This 3-ingredient charcoal toothpaste naturally cleanses and whitens teeth. Activated charcoal binds to grim and stains on your teeth and leave your teeth bright, white and clean!
Activated charcoal has gained quite a bit of popularity over the years.
Pore strips, peel masks, and soap bars containing activated charcoal are highly praised for their skin cleansing abilities.
I’ve washed my face with activated charcoal and have brushed my teeth with charcoal toothpaste. My skin and teeth always feel CLEAN when I use charcoal. Cleaner than they ever do with normal face wash and toothpaste. That’s because activated charcoal binds to dirt, grim and stains beyond the surface and draws them out. Leaving your teeth and skin extremely clean.
Charcoal is an effective tool to help clean and brighten teeth. It can be used by itself, mixed with other ingredients to create a toothpaste/powder. My favorite way to use activated charcoal for whitening, is to mix it with coconut oil (the antibacterial properties of coconut oil help reduce plaque and stains), baking soda (alkalizes acid in the mouth and helps to remove plaque and stains) and a drop or two of essential oils.
Charcoal Toothpaste Ingredients
- 1/2 Teaspoon Activated Charcoal
- 2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
- 2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil (here is the best coconut oil to buy if you don’t have time to make your own coconut oil at home)
- 1-2 Drops of Essential Oils (Optional)
How To Make Charcoal Toothpaste
You’ll need activated charcoal, baking soda, coconut oil and essential oils (optional) for this recipe. Gently melt the coconut oil in a small pot. Take off the heat and let it cool for a few minutes. In a small bowl, mix the charcoal and baking soda together. Mix in the coconut oil and a few drops of essential oils, if using. Pour the mixture into a small container.
I recommend using this whitening toothpaste 1-2 times a week. The charcoal can be messy, so make sure to keep a towel near by just in case!
If you like this recipe, then try my DIY Charcoal Face Mask!
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Whitening Charcoal Toothpaste Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 Teaspoon Activated Charcoal
- 2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
- 2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
- 1–2 Drops of Essential Oils (Optional)
Instructions
- Melt the coconut oil in a small sauce pan or in a double boiler.
- Once melted, pour into a small bowl and mix in the activated charcoal, baking soda and essential oils.
- Pour the mixture into a small container and store in a cool dry place.
Originally published October 23, 2017 and was updated October 6th, 2021.
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Did you really mean “poor strips”? Or were you referring to the pores in our skin and realy mean “pore strips”?
Hi, absolutely love this toothpaste already! I’m just wondering is it safe to add sea salt into this toothpaste?? Thank you!
hello. what can i add to this recipee to increase its shelf life to like two years? and what is the best packaging container for this product?
I am going to try this recipe!! Could you add koolaid or flavoring to this recipe?
Koolaid would be bad for your teeth, but xylitol is a sweetener that is actually beneficial to your teeth.
Xylitol is a natural occurring alcohol in plants and is good for our teeth. But be very careful with it around dogs… as it is highly toxic to them!
Hi, absolutely love this toothpaste already! I’m just wondering is it safe to add sea salt into this toothpaste?? Thank you!
Ones made how many days does this last? how quickly will it decay or get spoilt? what measure can i take to keep it for longer? Thank you.
This is a great idea and the first time I have seen this recipe. I have been researching for the past week trying to find all natural products for everything. I have been using EWG and just trying to learn as much as possible.
Where can I purchase that container I see in the image?
I thought essential oils were not supposed to be ingested, only applied topically…
normally you should spit the toothpaste after brushing your teeth…
Be very careful about which essential oils you add to your toothpaste recipe- lemongrass oil is extremely potent, to the point of being toxic (in even very small measures) and has caused a fatality. Check for quality and purity when using essential oils and make sure the oil you add to your toothpaste recipe can be ingested. Also, I will only use organic essential oils for this type of recipe.
One last thing I will note, as activated charcoal absorbs everything, I find the addition of essential oil to a charcoal recipe not noticeable in short time. I do use essential oil in a simple baking soda toothpaste, though.
Please be very careful when using essential oils with children too. Lavender and spearmint are excellent if there are no allergies 🙂
it depends on the esssential oils you purchase. i use doterra brand and alot of these can be ingested.
When it coms to teeth, activated charcoal absorbs anything and everything, meaning it can reduce bad breath bacteria, food stains and anything else lurking around. Its texture is also highly effective at brushing away plaque buildup and keeping teeth squeaky clean.
how much does this make???
About 4 tablespoons ?
I think the only reason you can’t use this every day is the abrasiveness of the baking soda. This will work without baking soda so if you want to use it every day, coconut oil and charcoal is just fine.
I’ve been using this daily for months. No issues with my teeth. I love it, keeps my mouth so fresh and clean
I like to put diatomaceous earth in with mine so the baking soda won’t be so strong. My daughter gets a rash sometimes from the deodorant I make unless I cut down baking soda.I don’t have a problem with it myself…I went a few years brushing my teeth with baking soda.
How long does it take until it starts working better?
Can you grind activated charcoal pellets instead of the capsules?
What is the shelf-life of this product? Can it last for a month?
Hi Karen, when making toothpaste recipes I will usually refrigerate half the yield so it is fresh when I need it:)
Mine last for months. Probably depends on if you double dip. Make sure you have a clean finger or little spoon or popsicle stick, etc. You will probably use it up in a few weeks if you don’t double or triple the recipe. Mine lasts about a month in a small container and I use it for oil pulling also.
I get it in bulk in some health food/herbal stores. It’s so much cheaper that way. Probably get it on Amazon etc, just google it. I’ve never seen it in pellets. Look at the ingredients listed…make sure there’s nothing weird in there. You might have to put pellets in a coffee grinder if they’re super tough. I sometimes have to grind up xylitol and also some types of salt so it will dissolve easier. Most of the time I order himalayan salt in a powder fine consistency. I add good salt to my toothpaste recipes as well as deodorant recipes.It is great for pulling toxins out. I’ve been using a similar toothpaste recipe which also contains organic raw cacao (full of minerals). I don’t think I’ll ever have to get my teeth cleaned again. I ‘oil pull’ with it after I brush my teeth.
Love this! Takes less than 5 minutes to make, even with an infant in arms. One batch makes approx. 30 grams, the perfect size for a small container.
Can you use MCT oil instead of coconut oil?
i was thinking that myself. I don’t know why not. It will be so much easier to scoop up. I would keep it in a little ball jar to make sure it doesn’t leak all over.
… would you need to brush your teeth over a trash can so as not to have the coconut oil going down your sink or is there enough baking soda in this to alleviate the typical problems with pipes and “hardened” coconut oil?
Hi, why cant you use tthis toothpaste everyday?
Hi can this recipe be used to stop or cure cavities in teeth?
It pulls toxins out of your mouth, I like to put a little calcium carbonate and organic raw cacao powder to help remineralize your teeth. It tastes like a chocolate bar but be sure and spit it out after brushing (don’t swallow) because your mouth will be full of toxins using has pulled out.
Can you use this toothpaste daily?