Natural Beauty

Baking Soda Toothpaste: Homemade Recipe, Benefits & Safety

A simple homemade baking soda toothpaste made with coconut oil and a few drops of peppermint oil, with the math shown, what the trials found for plaque and bleeding gums, how to use and store it, and where fluoride and hydroxyapatite fit.

By Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CNS·17-min read

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Evidence-based37 sources citedUpdated October 21, 2026

Published Oct 21, 2026Last updated Oct 21, 2026Editorial policyMedical review policyFact-checking policy

Baking soda is the base of a simple homemade toothpaste.

Baking soda toothpaste at a glance

Baking soda toothpaste is a simple homemade paste of baking soda and coconut oil, flavored with a few drops of peppermint oil, and it cleans your teeth gently. Baking soda helps gums too: in pooled trials, people brushing with a 67% baking soda toothpaste had about half as many bleeding gum sites after 24 weeks as people using a regular toothpaste.1 2

The recipe: 2 tablespoons of baking soda, 2 tablespoons of unrefined coconut oil and 4 drops of peppermint oil, stirred smooth and kept in a small glass jar
How to use it: a pea-sized amount on a soft brush, twice a day, then spit it out
Baking soda is softer than your enamel, so it cleans with low abrasion1
It's fluoride-free; a hydroxyapatite toothpaste is the fluoride-free way to add cavity protection3
If you have young children or a dog, read the safety section before you make a batch

Baking soda has been cleaning teeth for a long time. Tooth powders made with it caught on in the 18th century, valued for cleaning with a mild scrub,4 and toothpastes built on it have since been tested in at least 21 published studies.5

Clean, healthy teeth have been a picture of beauty for a very long time. In the Song of Solomon, the bridegroom tells his bride, "Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them" (Song of Solomon 4:2).6 The picture is a full, even set of teeth, fresh from the washing, and daily care is how you keep yours that way.

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Making your own takes about five minutes and three ingredients you may already have at home. The baking soda scrubs gently and helps buffer acid, the coconut oil turns it into a smooth paste that stays on your brush, and a few drops of peppermint oil make it taste fresh.1 5 There's no foaming agent, no dye and no fluoride, and you know every ingredient in the jar.

It's great to make your own natural toothpaste. I do this by combining baking soda, coconut oil and essential oils.Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CNSFrom 10 Toxic Household Products (You Should Banish from Your Home), The Dr. Axe Show (2018), at 4:16

How to make homemade baking soda toothpaste

Quick answer

Stir 2 tablespoons of baking soda into 2 tablespoons of softened unrefined coconut oil until smooth, add 4 drops of peppermint essential oil, and spoon it into a small glass jar. By weight the paste is about half baking soda (50.4%), and the peppermint stays inside the gentlest dilution I recommend, 0.5% to 1%.7 8 9

You'll need a small bowl, a spoon, measuring spoons and a small glass jar with a lid. Use unrefined (virgin) coconut oil and plain baking soda from the baking aisle.

Recipe

Total5 minutes

YieldAbout ¼ cup

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unrefined (virgin) coconut oil, softened
2 tablespoons baking soda
4 drops peppermint essential oil
1 drop clove or myrrh essential oil (optional)
1 teaspoon xylitol (optional, for sweetness)

Instructions

**Soften the oil.** If your coconut oil is solid, set the closed jar in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes, until it's soft enough to stir.
**Stir in the baking soda.** Measure the coconut oil and baking soda into a small bowl and stir until the paste is smooth, with no dry pockets.
**Add the oils.** Stir in the peppermint oil, plus the clove or myrrh oil and the xylitol if you're using them.
**Jar it.** Spoon the paste into a small glass jar, close the lid and label it: Toothpaste, do not swallow, keep away from children.

Coconut oil firms up when it's cool and softens when it's warm, so the paste changes texture with the seasons. Stir it if it separates.

