Remineralizing Tooth Powder Recipe

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Making a homemade remineralizing tooth powder is one of my favorite DIYs. It’s a simple and effective way to keep your teeth fresh and clean!

In this DIY recipe, we will use ingredients that will enhance tooth remineralization, which is a natural process that helps to repair the outer layer of our teeth and prevents tooth decay. 

Creating this homemade tooth powder is also super affordable; you’ll need a couple of easy-to-get ingredients, and you can make multiple batches from the tooth powder!

Ingredients needed

Bentonite clay:

Bentonite clay is an antibacterial agent, and it contains natural minerals, such as calcium, which can help remineralize your teeth. It raises the pH of your mouth and provides the necessary abrasiveness to remove plaque. 

Bentonite clay isn’t abrasive enough to scratch enamel, so it’s a safe option, and it is also good for eliminating the most common sources of bad breath. Kaolin clay is another natural option that’s safe and effective at cleaning and polishing teeth. 

A side note: Bentonite clay is sourced directly from the earth, which means it has the potential to absorb heavy metals and other impurities. It’s crucial to choose a reputable brand that offers a certified safe product for internal use

Where to buy plastic-free bentonite clay: 

• Bentonite clay from Zero Waste Bulk (the US)
• Bentonite clay from A Drop In The Ocean (the US)
• Bentonite clay from All Things Being Eco (Canada)
• Bentonite clay from Zero waste store (Australia)
• Bentonite clay from Etsy
• I bought my bentonite clay from a local health store in Bulgaria

Baking soda:

Baking soda is an effective antimicrobial powder that will freshen your breath and whiten your teeth. Best of all, it can start removing plaque after a single tooth brushing! 

Studies (1, 2) found that brushing your teeth with baking soda helps maintain significantly lower plaque levels. It is also effective in stain removal and teeth whitening.

Researchers in both clinical and laboratory studies have found baking soda is safe, low in abrasiveness, and does not contribute to root sensitivity. 

A study found that baking soda mouth rinse prevents enamel demineralization while enhancing remineralization. 

An article in a leading dental journal from 1911 described baking soda as “the ideal tooth powder” as being “capable of giving a high polishing to the teeth, without the danger of scratching them.”

Here is another interesting chart showing the abrasiveness of common kinds of toothpaste. You can see that baking soda is on the lower end (low abrasiveness). 

Just keep in mind that baking soda’s harshness depends on several factors, including the frequency of brushing, the hardness of the toothbrush bristles, and the pressure applied. So be mindful and apply more ‘gently’ pressure, when brushing your teeth.

Where to buy plastic-free baking soda: 

• Arm & Hammer Baking Soda – box (link to Amazon)
• Zero Waste Bulk (the US)
• The Good Fill – bulk (the US) 
• The Source Bulk Foods (the UK)
• Zero Waste Bulk Foods (the UK)
• Or local bulk & healthy food stores 

Xylitol:

Xylitol is a non-sugar sweetener extracted from the birch tree. It is beneficial for the oral environment since it can decrease dental caries (1, 2). Xylitol also reduces bacteria sticking to the gums, plaque levels, dry mouth, gingival inflammation, and teeth decay. (1) 

Where to buy plastic-free xylitol: 

• Zero waste bulk (the US)
• The Source Bulk Foods (Australia)
• Bulk™ (compostable packaging, the UK, Europe)
• Check local bulk and health stores

Essential oils for oral health:

• Peppermint essential oil: Effectively soothes toothaches, and it is potent for fighting oral pathogens and killing common bacteria that can lead to cavities and gum disease. (1) It is antifungal and shows solid antibacterial action against oral pathogens. (1, 2)
• Cinnamon essential oil: It has an antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effect that has long been used to treat toothache and fight bad breath. (1) Studies found that cinnamon oil is effective in inhibiting bacterial species involved in dental caries. (1, 2)
• Clove essential oil: Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, making it effective for easing toothaches and fighting oral bacteria. (1, 2) It can inhibit bacteria that cause gum disease. (1) A study found that using an herbal mouthwash with tea tree oil, cloves, and basil for 21 days improved gum health and reduced plaque and bacteria.

A note on essential oils: As with any essential oil, there may be allergic reactions. Always do a skin patch test on a small area around your elbow. For oral use, due to the highly aromatic nature of essential oils, tissue irritation may appear.

