How to Make All-Natural Tooth Brushing Powder
With this easy-to-make all-natural tooth brushing powder recipe, you can enjoy clean teeth, avoid toxins, and save money in the process.
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As a former dental hygienist, I know the value of good oral health. Healthy teeth, healthy gums, and a good oral microbiome are all immensely beneficial.
While I was taught one train of thinking in school (i.e. Colgate & Listerine), I have since ventured into the natural world of oral health.
My first dental DIY was a homemade mouthwash. I did a ton of research to ensure I was getting therapeutic benefits from the recipe I came up with (if only I bookmarked that research 😅) and have been using it for years.
I have since also made an all-natural tooth brushing powder. I have wanted to try this for a long time, so I finally experimented and came up with a formula that I enjoy.
Be sure to check out the benefits of each ingredient in this homemade tooth brushing powder, and the MAJOR savings explained in the cost-benefit analysis.
The Importance of Good Oral Health 🦷
This may sound like something you have heard before, but you only get one set of teeth (at least adult teeth). It is great to have options like crowns and implants if something goes wrong, but why spend money on something fake if you can take care of and keep your own teeth as they are?
Teeth
Teeth may be one of those things most people take for granted because we are so used to them, we don’t even think about it. Kind of like breathing. However, teeth serve many important functions.
The most obvious function is the ability to chew food. Ask any elderly person with dentures and they will tell you that chewing with dentures is not the same as chewing with real teeth. What is less obvious is the fact that if you have difficulty chewing, your diet is going to change. Most of the time, that change is not for the better. Nutrition can be severely impacted by tooth loss.
In addition to poor nutrition, tooth loss can cause facial changes and difficulty speaking. If you’ve ever seen old pictures with people who appear to have high cheek bones and sunken cheeks, they have likely lost many of their posterior (back) teeth.
Peridontium
Perio what?! I was going to talk about the importance of gum health, but more than just your gums are necessary for good oral health. The periodontium includes the gingiva (gums), the periodontal ligament, the cementum, and the bone.
This may all sound very boring at this point, but if any of those tissues get damaged, you risk tooth loss and harboring bad bacteria in your mouth. I won’t go into a lecture on the details of these four tissues, but the cleaner you keep your mouth, the less likely you will be to have a problem.
A common problem that can occur is periodontitis, which is an infection that causes damage to the soft tissues and bone surrounding your teeth (the periodontium). As the disease progresses, teeth can become mobile over time. If they get too loose, you will either loose your teeth or simply be unable to chew properly with them.
Oral Microbiome
The gut microbiome has become very mainstream talk these days, but I seldom hear about the oral microbiome. A balanced and healthy oral microbiome is important for overall health. It can help keep pathogens at bay, it aids digestion, it can help fight tooth decay, and it can help prevent bad breath.
Many factors can influence the oral microbiome including diet and oral cleaning habits. Brushing daily with a good tooth brushing powder can greatly benefit your oral hygiene routine.
Why Avoid Conventional Toothpaste?
I believe I have made the case as to why it is important to take good care of your oral health, but now the question is how?
Before, during, and after dental hygiene school I used all of the conventional products that most people use. My favorite combination was Colgate Total and Listerine (the one that burns 😅). Now, I firmly believe in the recommended routine of brushing twice a day, flossing once per day, and using a mouthwash. However, for several years now, I have avoided certain oral hygiene products such as conventional toothpaste.
Common ingredients in conventional toothpaste that I avoid:
By making my own homemade tooth brushing powder, I can safely avoid anything that I do not want to enter into my body. Yes, you do spit out toothpaste. However, small quantities do get swallowed. Additionally, many ingredients can be absorbed into your body sublingually (underneath your tongue).
When I brush with my tooth brushing powder, I do not have to worry about the ingredients that get ingested into my body because I believe them to be safe.
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Benefits of Homemade Tooth Brushing Powder
While I have many toothpaste brands that I believe to be safe to use and leave my teeth feeling clean, I really enjoy brushing with my homemade tooth brushing powder.
Superior Clean
I may be biased in favor of my own tooth brushing powder recipe, but my mouth feels exceptionally clean after brushing with it. If you’ve ever chewed on a clove, you know how clean your mouth feels and how fresh your breath is. The ground clove in this tooth brushing powder definitely gives the cleansing action a boost.