By weight, the recipe is about half baking soda. Here's the math, using USDA weights of 4.6 grams for a teaspoon of baking soda and 13.6 grams for a tablespoon of coconut oil:7 8

Version	Baking soda	Coconut oil	Baking soda by weight
Everyday paste (the recipe above)	2 tablespoons (27.6 g)	2 tablespoons (27.2 g)	50.4%
Softer, less salty paste	2 tablespoons (27.6 g)	3 tablespoons (40.8 g)	40.4%

Half is a deliberate choice. In the gum trials below, a toothpaste with 35% baking soda beat one with 20%, and the pooled trials used 67%.10 2 The everyday paste sits between those levels, and the softer version still sits above 35%, so you can choose by taste. For other recipes, try a remineralizing toothpaste or a homemade probiotic toothpaste.

Why coconut oil?

Coconut oil holds the baking soda together in a paste that clings to your brush and melts in your mouth. It firms up when it's cool and softens when it's warm, which is why the paste lives in a jar instead of a tube. It's also the oil for oil pulling, which comes up below.

Which essential oils to add, and how much

Peppermint gives the paste its familiar fresh taste. Keep the dose small, because essential oils are far more concentrated than the herbs they come from.9 My oils guide, Top 50 Healing Herbs & Essential Oils, sets 0.5% to 1% for the face and sensitive skin, which works out to 3 to 6 drops per ounce of carrier oil.9 Two tablespoons of coconut oil is about an ounce, so 4 or 5 drops land inside that range.

For a warmer flavor, add 1 drop of clove oil or myrrh oil. Clove is a natural bacteria fighter, and for a mouth rinse I recommend 1 or 2 drops of clove oil in a few tablespoons of olive oil, swished for 30 seconds and spat out.11 12 I list myrrh among the best oils for the gums and mouth sores.9 Clove and myrrh each carry a caution, listed in the safety section.

Leave out tea tree, eucalyptus and wintergreen oils. I consider these tree oils dangerous to ingest, and it's easy to swallow a little toothpaste by accident.12

Xylitol is optional. A teaspoon softens the salty taste, and it has some toothpaste research of its own: in a Cochrane review, a fluoride toothpaste with 10% xylitol reduced cavities by 13% compared with a fluoride-only toothpaste over 2.5 to 3 years in 4,216 children, though the evidence was low quality.13 If you have a dog, xylitol needs extra care; see the safety section before you add it.

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How to use and store your toothpaste

Quick answer

Put a pea-sized amount on a soft-bristled brush, brush every surface of your teeth and along the gumline for about two minutes, twice a day, then spit and rinse.2 4 Keep the jar closed between uses and scoop the paste with a clean, dry spoon.

The paste softens the moment it's in your mouth, so a little covers your whole mouth. Brush gently, with light pressure, and see how to brush your teeth for the full technique.

Keep water out of the jar. Scoop the paste with a clean, dry spoon or a small spatula instead of dipping a wet brush, and keep the lid on. There's no set shelf life for a homemade paste, so make a small batch and mix a fresh one when it runs out. In a cool bathroom the paste firms up, and in a warm one it turns soft or even liquid; stir it back together and keep using it.

Questions about your homemade toothpaste?

Ask Dr. Axe AI. Answers are grounded in this library, with sources shown.

How does baking soda clean your teeth?

Plaque is a soft film of bacteria that builds up on your teeth every day. The bacteria in it ferment sugars into acid, and plaque left along the gumline inflames the gums and, in time, hardens into tartar.14 15 Brushing removes it, and baking soda helps in two ways. It scrubs gently,1 and it's alkaline, so it's thought to help neutralize the acids plaque bacteria make, along with the acidic parts of stains from tea and red wine.5

Here's how those steps add up to healthier gums:

1Plaque builds up

Bacteria in dental plaque ferment sugars into acid, and plaque left in place hardens into tartar.14 15

2Baking soda lifts more of it

In single brushings, baking soda toothpastes removed more plaque than toothpastes without baking soda.5 16

3It's gentle on enamel

Baking soda is softer than enamel and dentin, so it cleans with low abrasion.1

4It buffers acid

Baking soda is alkaline and is thought to help neutralize the acids plaque bacteria make.5

5Gums calm down

With less plaque at the gumline, bleeding gum sites fell steadily over 24 weeks of brushing with a 67% baking soda toothpaste.2

Is baking soda good for your teeth and gums?

