Making Kid's Toothpaste!

After all the 'homemade' ventures I have gone through, my husband has only called this one 'extreme.' Actually, I told him, it's really not. Toothpaste is one of the easier, simpler things to make. And, of course, making it avoids the use of chemicals and additives. This is mostly important for Caylen, given that she isn't 2 yet, and we are not a fan of the gel 'tooth and gum cleanser' that is marketed for her age. We have been buying Tom's of Maine Silly Strawberry, flouride free of course. She liked it alright, it was slightly sweet, but I had 2 issues. I liked the toothpaste itself, but it was 1) expensive, and 2) in a metal tube so it was impossible to get the last bit out. I understand the purpose of using metal instead of plastic, it was just inconvenient. I am totally one who squeezes the last teensy-weensy drop of toothpaste out of the tube, so I thought there had to be a more efficient way. And, there is! Here is my recipe:

• Equal parts of baking soda and coconut oil. Coconut oil is very good for lots of things, including oral health. 
• a few drops of peppermint oil, or spearmint, or lemon, or orange, or whatever you like.  The mixture of the coconut and peppermint flavors is quite satisfying though. 
• a dash of stevia. This makes it a little sweeter, without rotting the teeth of course. The baking soda is of course salty and bitter so this makes it a little tastier. Which is not so important for me or my husband as much as it is for a toddler. 
• I put the paste in a little jar that had previously held honey, and I just get a little out and on the brush.

How does Caylen like it? She likes it alright, I mean, it's toothpaste so she isn't wild about it or anything, but she seems to like it better than her old toothpaste. I say this because it is easier to brush her teeth with this toothpaste than it is her old kind. The only 'con' to this paste is that the baking soda and oil are very sticky, and when you brush her teeth with it, it is hard to rinse off the brush, and it takes a little work to get her mouth rinsed. I think this might be a good thing, though, since the coconut oil is supposed to be good for her mouth.

Soon, we, Brandon and I, will be out of toothpaste ourselves and I will be making our own. I will let you know how it goes!