with simple ingredients.
How Do You Make This Homemade Toothpaste?
The base ingredients are baking soda and green or white clay: the clay is said to eliminate bacteria, while the baking soda is said to help whiten teeth. In a bowl, mix one teaspoon of baking soda with one to three teaspoons of powdered green clay. From this base, add one or two of the following ingredients:
- A few drops of lemon, to help whiten yellowed teeth.
- A few drops of grapefruit seed extract, said to be effective against tartar, canker sores and bacteria.
- One teaspoon of powdered chlorophyll, for fresh breath.
- A few drops of an essential oil of your choice (mint, lemon, sage, grapefruit) for scent — clove is said to help with toothaches, canker sores and mouth infections, and tea tree to whiten teeth.
Mix everything together: your homemade toothpaste is ready.
How Do You Complete It With a Mouthwash?
To maximize results, dilute one teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water, gargle for 2 to 3 minutes, then rinse with cold water.
Be careful not to overuse baking soda: used daily over the long term, it's said to become abrasive to tooth enamel. Since this homemade toothpaste only keeps for a week, it's common practice to alternate it week on, week off with a regular toothpaste.