Quick answer

Yes: in trials, baking soda toothpastes removed more plaque and cut gum bleeding compared with regular toothpastes, and two reviews of the research agree on less bleeding.5 17 2 Baking soda also lifts surface stains, and a homemade paste skips the foaming agent linked to canker sores.18 19

Where the research stands

Every baking soda trial here tested manufactured toothpastes with 20% to 67% baking soda against regular toothpastes, and in the trials that report it, both pastes contained fluoride.2 10 Most were run or paid for by the companies that make baking soda toothpastes; in one independent review, 15 of the 21 studies had industry involvement.5 They show what baking soda adds to brushing.

Less gum bleeding

Moderate evidenceHuman studyPooled analysis of randomized trials · 1,003 adults with gingivitis

People brushing with a 67% baking soda toothpaste had 15.93 bleeding gum sites after 24 weeks, against 30.77 with a regular fluoride toothpaste, about half as many.2 An independent review of 21 studies also found less gum bleeding with baking soda toothpastes.5

Study takeaway: baking soda toothpaste meant fewer bleeding gums within weeks.

Less plaque

Moderate evidenceHuman studySystematic review · 21 studies

In single brushings, baking soda toothpastes removed more plaque than toothpastes without baking soda, and over weeks of use they kept plaque lower than regular fluoride toothpastes.5 In a 6-month randomized trial of 319 adults, a 35% baking soda toothpaste left plaque scores 18.3% lower than a plain fluoride toothpaste.10

Study takeaway: baking soda helps your brush clear more plaque.

Less gum inflammation

Moderate evidenceHuman studyMeta-analysis · 7 randomized trials

A 2022 meta-analysis of 7 randomized trials found better gum-inflammation, bleeding and plaque scores with a 67% baking soda toothpaste than with control toothpastes.17 In the 2019 review, the modified gingival index pooled from three 67% trials also favored baking soda, a 0.37-point lower score at the end of the trials, though the older Löe and Silness gingival index showed no difference.5 In a 24-week randomized trial of 246 U.S. adults, the gum-inflammation score ran 33.9% lower than with a regular toothpaste.20

Study takeaway: gums with gingivitis looked and measured healthier on baking soda toothpaste.

Fewer, shorter canker sores

Emerging evidenceHuman studyReview of 4 randomized trials · 124 people, each tried both pastes

A homemade paste has no sodium lauryl sulfate, the foaming agent in many toothpastes. In people with recurring canker sores, toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate meant fewer and shorter sores, fewer outbreaks and less pain.19 In one of those trials, 90 people each used two toothpastes for 8 weeks apiece: sores healed faster and hurt less without the foaming agent, though the number of sores didn't change.21

Study takeaway: skipping the foaming agent meant shorter, less painful canker sores.

Brighter teeth, from stain removal

Emerging evidenceHuman studyReview of lab and clinical studies

A review of lab and clinical studies concluded that baking soda toothpastes remove tooth stains effectively and safely, and several clinical studies found them better at it than some more abrasive toothpastes without baking soda.18 In a 6-week randomized trial of 146 adults, a toothpaste combining baking soda with peroxide cut tooth stain by 61.6%, while stain on a regular silica toothpaste barely changed.22

Study takeaway: baking soda lifts surface stains gently.

