My latest DIY toothpaste

I have been working on a follow-up to my blog on C-PTSD and nightmares. I want to let every reader know that my journey has not been as great as it could have been through therapy thus far. But I keep reaching stumbling blocks. I’m not so sure it can qualify as writer’s block, as I don’t really know if I qualify as an actual writer yet. I think it’s the fact of getting it out there that the psychiatric field, including that for trauma and sexual assault isn’t all that peachy in some areas. Not everyone who goes to school to be a therapist should be one. I will not throw names out there, it will be all anonymous, but it’s still scary. I am pointing the finger. And for once, I refuse to blame myself for this one. I will get there, I promise. My hope is to show that you can have shitty things happen, traumatic things, and still survive and have a fairly good (great!) life, even with chronic pain and illnesses.

But for now, let’s talk about organic, vegan, minty fresh breath and smooth teeth tonight! I have been DIY my toothpaste for about 5 years. In 2012, I started doing DIY laundry detergent. I’m hoping to do a blog on that tomorrow. Just waiting for this current batch to coaggulate and get pictures of it…if they turn out. So anywho, I did the DIY laundry detergent, deodorant, and toothpaste all about the same time in the Spring of 2012.   I discovered the Wellness Mama blog! I get an email every Thursday or Friday.

Through trial and error, I have tried many batches of toothpaste throughout the past few years. ALOT has to do with your climate and the coconut oil base. There are 2 “kinds” of coconut oil. The hard white “tubs” you see now in the cooking oil isle and then the liquid stuff. The hard stuff starts to melt at about 76-77 degrees Farenheit. So for the winter months, living in North Eastern Pennsylvania, I have a tub of white oil in the kitchen. Which I actually keep next to an electric heater so that some is melted most of the time. Other wise, I pour some of the melted stuff into a smaller glass jar to pop into the hot pot to melt. Or microwave. I buy my coconut oil in the gallon jug because I practically live on this stuff. I use it for everything. Here is a link to Swanson Vitamins’ Blog on 50 Ways to Use Coconut Oil . Aside from all the DIY stuff…..my absolute favorite is blending some in my morning coffee with vegan creamer and making a vegan latte. I believe that is #12 on the above list. I did put this in a previous blog about some of my favorite vegan things.

The reason you will have to find a good balance between the hard oil and liquid….aka FCO = Fractionated Coconut Oil is that the liquid will keep the hard oil from forming a brick in your container. And the hard oil, in turn, will firm up the FCO. Last spring I decided to be fancy and funnel the spring’s batch into a squeezable tube I got at CVS in the travel section for like $3. All was fine and dandy, and it was squeezing out fabulously onto my toothbrush until….summer heat hit. Then all the powder settled to the bottom and all the liquid floated to the top. So I bought a little glass container with a lid and squeezed it all in there and was able to mix it up. Keep in mind, that you will have to find a good balance between the two for whatever current season you are in in your area.

I have gotten nothing but great reviews from my now, recently retired dentist and dental tech. They said my gums have been so healthy since I started making my own toothpaste. I have super sensitive teeth, always have, even as a kid. I remember in elementary school going up and asking my teacher why my teeth hurt when I would breathe through my mouth.  The sensitivity has basically gone away. Throughout the years, I found out some CRAZY truths about toothpaste and nasty ingredients and chemicals in commercial-grade toothpaste. Like fluoride and sweetners. The link below to Wellness Mama’s original recipe will give you a quick and concise run-down on some of the nasties.

About a year and a half ago, I started really using turmeric in a heck of alot of stuff. It is a great natural anti-inflammatory. Tastes weird, unless you are accustomed to it, like some ethnicities are. It is the main ingredient in curry that gives it the yellow color.  My one friend will gag when she smells or tastes it, outright. I throw it in rice dishes, couscous, lentils, quinoa, and some others….like that fabulous cauliflower soup I made about 2 weeks ago. I drink tumeric and ginger tea for my fibromyalgia inflammation. I put it in my smoothies when I make them. Alot. I think I just like thinking I’m doing something natural for the on-going inflammation in my body.

The bentonite clay has been used for many hundreds, if not longer, years for alot of health conditions. That provides some smooth scrubbing action along with the salt. I like the Himalayan Pink Salt because it contains 84 minerals in it.

The next ingredients are essential oils. For all of your ingredients, in everything, you should always try to purchase organic and sustainably sourced and produced products, along with it being ecological and benefitting the Earth. (Try to buy Fair Trade, as well!) Sometimes we just can’t do that when we are not too financially strong. Especially when we are chronically ill and can not work. BUT, I do the best I can. I was selling doTERRA, but I do not like alot of what goes on with the representatives making health claims, and such; as I previously had explained in a previous post. I have come to start purchasing Eden’s Garden oils. Although today, I am using older purchased oils from the local health food store. I also like David Crow and his company Floracopeia alot. And I get alot of my DIY products through Moutain Rose Herbs and Swanson Vitamins.  Swanson Vitamins also sells ALOT of vegan things….including food.

So without further adieu, here is the Wellness Mama original article and recipe, and below that is what I made today.

Wellness Mama Natural Toothpaste Recipe

Natural Toothpaste Ingredients

-1/2 cup organic coconut oil total, adjust portions to your bathroom’s temperature      and consistency you like. (Trial and Error time!)
———-1/4 cup melted (melt hardened oil in a small cup in a double boiler, or microwave)
———-1/4 cup liquid, shelf-stable oil (FCO=fractionated coconut oil)
-1 TBSP baking soda, make sure you mash all of the clumps out, if any, with the back of a spoon and the bowl. Or if you’re fancy like me, lol, a mortar and pestle.
-1 TBSP bentonite clay
-1 tsp. Himalayan Pink Salt (or Celtic Sea Salt), fine ground
-1 tsp tumeric, depending on taste
-1 tsp stevia powder, adjust to taste
-15-20 drops of organic essential oils (peppermint, cinnamon, wintergreen, spearmint, grapefruit or other citrus, OnGuard by doTERRA (which I do have a website for this, just message me) is AWESOME, and what I have used for 2 years….LOVE the orange and clove together!)
———–Today I used 5 of each Anise, Clove, Cinnamon, and Peppermint for a change

Natural Toothpaste Instructions

Melt or slightly soften coconut oil. Mix in other ingredients and stir well.  If you are using completely melted coconut oil, you will need to stir several times while the mixture cools to keep the baking soda and other powders are incorporated.
Put mixture into small glass jar. Let cool completely. Stir before each use.

To use: dip toothbrush in and scrape small amount onto bristles. You could also use a small spoon to put on toothbrush. I use a “popsicle” craft stick to stir each time I use this and then spread onto the toothbrush. Some of the coconut oil will absorb into the wood. This is ok.