Ingredient Control
Like I mentioned earlier, when making my own homemade tooth brushing powder, I get to choose exactly what it is made with, and therefore exactly what enters my mouth. There will be no surprise studies that get released revealing the ingredient label isn’t actually accurate.
Ingredient Benefits
You may be wondering why I chose the ingredients that I did for my homemade tooth brushing powder. Here is a little summary of how each ingredient benefits overall oral health:
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Customization
With any DIY recipe, there is wiggle room with certain ingredients, especially when you use essential oils. For this tooth brushing powder recipe, I like the combination of peppermint and tea tree essential oil. If I want a really strong taste, I can add more. If I want a more mild taste, I can add less. I can even swap out the peppermint essential oil for spearmint instead. Each batch can vary slightly for a little bit of variety.
Eco-Friendly
My homemade tooth brushing powder most definitely does not have any microbeads, parabens, or synthetic antibacterial agents. I have a clear conscience with everything that gets rinsed down the drain.
Money Saving
While it is always good to see manufacturers produce products that are low-tox and natural, I do enjoy the savings that comes with making my own DIY creations. Check out the cost-benefit analysis to see a comparison between a store-bought tooth brushing powder and my homemade tooth brushing powder.
Is Homemade Tooth Brushing Powder Too Abrasive?
After doing some research post dental hygiene school, I think I may have been lead astray with some dental propaganda 🙃. I was always told that brushing with baking soda was not recommended because it was too abrasive on your teeth. As it turns out, it actually has a lower “relative dentin abrasivity” than most toothpaste 😉.
Relative dentin abrasivity (RDA) is a standardized scale used to quantify the abrasivity of toothpaste. All toothpaste at or below 250 RDA are considered safe to use.
The RDA of homemade tooth brushing powder ingredients (according to Mohs hardness scale):
- Baking Soda: 7
- Bentonite Clay: 1.5-2
- Xylitol: 1-1.5 (estimation)
- Ground Cloves: likely below 1
- Essential Oils: not calculated due to being liquid
If we add up each of these ingredients according to the higher estimations, we get 11.5 RDA. 11.5 RDA falls way below the 250 RDA standard. The only tooth powder that I found with a lower abrasion level than my homemade version was a tooth powder made by Arm and Hammer, that has since been discontinued. It had an RDA of 8, and it contained baking soda and a small amount of salt.
Most toothpaste has an RDA of at least 70 and above. Therefore, my homemade tooth brushing powder is less abrasive than most toothpaste that you can purchase.
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How to Make Homemade All-Natural Tooth Brushing Powder
Making your own homemade tooth brushing powder is quick and easy, and it will leave your teeth squeaky clean ✨.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp baking soda
- 2 tbsp bentonite clay
- 2 tbsp xylitol
- 1 tsp ground cloves
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil
- 5 drops tea tree essential oil
Equipment
- 1 bowl
- plastic measuring spoons (due to bentonite clay)
- 1 wooden spoon (due to bentonite clay)
- 1 half pint mason jar
Instructions
Tap/click the images for a description of each step ⬇️
Step #1: Begin by adding the baking soda, bentonite clay, xylitol, and ground cloves to a small bowl.
Step #2: Add 10 drops of peppermint essential oil and 5 drops of tea tree essential oil to the powder mixture. Use a wooden spoon to thoroughly mix the liquid into the powder.
Step #3: Transfer the tooth brushing powder to a half pint mason jar for easy storage.
Step #4: When ready to brush, get your toothbrush (I use EcoRoots Natural Bamboo Toothbrush), wet it, and then dip it into the tooth brushing powder. Be sure to brush all the surfaces of your teeth for about 2 minutes.
Tips
- The half pint mason jar is great for storage, but it is easier to mix the essential oils into the powder if you make it in a bowl.
- Metal is not recommended for bentonite clay, hence the plastic measuring spoons and wooden spoon for mixing.
- I like to double this recipe. If you double it, it will be the perfect amount to fill a half pint mason jar.
- You can add more or less of the essential oils depending on your desired taste and benefit.
- You can add a drop of peppermint oil to your toothbrush before brushing for extra minty freshness.