The gum trials, in detail

The clearest results are for bleeding gums, one of the first signs of gingivitis.15 A 2023 pooled analysis combined six randomized trials of a 67% baking soda toothpaste in 1,601 adults with mild to moderate gingivitis in India, the United States and China (one trial also tested a 62% paste). In each, the examiners scoring the gums didn't know who used which paste, and everyone started after a professional cleaning and brushed twice a day. In the trials that counted bleeding sites, the number fell from 56.4 at the start to 25.55 at 6 weeks, 18.19 at 12 weeks and 15.93 at 24 weeks with the baking soda toothpaste, against 56.0, 36.32, 30.52 and 30.77 with a regular fluoride toothpaste.2 Those counts come from 498 and 505 people at the start, and from 222 and 228 people in the trials that ran 24 weeks.2

Bleeding gum sites fell further with a 67% baking soda toothpaste

Source: Parkinson et al. · International Journal of Dental Hygiene, 2023 [2]Average number of bleeding sites across the whole mouth; lower is better. Everyone had a professional cleaning first and brushed twice a day.

The individual trials tell the same story, at different lengths and baking soda levels:

Trial	Who and how long	Result compared with a regular fluoride toothpaste
67% baking soda, 2017	Randomized; the examiners didn't know who used which paste · 148 adults with gingivitis in India · 6 weeks	25.4% fewer bleeding sites, 11.0 fewer on average; bad-breath compounds didn't differ23
67% baking soda, 2018	Randomized · 247 adults with moderate gingivitis · 24 weeks	17.5 fewer bleeding sites and a lower gum-inflammation score24
67% baking soda, 2018	Randomized; the examiners didn't know who used which paste · 246 U.S. adults with moderate gingivitis · 24 weeks	46.7% fewer bleeding sites and a 33.9% lower gum-inflammation score20
20% baking soda, 2020	Randomized; neither the people nor the researchers knew who got what · 159 adults · 12 weeks	44.2% less gum bleeding and 9.6% less plaque25
35% and 20% baking soda, 2020	Randomized; neither the people nor the researchers knew who got what · 319 adults · 6 months	46.9% and 25.9% less gum bleeding; 18.3% and 12.4% less plaque10
Baking soda toothpaste, 2025	Randomized; the examiners didn't know who used which paste · 190 U.K. adults with gingivitis · 12 weeks	Lower gum-inflammation and plaque scores at 3, 6 and 12 weeks, and fewer bleeding sites at 12 weeks26

In the 6-month trial of 319 adults, people brushed with one of three fluoride toothpastes: one with 35% baking soda, one with 20%, or one with none. Both baking soda pastes beat the plain one, and the 35% paste beat the 20% paste on bleeding, plaque and gum inflammation.10 In five studies in which each person tried both kinds, toothpastes with 20% to 65% baking soda removed more plaque in a single brushing than toothpastes without it in all five.16

The 2019 review of 21 studies also compared baking soda toothpastes with toothpastes carrying other active ingredients: baking soda removed more plaque in single brushings and matched them over weeks of use.5 The 2022 meta-analysis of 7 randomized trials pooled enough people to show its gains in gum-inflammation and bleeding scores with confidence.17

Is it safe to brush your teeth with baking soda?

Quick answer

Yes: baking soda is a naturally low-abrasion cleaner, because it's softer than your enamel and dentin.1 Even baking soda toothpastes with added stain removers test well within the abrasion limit regulators have set.1

Toothpaste abrasiveness is measured in the lab on a scale called relative dentin abrasion, and the International Organization for Standardization sets 250 on that scale as the upper safe limit for daily use.4 Baking soda sits low on that scale.1 What matters more for wear on your teeth and gums is how you brush: technique plays a bigger role in abrasion and brushing injuries than how abrasive the toothpaste is.4 A soft brush and light pressure protect both.

You can also brush with plain baking soda sprinkled on a wet brush. It's the same gentle cleaner, just saltier and harder to keep on the bristles, which is what the coconut oil fixes.

Does baking soda toothpaste have fluoride?

