I’ve had a long, complicated history with teeth — the kind you only appreciate after you’ve lost too many of them.
Between unnecessary wisdom teeth extractions, root canals, infections I didn’t know could be helped without drilling… I lost 8 permanent teeth by the time I was 30.
So when I became a mom, I carried that trauma with me. It was heartbreak and fear that I was determined to protect my kids from.
I have spent years of studying everything I could find on dental health: enamel, gut health, Weston A. Price nutrition — and literally dozens of homemade toothpaste attempts.
It’s been a huge uphill battle because my kids didn’t like a lot of the foods I introduced, and they utterly despised most of the toothpaste recipes.
I’d end up being the only one using the homemade stuff, while the kids begged for the store-bought ‘fun’ toothpastes.
But my kids would literally eat those toothpastes, and I was so frustrated with how frequently we were spending a fortune to save their teeth.
But one night, in a Cure Tooth Decay forum, I came across a family who posted the most unbelievable before-and-after photos of their child’s teeth. Not overnight results — real, slow, steady healing over eighteen months.
Their regimen was pretty standard Weston A Price style – I had seen many people using it before. But what caught my eye was their toothpaste recipe — specifically what wasn’t in it.
No baking soda…?
No salt….?
Wait… that’s toothpaste?
I was like, is that even a thing??
And suddenly it dawned on me, NOTHING will help if it isn’t used and no child will brush with something that tastes like a science project.
Take out the salt, and you majorly fix the flavor.
So I went to work on my own homemade recipe and took out the salt. I focused on incorporating the ingredients I knew we needed but made it taste good. And now it’s all my kids will use!
The Problem with Most Standard Toothpastes
You may not be aware that commercial toothpaste is regulated as a cosmetic, not a food. That means companies can use ingredients that would never be allowed in something meant to be swallowed.
But the problem is that little kids do swallow toothpaste. Many adults swallow little bits too- even unintentionally. So what’s in the tube really matters.
Here are the biggest issues to watch out for:
1. Titanium dioxide for whitening
This is used purely for appearance — to make toothpaste bright white.
Some studies have raised concerns about nano-size titanium dioxide particles and cell absorption. The FDA has banned the use of this chemical in skin care products but not toothpaste yet… red flag much?
2. Abrasives that can wear down enamel
Hydrated silica (derived from quartz and sand) is in many toothpastes. Its job is to polish teeth and make them feel slippery clean.
The concern is that over time, strong abrasives may thin enamel instead of protecting it. That can result in increased sensitivity rather than remineralization.
3. Glycerin may coat the teeth
This is one of the most heavily debated ingredients.
In Cure Tooth Decay, Ramiel Nagel argues that glycerin can form a coating on enamel that may interfere with remineralization.
Modern dentists disagree on the degree to which this is true — but the discussion itself is worth knowing about when your goal is strengthening teeth.
4. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
A well-known irritant used to create foam.
It’s also used in industrial cleaners because it strips oils aggressively.
In the mouth, because of its aggressive stripping power, SLS has been correlated with canker sores and irritation.
5. Cosmetic and chemical additives with unstudied risks
Food dyes, artificial flavors, microplastics (in some gels), stabilizers — all added for shelf life or appearance, not oral health.
Many of us would never even consider feeding our kids these products… so why would we let them brush with them?
So What Does Clean Teeth Naturally?
Before the explosion of commercial paste, people cleaned their teeth using simple, mineral-rich, uncomplicated substances.
And these still work — in some cases better than modern formulas.
Here are the natural tooth cleaners that actually get the job done:
1. Sea Salt
A traditional cleanser that helps scrub, neutralize acids, and support a healthy pH. A tiny pinch can go a long way — too much can be harsh and I actually have had increased sensitivity when I have used too much salt for brushing.
2. Baking Soda
A gentle abrasive + pH balancer.
Again, the flavor here is awful to kids and adults alike.
But, for me personally, baking soda has caused increased sensitivity in the past. So I have found that leaving it out of my toothpaste recipe is helpful for me.
It is a great whitener and I will use it or salt from time to time for whitening. Just not in my regular daily routine.
3. Tooth Soap
Made from saponified oils, tooth soap cleans without harsh detergents.
It’s been used historically and still works amazingly today. Again… flavor.
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4. Remineralizing Tooth Powders & Homemade Pastes
These are the heavy hitters — especially the ones based on minerals like:
• hydroxyapatite
• calcium carbonate
• kaolin clay
• xylitol (optional, depending on family comfort)
They don’t just clean — they support enamel.
My homemade toothpaste falls into this category, and because it’s mild, mineral-rich, and flavor-flexible, kids actually use it.
Which matters more than anything.
The Bottom Line is
If you can’t pronounce the ingredients — or your child refuses to brush with it — it’s not helping.
Now, I will say that we have tried and had excellent results with Risewell, Burst, and Boka toothpaste brands. My kids loved the flavors and the ingredients are clean.
However, with my kids regularly climbing counters to open and eat those toothpastes, I was spending too much to keep it in stock in our house.
Plus, for the same price as one tube of these brands, I can make 3–5 full batches of my homemade toothpaste — which lasts us way longer.
Want my Recipe? It’s Free.
If you want the kid-friendly remineralizing toothpaste we use in our home — the one that finally worked for us after years of trial and error — you can download it here:
👉 5-Minute Remineralizing Toothpaste Recipe
And if you or your child is already dealing with tooth pain and you need immediate relief steps you can use tonight:
Both are simple, gentle, and parent-tested.
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