Ways to Use
- Replacement for store-bought toothpaste morning and evening
- With a manual toothbrush (EcoRoots is my favorite!)
- With an electric toothbrush
Cost-Benefit Analysis
I love saving money when I make my own DIY creations from scratch. Check out the cost difference between making your own homemade tooth brushing powder vs buying a natural tooth brushing powder.
As of August 2026 in Tennessee:
Homemade Natural Tooth Brushing Powder
2 tbsp baking soda
- 4lb bag = $3.34
- 4lb = approx. 451 tsp
- 451 tsp = approx. 150 tbsp
- $3.34 % 150 = $0.02/tbsp
- 2 tbsp = $0.04
2 tbsp bentonite clay
- 32oz = $23.95
- 32oz = 64 tbsp
- $23.95 % 64 = $0.37
- 2 tbsp = $0.74
2 tbsp xylitol
- 5lb = $45.95
- 5lb = approx. 567 tsp
- 567 tsp = 189 tbsp
- $45.95 % 189 = $0.24
- 2 tbsp = $0.48
1 tsp ground cloves
- 16oz = $29.94
- 13 tsp/oz ground cloves (source)
- 16 x 13 = 208 tsp
- $29.94 % 208 = $0.14
- 1 tsp = $0.14
10 drops peppermint essential oil
- 1oz bottle = $18.00
- 1oz bottle = approx. 600 drops
- $18.00 % 600 = $0.03/drop
- 10 drops = $0.30
5 drops tea tree essential oil
- 1oz bottle = $16.00
- 1oz bottle = approx. 600 drops
- $16.00 % 600 = $0.03/drop
- 5 drops = $0.15
Total: $1.85 ($3.70 to double the recipe to make approx. ½ pint of homemade tooth brushing powder)
REDMOND Earthpowder (find here)
- 1.8oz jar = $15.49
- 1.8oz = 0.1125 pint
- 0.1125 x 4.44 = ½ pint
- $15.49 x 4.44 = $68.78
Total: $68.78 for ½ pint of REDMOND Earthpowder
I had to do the math several times, and several different ways, because I couldn’t believe the stark difference. Spending $3.70 instead of $68.78 for approximately the same quantity of tooth brushing powder is a MAJOR savings. I chose REDMOND Earthpowder for comparison because the ingredients are similar to my homemade tooth brushing powder and the price is actually less expensive than most tooth powders.
As usual, natural options are much appreciated when shopping. However, simply buying the ingredients in bulk and making something from scratch makes a world of difference to your bank account 💰.
FAQs
Related Products
Cheers to a beautiful smile for years to come! 😁
All-Natural Tooth Brushing Powder
Equipment
- 1 bowl
- plastic measuring spoons (due to bentonite clay)
- 1 wooden spoon (due to bentonite clay)
- 1 half pint mason jar
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp baking soda
- 2 tbsp bentonite clay
- 2 tbsp xlitol
- 1 tsp ground cloves
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil
- 5 drops tea tree essential oil
Instructions
- Begin by adding the baking soda, bentonite clay, xylitol, and ground cloves to a small bowl.
- Add 10 drops of peppermint essential oil and 5 drops of tea tree essential oil to the powder mixture. Use a wooden spoon to thoroughly mix the liquid into the powder.
- Transfer the tooth brushing powder to a half pint mason jar for easy storage.
- When ready to brush, get your toothbrush (I use EcoRoots Natural Bamboo Toothbrush), wet it, and then dip it into the tooth brushing powder. Be sure to brush all the surfaces of your teeth for about 2 minutes.
Notes
- The half pint mason jar is great for storage, but it is easier to mix the essential oils into the powder if you make it in a bowl.
- Metal is not recommended for bentonite clay, hence the plastic measuring spoons and wooden spoon for mixing.
- I like to double this recipe. If you double it, it will be the perfect amount to fill a half pint mason jar.
- You can add more or less of the essential oils depending on your desired taste and benefit.
- You can add a drop of peppermint oil to your toothbrush before brushing for extra minty freshness.
This is a personal blog. All posts, recipes, recommendations, and how-tos are for informational use and personal viewing pleasure only. Blog posts are not written by AI.
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