Quick answer

No, a homemade baking soda toothpaste is fluoride-free, and that fits my approach: I'm not a fan of fluoride in toothpaste or in drinking water,27 though a very small amount on occasion is probably a non-issue for most people. For cavity protection without fluoride, a hydroxyapatite toothpaste protected adults' teeth as well as a fluoride toothpaste in an 18-month randomized trial.3

I haven't used a toothpaste with fluoride in it since college. I think brushing your teeth is important, but the food you eat every day matters even more for your teeth: lots of vegetables, some fruit, some meat and healthy fats.27

When it comes to toothpaste, I would go fluoride-free.Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CNSFrom Everyone Has Parasites?? Q&A on All Things Health, The Dr. Josh Axe Show (2023), at 2:20

In trials, fluoride toothpaste lowers cavity rates. In a Cochrane review of 70 trials with 42,300 children, fluoride toothpaste cut decayed, missing and filled tooth surfaces by 24% compared with toothpaste without fluoride,28 and in adults, a later Cochrane review found fewer decayed, missing and filled surfaces with regular-strength fluoride toothpaste across three trials of 2,162 people.14 A homemade paste without fluoride doesn't give you that protection, but in the two trials below, hydroxyapatite toothpastes matched fluoride toothpastes.

Hydroxyapatite: the fluoride-free swap

Hydroxyapatite is the calcium phosphate mineral that makes up the mineral part of your teeth and bones.3 In an 18-month trial in Poland, 194 adults were randomly assigned to brush twice a day for 3 minutes with either a fluoride-free toothpaste containing 10% hydroxyapatite or a toothpaste with 1,450 ppm fluoride, and neither the people nor the researchers knew which paste they had. Among the 171 who finished, 89.3% of the hydroxyapatite group and 87.4% of the fluoride group had no new decayed, missing or filled tooth surfaces, so hydroxyapatite matched fluoride.3 The trial was funded by the paste's maker and the two universities that ran it, and three of the authors work for the maker.3 In young children, a 10% hydroxyapatite toothpaste also matched a 500 ppm fluoride toothpaste over 336 days of brushing three times a day: in a randomized trial of 207 children, early decay advanced in 72.7% of the hydroxyapatite group and 74.2% of the fluoride group among the 177 who finished.29

Hydroxyapatite matched fluoride for preventing new decay in adults

Source: Paszynska et al. · Frontiers in Public Health, 2023 [3]Share of people with no new decayed, missing or filled tooth surfaces after 18 months. Higher is better.

If cavities are a concern, pair your homemade paste with a hydroxyapatite toothpaste. For options, see our guide to the best fluoride-free toothpaste.

Drinking water is the other half of the fluoride picture. A 2025 review of 74 observational studies linked higher fluoride exposure, measured mostly in drinking water and urine, to lower IQ scores in children; in the 13 studies that measured each child, IQ fell 1.63 points for every 1 mg/L more fluoride in urine.30 At drinking-water levels under 1.5 mg/L the link was uncertain overall, though it held in the studies rated at low risk of bias.30 If you'd like less fluoride overall, a water filter that removes fluoride is the practical step.

How oil pulling and flossing fit in

Flossing and oil pulling sit beside brushing in a healthy daily routine. For cleaning between your teeth, a 2026 review of oral hygiene names interdental brushes as the first choice where they fit, floss for tight spaces, and rubber picks and water flossers as other good options.4

Brushing your teeth is foundational. In addition, flossing and oil pulling can make a really big difference.Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CNSFrom How to Boost Your Immune System Naturally | Q&A with Dr. Josh Axe, The Dr. Josh Axe Show (2023), at 21:24

Oil pulling means swishing coconut oil around your mouth for about five minutes.27 31 I typically do my oil pulling in the shower, with a little myrrh or clove oil, or a blend of clove, cinnamon, rosemary and orange oils, added to the coconut oil.32 When you're done, spit the oil into the trash.31

The research on oil pulling is encouraging. In a 2024 review of 25 randomized trials with 1,184 people, oil pulling for 7 to 45 days improved gum-inflammation scores compared with mouthwashes other than chlorhexidine, while chlorhexidine, a prescription antiseptic rinse, lowered plaque more; the reviewers rated the overall evidence very low certainty.33 Half of the trials used sesame oil. For the full method, see oil pulling with coconut oil.

