Three Easy DIY Toothpaste Alternatives

I recently ran out of my DIY toothpaste mix and didn't have time to whip up a new batch. I ended up using some conventional toothpaste and I was so surprised to find that my teeth felt cleaner later in the day when I had been using just baking soda than when using the conventional toothpaste. So, you've run out of conventional toothpaste, are in a bit of a pickle, and are ready for something new- here are three easy, zero waste alternatives instead of buying a tube of conventional toothpaste (the plastic tube and cap cannot be recycled and although TerraCycle has programs for recycling the toothpaste tubes, they have recently come under scrutiny).

1) Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap- yes, you can brush your teeth with this. I have used it when I had nothing else and while the taste is isn't my favorite (it's actually quite disgusting) the soap does clean your teeth really well. It also foams up nicely. I wouldn't use this longterm but really handy if you're in a pinch!

2) Baking Soda- most homes will have at least a box of this somewhere for baking or cleaning. I always use just the plain powder in a tiny jar when I travel.

3) DIY Toothpaste- my favorite toothpaste recipe is mixing just coconut oil with baking soda and adding peppermint and tea tree oil. I've been using this mixture for almost eight years now and my dentist always has nice things to say about my teeth (except for my one wisdom tooth that still needs to get pulled.)