How to Make the Best Remineralizing Homemade Tooth Powder in Under 5 Minutes
Cure tooth decay with this recipe for homemade remineralizing and whitening tooth powder that uses bentonite clay, activated charcoal, baking soda or diatomaceous earth, essential oils, and spices. Learn how to make this easy DIY tooth powder that is kid friendly and actually works better than toothpaste

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I’ve been wanting to share this homemade toothpaste recipe for.ev.er.
So many people ask me about it, and it’s honestly one of my favorite things that I make. I can’t really tell you why, but I just love making my own toothpaste.
I keep using the word toothpaste, but let me be clear: This is a tooth powder. You can turn it into a paste by adding coconut oil, but in my world, why add an extra unneccesary step? Powder it is. If you’ve used or have seen Dirty Mouth Tooth Powder, this is like that.
And there’s something cool about rubbing dirt in your mouth.
Why dirt? Aren’t we cleaning our teeth?
When I’m using the word dirt here, I should clarify that this “dirt” is clay. Bentonite clay in this case. And bentonite clay in general is FANTASTIC at drawing out toxins and, for lack of a better word, GUNK. That’s why it’s often used in face masks and salves. This toothpaste (I mean tooth powder) also utilizes activated charcoal. And when bentonite clay works alongside activated charcoal, it’s super potent at cleaning teeth.
I used to think of teeth as being solid and completely dense. But get this: teeth are actually quite-sponge like in their makeup, having microscopic pores. So the clay and charcoal purify and cleanse teeth by drawing out tiny particles within the teeth. Mind=blown.
Ingredients you need to make tooth powder
Ok, I’m going to be honest. When you first buy everything you need to make this toothpowder, it might seem pricey. But the supplies will last you a loooooong time. And not only that, but many ingredients…wait, I’m thinking…no, all…all of the ingredients have multiple purposes.
And I get really jazzed about multi-purpose things.
Let’s talk about simple benefits of each ingredient and at least one other use for it besides making your own tooth powder.

Bentonite Clay
Benefit: draws out impurites, bacteria, and toxins
Can aslo be used for: making diaper cream (seriously, if you have a kiddo in diapers, you need to go make that diaper cream. It’s really the best I’ve used!)
Activated charcoal
Benefit: also draws out impurities, bacteria, and toxins, but also whitens teeth (cha-ching!)
Can also be used for: food poisoning or the stomach bug. You. Guys. I swear by this. Activated charcoal is absolutely my number one item to have on hand. Because people ralphing is my least favorite thing. As a family of 6 now, getting the stomach bug is THE WORST. If you hate throwing up, you need some. It’s safe for kids to take, so total win.
(After you’re done reading about toothpowder, jump over to this lovely blog to learn more about using activated charcoal for tummy stuff)
Calcium
Benefit: calcium helps to fortify your bones. And in this case, your teeth.
Can also be used for: chalk paint! Who doesn’t love to turn random surfaces into a chalkboard these days?
Baking Soda
Benefit: adds an abrasive quality, which scrapes previously said “gunk” off your teeth
Can also be used for: I think it would be easier to tell you what baking soda CAN’T be used for, right?! I use baking soda all over the place. But one of my favorites is in this cloth-diaper friendly laundry detergent.
Diatomaceous Earth (optional)
Benefit: also adds an abbrasiveness to the toothpowder, but it’s not as salty as baking soda. Using diatomaceous earth helps if you’re sensitive to baking soda
Can also be used for: ant and flea killer. I’m amazed at how well it works. Sprinkle it onto carpet, or sprinkle a border around an area where you don’t want ants coming in (which for me is, like, everywhere).
Himalayan Salt
Benefit: it contains trace minerals, which help teeth remineralize! How cool is that? Your teeth can actually heal to some degree
Can also be used for: Eating. Like in this easy crockpot dinner recipe.
Ground Cinnamon
Benefit: makes it taste good, but also has antiseptic qualities
Can also be used for: making delicious breakfast or lactation cookies
Ground Cloves
Benefit: adds another layer of antiseptic properties and is also good for tooth aches, as it is known to help numb tooth pain
Can also be used for: cleaning carpets. Try this dry carpet cleaner with the added benefits of clove.
Peppermint essential oil
Benefit: combats bad breath and is an antibacterial
Can also be used for: making delicious peppermint mocha larabars.
Something to note about switching to tooth powder
It’s weird at first. There. I said it. You might hate it compared to the sweet, minty, foamy toothpaste you’re used to. I know I did. But after a couple of days I was completely sold. And I bet you will be too! It makes my teeth feel so much more squeaky clean AFTER the fact. It’s really strange DURING the fact, though. Rubbing mud around your teeth will not feel productive. But this tooth powder really does works (just be prepared for something totally different from your regular toothpaste experience).

The Nitty Gritty Tooth Powder Recipe
It’s really not gritty.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup bentonite clay
- 1 tsp-1 T activated charcoal (depending on the whitening power you want)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp diatomaceous earth (or another tsp of baking soda)
- 2 tsp calcium carbonate powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp himalayan salt (finely ground. Blitz it in a coffee grinder if needed)
- 10-15 drops peppermint essential oil
How to Make Tooth Powder
- Add all the dry ingredients to a plastic or glass container (without metal. Metal neutralizes the clay’s effectiveness), with the salt on top.
- Add the peppermint oil to the salt, which will help it absorb without clumping.
- Close the lid tightly and shake it until combines.
How to Use Your Remineralizing Tooth Powder
Wet a toothbrush (you can buy my favorite eco-friendly ones HERE), dip the bristles into the powder, and brush as normal.
A cleaning tip: Yes, your sink might get more dirty because of all the dirt going on. Simply rinse and wipe down the sink after you brush. If you get some build up, just put a dash of baking soda on a rag and wipe the sink down in circular motions (remember how I said I use baking soda all over the place?). I keep a shaker of baking soda by the sink for quick cleaning.
don’t the cinnamon, cloves, and peppermint taste horrible mixed up together/
I personally love it haha It’s not as spicy as it sounds 😉
I’m just curious if you simply added coconut oil wouldn’t it be able to be made into a toothpaste? Maybe double boiled to blend the recipe?
Lilla, I have never tried this, so I can’t answer for certain. But I think it might be a bit hard to use with coconut oil (especially once it’s solid). I’m curious if it might work if you also incorporated a liquid oil like olive oil along with the coconut oil. It might make it more pliable. I might need to try this to find out haha
Let me just say, I am new to your site and have fallen in love. I’m a new wife looking to keep things simple and as healthy as I can. Thank you for sharing so much wisdom! I’m loving these recipes!!
I think the coconut oil might work alone. I’ve never tried it, but my grandmother adds cinnamon to her coconut oil and says it keeps it from getting too hard in the winter. She says it’s keeps it spreadable. Like I said, I haven’t tried it, but there may be something to that. Either way, I’m really looking forward to trying this recipe out!!
I definitely want to try out this recipe!
I definitely need to switch to making this.