Homemade tooth powder recipe

1. 4 tbsp bentonite clay (53g)
2. 4 tbsp baking soda (57g)
3. 4 teaspoons xylitol (17g)
4. 8-9 drops of peppermint essential oil
5. 3 drops cinnamon essential oil (optional)

Instructions

1. With a non-metallic spoon, add 4 tbsp bentonite clay and 4 tbsp of baking soda in a jar.
2. Then add around 4 teaspoons of xylitol, and mix well.
3. In the end, add peppermint essential oil and cinnamon (or clove) essential oils, and mix once again.

How to use the tooth powder?

You can wet your toothbrush and then dip it into the jar with tooth powder, or sprinkle a small amount on my palms and then dip my wet toothbrush into the powder on my hand.

I prefer the second option since our toothbrushes contain a lot of bacteria, and I don’t want to contaminate my jar of fresh tooth powder. 😀 

Alternatively, you can use a spice bottle with a shaker top and sprinkle the tooth powder on the toothbrush. (just make sure the top part is plastic)

After you have the tooth powder on your toothbrush, brush your teeth the same way you would with conventional toothpaste.

FAQ

Do tooth powders really work?

Tooth powder is as good as toothpaste (if not better) in controlling dental plaque and gingivitis (1). Studies, like this, and this one, found that tooth powder is more effective than toothpaste for removing surface stains from teeth and reducing dental plaque. Other great benefits of DIY tooth powder include:

• It can whiten your teeth naturally
• It will freshen your breath 
• It is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory 
• It will help you to maintain lower plaque levels

What should I avoid putting in my tooth powder?

In my personal experience, I will advise you to avoid adding:

• Charcoal – I was using charcoal tablets for a couple of months, and I did not have a great experience with it. It left my teeth with weird stains, and after researching more about it, I found that charcoal toothpaste increases the surface roughness of teeth, and there isn’t enough evidence that it’s safe. 
• Cinnamon – I tried using cinnamon, as it has various benefits, but it was getting stuck in between my teeth every time, which was very annoying. That’s why I recommend cinnamon essential oil. 
• Dried or fresh herbs – Similar to the previous, adding any dry or fresh herbs might get stuck in between your teeth. 

What are some good sustainable toothbrush options? 

While we are on the topic, I thought to recommend a couple of eco-friendly toothbrush options:

• Brush With Bamboo (a pack of 4) (the US, link to Amazon)
• The Humble Co. (a pack of 5) (the US, link to Amazon)
• Eco Roots Toothbrush (the US, link to Eco Roots)
• Wild & Stone Bamboo Toothbrush – Use the code MERILIN for 5% off (the UK, link to Eco Sal)
• Live Coco Toothbrush (the UK, link to Live Coco)

I’m sensitive to essential oils. What should I do?

Just skip the essential oils. Instead, you can add 1-2 additional teaspoons of xylitol to make the tooth powder with a more pleasant taste.

Would a metal jar lid deactivate the bentonite clay? 

Most jar lids have a thin plastic lining inside, preventing the powder from being deactivated. However, if you aren’t sure if your jar lid is lined with plastic, use a jar with a plastic cover. 

Can I omit the baking soda?

If your teeth hurt and are sensitive after baking soda, try reducing the baking soda to just 1 tbsp and see how it feels. If it is still unpleasant, you can try to substitute baking soda with calcium carbonate powder.

Are there good toothpowder brands?

There are plenty of great low-waste & toothpowder options, including: 

• Viva Doria Natural Fluoride Free Tooth Powder
• Banyan Botanicals Mint Cardamom Tooth Powder
• Dr. Arenander’s BrainGain Formulas – Toothpowder for gum diseases
• REGROW Remineralizing Tooth Powder – For sensitive teeth & gums
• Simply Sooney Tooth Powder – Jar or paper bag. Zero waste & 6-month supply

Summary

Incorporating this remineralizing tooth powder into your daily oral care routine is a simple yet effective way to support your dental health naturally.

By using ingredients known for their ability to strengthen enamel and promote overall gum health, you can feel confident in taking a more holistic approach to oral hygiene.

I hope you will love this DIY tooth powder recipe as much as I do! If I missed something, feel free to leave your questions in the comment section below. 🙂