If you're using an antibacterial mouthwash, I recommend you stop and do oil pulling instead.32 My High Blood Pressure Protocol puts antibacterial mouthwash on its avoid list because it kills the nitrate-converting bacteria in your mouth, part of your oral microbiome.34 If you like a rinse, a homemade mouthwash with essential oils is a gentle option.

Who should be careful with baking soda toothpaste?

Quick answer

Baking soda toothpaste is safe for adults to use every day when it's spat out;2 1 keep the essential-oil version away from children under 6, never swallow it, and see a dentist for tooth pain or gums that stay swollen or bleeding.9 15

Before you make a batch

Young children: I recommend never using peppermint or eucalyptus near the face of a child under 6, so keep the essential-oil version away from young children, and keep the jar locked away or out of reach, as with every oil bottle.9 Older children can use it once they reliably spit, with an adult watching.
Never swallow it: most essential oils aren't meant to be swallowed, and I say never to ingest clove oil.9 11 Spit the paste out after brushing.
Clove oil and medications: skip clove oil if you take a blood thinner, because it acts as an anticoagulant, and avoid it if you take an SSRI antidepressant, since it may interact with it.12
Pregnancy: leave myrrh oil out of your paste while you're pregnant.9
Mouth sores: if a paste leaves your mouth sore or with white patches, stop using it. Cinnamon flavoring in gum and candy does this in some people: in a study of 74 such cases, every case cleared within a week of stopping.35
Dogs: xylitol is dangerous to dogs, and the FDA names toothpaste among the xylitol products to keep away from them; in dogs it can drop blood sugar within 10 to 60 minutes and can lead to liver failure.36 37 Store the xylitol version where pets can't reach it, or leave the xylitol out.
Sensitive teeth or receding gums: use a soft brush and light pressure, and have a dentist check teeth that stay sensitive, since sensitive teeth can be a sign of gum disease.15

Bleeding gums deserve attention. Gum disease starts with swollen, red, bleeding gums, and its other signs include loose or sensitive teeth, pain while chewing and bad breath that won't go away.15 If any of these show up, or you have tooth pain, see a dentist: a dentist or hygienist can treat gum disease and remove the hardened tartar that only a professional cleaning takes off.15 For comfort while you wait for your appointment, see toothache relief, and for storing and diluting other oils, see essential oil safety.

The bottom line

Should you make your own baking soda toothpaste?

Yes. A paste of baking soda and coconut oil with a few drops of peppermint oil is one of the simplest things you can make for your mouth, and it cleans gently. People have brushed with baking soda for centuries, and I value that long record. In modern trials, toothpastes rich in baking soda cleared more plaque and cut gum bleeding, and the stain and canker sore findings are promising.

Use a pea-sized amount twice a day, and if cavities are a worry, add a fluoride-free hydroxyapatite toothpaste. You were built to heal, gums included, and a paste you made yourself is a simple way to support that every day.

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Baking soda toothpaste: frequently asked questions

Is baking soda good for your teeth?

Yes: baking soda cleans your teeth gently and helps your gums, and in pooled trials, people brushing with a 67% baking soda toothpaste had 15.93 bleeding gum sites after 24 weeks, against 30.77 with a regular fluoride toothpaste.2 It also removed more plaque than toothpastes without it in single brushings.5

Can you brush your teeth with baking soda every day?

Yes: in the trials, people brushed twice a day with baking soda toothpastes for up to 6 months.2 10 Use a pea-sized amount, a soft brush and gentle pressure, and spit it out.

