Feisty 'n Free Basic Tooth Paste

Here’s my own favorite recipe for a natural, fluoride-free cleansing tooth paste.  It cleans the teeth very well and is quite inexpensive.  This recipe makes approximately 8 oz. of tooth paste. INGREDIENTS 6 Tablespoons baking soda 3 Tablespoon Xylitol 6 Tablespoons Bentonite clay 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt 3 Tablespoons of distilled or purified water 60 drops of Peppermint essential oil Optional: add 5-10 drops of another essential oil such as Myrrh, Clove, Cinnamon, Melaleuca, or Frankincense. INSTRUCTIONS Place all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix together. Add water to make a thick paste. Add the essential oil(s) and mix really well.  I use Peppermint essential oil along with a combination of one or two other oils, depending on my preference and mouth needs at the time.  If using Clove or Cinnamon, use only 3-5 drops max, since these oils are quite strong and can cause a burning sensation. To use, wet toothbrush first, dip it into the paste to collect some on it, and begin brushing.   Store the tooth powder in a glass jar.  Preferably do not store in a plastic container.  Any time you are storing things containing essential oils, it is best to do so in glass containers so the plastic does not react with the oils and change their chemical structure and efficacy. It is more sanitary to make separate containers for each person who will be using the tooth paste.  I do not recommend sharing from the same container unless you plan on using something other than your toothbrush to get the paste out. If you decide to try this tooth paste recipe, let me know how it worked for you.  I may post different variations of it in the future (so check the comments).  I’m always tweaking with my all recipes. When I initially made this paste and took the picture above, I only had doTERRA essential oils on hand.  Since that time, I prefer to order and use essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs. © 2013 MaryAnn Broussard