Wowzers! Here is a gift from one of our very own who is a professionally trained chef! You just know it’s gonna be good when Heather’s hands are in it! She’s designed a recipe that even the kids will like! (Phew!)

Now about the ingredients. Coconut oil is anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral. Here’s one study: (The Effect of Coconut Oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans Count in Saliva in Comparison with Chlorhexidine Mouthwash.) that found coconut oil was more effective than Chlorhexidine (a disinfectant and antiseptic) commonly used in mouthwash. It is very effective in eliminating streptococcus mutans (an oral bacteria that causes tooth decay). There are also studies revealing the antifungal nature of coconut oil in treating yeast infections of the mouth. An oil-pulling technique would work best for this last situation along with no eating or drinking for half an hour afterward.

Baking soda is useful for removing plaque and odors from teeth and its alkalinity neutralizes the acidic bacteria that build up in the mouth.

You can experiment with different essential oils and combinations. If you are an essential oil connoisseur you might try lemon or a lemon/lavender combination. There are so many to choose from: lime, clove/cinnamon, spearmint, vanilla, cinnamon/nutmeg/vanilla, orange, tangerine, pizza, chicken’n gravy, pot roast, bacon… Woops! I got a little carried away.

HEATHER’S HEAVENLY TOOTHPASTE RECIPE*

Items needed

• 4 oz. or larger glass jar with a lid (DO NOT use plastic containers when utilizing essential oils.)
• Spoon or Popsicle stick (to stir)
• Bowl with hot water (To melt the coconut oil placed in the glass jar)· Essential Oils of your choice

Ingredients

• 1/4 C – Coconut Oil, melted
• 2 – 4 TBSP – Baking Soda (If you’re new to using Baking Soda, start off with a smaller amount. You can always re-melt and add more.)
• 20 Drops – Peppermint essential oil
• 20 Drops – Clove Bud essential oil (Clove is a strong flavor you may want to start with 10 drops, taste, then decide if you want to add more.)

Coconut oil melts at about 78 degrees. So place the ¼ Cup of coconut oil into your glass jar, then set the jar in a bowl of hot water until it is liquefied. Next, using the Popsicle stick stir in the baking soda. Last, add your essential oils and mix well, then allow it to solidify. (If you are impatient, the refrigerator will do this quickly.) …and violà!

What can you expect? The toothpaste will taste a little salty and be just a wee bit gritty because of the baking soda. The coconut oil in the recipe makes for a creamy feeling on your teeth that will go away. For those who have a hard time adjusting to new flavors and textures be sure to give this a fair try. Use it consistently for at least two weeks or so. It will be well worth the effort.

*Remember, especially if you have young children, they need to spit this out after using it, just like they do with a commercial toothpaste. What gets spit out is all kinds of bacteria and fungus. Nothing anyone wants to swallow.

We would love to hear your thoughts on this recipe in the comments below. So be sure to let us know if you used Heather’s recipe or if you tweaked it to your own liking, and if so how it turned out.

…And don’t forget to thank Miss Heather for sharing her wonderful, natural homemade toothpaste recipe with us. I’ve always wondered what a chef uses for toothpaste. Haven’t you?

The Herbs & The Bees, LLC, or its staff do not diagnose or prescribe.Our purpose is to provide information, products and suggested wellness programs to those who will share responsibility for their personal well being. Our services are not a substitute for medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice, please consult a licensed physician.