Is baking soda bad for your enamel?

No: baking soda is softer than enamel and dentin, so it cleans with low abrasion, and even baking soda toothpastes with added stain removers test well within the abrasion limit regulators set.1 How you brush matters more, so use a soft brush and light pressure.4

Does baking soda whiten teeth?

It brightens teeth by lifting surface stains: a review of lab and clinical studies found baking soda toothpastes effective and safe for stain removal and whitening.18

How do you make baking soda toothpaste?

Stir 2 tablespoons of baking soda into 2 tablespoons of softened unrefined coconut oil, add 4 drops of peppermint essential oil, and spoon it into a small glass jar with a lid.7 8 9

Can you make baking soda toothpaste without coconut oil?

Yes: stir a little water into baking soda to make a paste, and mix it fresh each time you brush, since a water paste doesn't keep. Baking soda is the cleaning ingredient either way; the coconut oil makes the paste smooth and lets you store it.1

Does homemade toothpaste prevent cavities?

Homemade baking soda toothpaste clears plaque, the film whose bacteria cause decay, but it doesn't carry the cavity protection of fluoride or hydroxyapatite.14 28 For a fluoride-free option that does, a hydroxyapatite toothpaste matched a fluoride toothpaste in an 18-month randomized trial in adults.3

Is baking soda toothpaste safe for kids?

Not the essential-oil version for children under 6: I recommend never using peppermint or eucalyptus near the face of a child under 6.9 Older children can use it once they reliably spit, with an adult watching; for cavity protection without fluoride, a hydroxyapatite toothpaste matched a fluoride toothpaste in a randomized trial of 207 young children.29

How long does homemade toothpaste last?

There's no set shelf life for a homemade paste, so make a small batch, keep the lid closed and scoop it with a clean, dry spoon so water stays out of the jar.

Why does my homemade toothpaste get hard or runny?

Coconut oil firms up when it's cool and softens or melts when it's warm, so the paste changes with the room. Stir it back together if it separates, or set the closed jar in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes if it's too firm to scoop.

Does baking soda remove tartar?

It helps prevent tartar rather than remove it: baking soda toothpastes removed more plaque than toothpastes without baking soda in trials,5 and clearing plaque every day keeps it from hardening into tartar.15 Tartar that has already formed comes off with a professional cleaning from a dentist or hygienist.15

How do I make baking soda toothpaste less salty?

Use 3 tablespoons of coconut oil to 2 tablespoons of baking soda: that softer version is about 40% baking soda by weight, against about 50% in the everyday paste, and the peppermint oil keeps the fresh taste.7 8

Freshness & method note

October 21, 2026 — Rewrote the page in full. The previous version said recent studies suggest fluoride may not prevent cavities, called for 20 drops of cinnamon or clove oil plus 20 drops of peppermint oil in 4 tablespoons of coconut oil, listed clay, diatomaceous earth and sea salt as add-ins, and carried unsourced claims about glycerin, titanium dioxide, xylitol and coconut oil. This version gives one recipe at about half baking soda by weight with the math shown, essential oils at Dr. Axe's gentlest dilution with tea tree, eucalyptus and wintergreen oils left out, how to use and store the paste, the trial evidence for gum bleeding, plaque, stains and canker sores, Dr. Axe's position on fluoride with the cavity research and the hydroxyapatite and water filter swaps, oil pulling and cleaning between your teeth, and a safety section on children, clove oil, pregnancy, mouth sores, pets and when to see a dentist, with two charts, a step diagram and 37 references.

October 25, 2021 — Previous version published.

References

Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CNS

Doctor of Natural Medicine · Founder, DrAxe.com

Dr. Axe is a certified doctor of natural medicine, clinical nutritionist, and multiple New York Times bestselling author. He has spent 20+ years in clinical practice helping people heal at the root cause and founded one of the most-visited natural-health platforms in the world.

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This article is for educational purposes. See our medical disclaimer.