We made a homemade canna-mint toothpaste! Unbeknownst to us at the time, it was remineralizing toothpaste too. It’s made with clay and does wonders for dental health, despite the fact it does NOT contain fluoride. It also doesn’t make bubbles in your mouth and tastes very different from typical toothpaste.
This homemade toothpaste recipe is clay-based because bentonite clay helps the body to get rid of toxins. Essentially, the clay is like a magnet, drawing harmful toxins and metals to itself, allowing your body to get rid of toxins easily. Not to be overlooked though is the fact that bentonite clay also contains 60 trace minerals that our body needs, but cannot create on its own.
Because of its menthol content, spearmint oil is often used in aromatherapy to help ease fatigue, headaches, migraines, nervousness and even digestive problems. Essential oils of peppermint, orange or lemongrass kill most strains of fungal and bacterial infections.
Why Use Cannabis in Toothpaste? It turns out that there’s some actual hard science to back up the addition of cannabis to regular toothpaste formulas. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of the plant make it an ideal ingredient for tackling one of the most common dental problems we deal with today — gum disease.
When we think about dental health we tend to focus on the whiteness of our teeth, or staving off tooth decay. The health of our gums isn’t something that always comes to mind. But it’s clear that gum health is a public health issue in the United States today — according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 65 million people over the age of 30 have signs of gum disease — and it looks like cannabis toothpaste could help.
Cannabis Is Anti-Inflammatory- Inflammation is something we tend to associate with chronic medical conditions like arthritis or Crohn’s disease. But it is actually a fairly common symptom of poor dental health, and it can be quite nasty when left untreated.
Inflammation of the gums is probably the most common symptom of gum disease, a condition which affects around half of American adults according to the CDC. Known in scientific circles as periodontitis, it’s caused by a buildup of plaque and lack of dental hygiene. In its mildest forms it can be barely noticeable, but in moderate to severe cases it can lead to extreme inflammation, pain, and bleeding.
Having an anti-inflammatory ingredient in your toothpaste could be very helpful in combating these symptoms of gum disease. Studies have indicated that topical cannabis products could help reduce inflammation and lower the levels of pain caused by it. Some (substantial) caveats still apply: the research in question wasn’t conducted on humans, and it didn’t specifically investigate inflammation caused by gum disease. Still, it’s a promising start — and one likely to be embraced by marketers of cannabis-infused toothpastes.
Cannabis Is Antibacterial- Infections in the gums and mouth are another common symptom of gum disease. This condition can cause the gums to recede and when they do — even slightly — little empty pockets of space are created between gums and teeth. These pockets gradually become filled with bits of food and bacteria, which cause infections.
Gum infections can be extremely painful and make eating, drinking, and even speaking very uncomfortable. Usually, strong antibiotics are required in order to kill the infection, but it can take days for the effects to kick in. Even more serious than the extreme pain and discomfort they cause is the fact that they can lead to tooth loss. So, having a toothpaste that is an effective antibacterial is a vital part of a good dental hygiene regimen.
Cannabis has been found to be a powerful, non-toxic antibacterial. In particular, some of its natural compounds (such as cannabidiol, or CBD) are effective at fighting off infection. By using a toothpaste that contains CBD and other antibacterial compounds found in cannabis, you could have a better chance at warding off at least some of the infection-causing bacteria that collect in the pockets between gums and teeth, and keep your mouth healthier as a result.
So by combining essential oils with bentonite clay and hempseed/cannabis oil, you’re creating remineralizing, antibacterial toothpaste. It’s a powerhouse of natural medicine that can help keep your mouth healthy and happy.
How to make Canna-Mint flavored remineralized hempseed toothpaste
Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp bentonite clay
- 3-4 Tbsp distilled water, or water that has been boiled and cooled
- 10 drops liquid stevia OR xylitol (optional, to taste)
- 4 drops Spearmint essential oil (or any mint of your choice)
- 2 drops Clove essential oil (optional, but recommended; promotes a healthy immune response)
- 5-10 drops Full Spectrum Hemp Seed Oil (we use an 800mg from SoCalHempCo)
- teeny pinch of real salt
- glass bowl
- container for storage
How it’s done:
- Measure bentonite clay into a glass bowl. Carefully measure oils, sweetener and salt into the clay.
- Add 3 Tbsp of water to the clay and using a plastic or wooden spoon or spatula, stir to combine the ingredients until very smooth, about 5 minutes (pictured above). I’ve found that mashing the ingredients together against the side of the bowl works best to fully incorporate the ingredients.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of water if you prefer your toothpaste to be on the thinner side.
- Store in a glass container with a lid and you’re done!
NOT READY TO MAKE REMINERALIZING TOOTHPASTE YET?
If you’re not comfortable making your own toothpaste, or you’re “not there yet” in your natural living journey, we totally understand, but we don’t want you to ignore your dental health!
Consider switching from typical toothpaste and try Earthpaste instead. It’s what originally inspired us to make our own toothpaste, and it contains the same ingredients as this remineralizing toothpaste recipe does!
TIPS FOR STORING AND USING REMINERALIZING TOOTHPASTE
- When we make remineralizing toothpaste, we make a double batch and fill up two 4 oz glass jars. We simply dip our toothbrushes into the jars, call it done and we’ve never had any issues. However, I know not everyone is comfortable with sharing a jar who someone else might have dipped their toothbrush in. For those householdss, consider storing your toothpaste in individual mini plastic pots. They’re just big enough for one person to last a couple of weeks.
- You can also store your remineralizing toothpaste in silicone squeeze tubes, and you’d use it like you would a traditional tube of toothpaste.
- If you prefer glass over silicone and plastic, I suggest a smaller 2 oz glass jar. You can fill up each jar with one batch of toothpaste, and one jar would last one person about one month.
