How to make a natural homemade Activated Charcoal Tooth Whitening Powder to give teeth an extra shine and help in removing tough stains. The activated charcoal helps to lighten stains on your teeth with its fine, abrasive texture, which can wear away the stains over time.

I have a confession. I haven’t used toothpaste in three years.

Honest. And I still have my teeth. I haven’t scared away my friends with bad breath. I haven’t got a six foot radius around me everywhere I go. In fact, my teeth have been much healthier since I stopped using toothpaste.

Here’s why I quit the toothpaste.

What’s in Toothpaste?

Most commercial toothpastes contain harmful ingredients, including the following.

Fluoride

Even many of the “natural” toothpastes contain fluoride. According to Mommypotamus it’s possible to keep your teeth cavity-free without this chemical.

‘According to Dr. Hardy Limeback, DDS, PhD, who has served as head of the Department of Preventive Dentistry at the University of Toronto and president of the Canadian Association for Dental Research, “You can get perfectly healthy teeth with resistant enamel without having any kind of fluoride exposure.”‘

Glycerin

This ingredient is used in most conventional toothpastes to prevent the paste from drying out. However, glycerin can coat teeth and prevent them from benefiting from the minerals in saliva. New research suggests that minerals can be returned to teeth, strengthening their structure. But when they’re coated in this chemical barrier, it stops this tooth remineralisation process.

Titanium Dioxide

The same ingredient used to brighten paints and make sunscreen is used in many commercial toothpaste products. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are used to make toothpaste look white. When we ingest particles that small, they can interfere with cells and natural processes in the body. While they may be labelled “safe” at macro levels, nano forms of this compound exhibit very different properties and should be properly tested before being labelled as safe for human consumption.

Triclosan

This antimicrobial chemical has been linked to a number of health and environmental problems (dioxins leak into the water supply, and when mixed with sunlight can have severe impacts on the environment). Triclosan is believed to contribute to health problems like hormonal issues, allergies, and cancer.

Surfactants

Surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate are used widely in products like toothpaste and shampoo for its foaming ability. However, more and more research is finding that SLS can cause mouth ulcers (canker sores) and stomach issues.

Recipe Tutorial Video

Switching to a Natural Tooth Powder

Rather than using these chemical-filled toothpastes, I make my own tooth whitening powder using a range of natural ingredients specifically chosen for their antibacterial, antimicrobial, and stain-removing properties.

Bentonite Clay

This ingredient binds to and draws out heavy metals and toxins, a big plus for the mouth as it’s a gateway for viruses, pathogens and bacteria to enter the body, and delivers a hit of minerals as well as alkalises the mouth.

Baking Soda

This ingredient helps in removing stains and deodorises the mouth.

Calcium Powder

Provides an extra boost of calcium, essential for healthy teeth, plus helps in whitening.

Ground Cloves

Provides antibacterial properties and gives a more pleasant taste to the tooth powder.

Activated Charcoal

Attracts heavy metals and toxins to its porous surface like a magnet so they pass straight through the body without being absorbed. Please note that activated charcoal can be quite abrasive on the enamel, with some studies showing it can wear away the enamel over time. Please use this ingredient with caution.

Cinnamon

A natural antibacterial and also gives this tooth powder a nice taste.

Peppermint

Mint can be soothing on the gums, and provides a nice taste to the powder.

Before we get started in learning how to make this activated charcoal tooth whitening powder, if you like what you’re seeing, subscribe to my email newsletter at the bottom of the page to keep up to date on the latest recipes, DIYs, gardening and health tips I share!

Activated Charcoal Tooth Whitening Powder

This recipe can be adjusted to cater this tooth powder to your individual needs. If your main focus is removing stains, add a little more activated charcoal to the tooth powder recipe (just be cautious with it as it can be abrasive). If you don’t have peppermint leaves on hand, simply grind up some peppermint tea leaves in a small blender until a fine powder forms.

I rarely add xylitol to my recipes, but it can help with the taste, especially for kids. It’s an antibacterial and neutralises pH, helping to prevent tooth decay.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 tbsp bentonite clay (do not use a metal spoon when mixing because it interacts with the clay)
• 2 tbsp calcium carbonate powder
• 1 tsp activated charcoal
• 2 tsp baking soda (omit if you have sensitive teeth)
• 1 1/2 tbsp ground mint or 10 drops peppermint essential oil
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon or 4 drops cinnamon essential oil
• 1 tsp ground cloves or 5 drops clove essential oil
• 1 tsp ground sage or 4 drops sage essential oil
• 1 tbsp xylitol powder (optional)

To Make:

1. Using a non-metal spoon, add all the ingredients to a glass jar and mix well to combine.
2. To use this tooth powder, add a little of the powder to a toothbrush, then brush the teeth well and rinse as normal.

This blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice. The use of information on this blog or materials linked from this blog is at the user’s own risk. The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have, and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Have you used activated charcoal before? Share in the comments below.

Lots of love,

Vanessa