How to Make Baking Soda Toothpaste? | A Simple DIY Paste

Baking soda toothpaste is a simple paste of sodium bicarbonate and water that gently cleans teeth and lifts surface stains, though it lacks the fluoride needed to prevent cavities.

For the full breakdown, see our best Baking Soda Toothpaste guide.

Making baking soda toothpaste at home takes about a minute and costs pennies. The basic recipe is just two ingredients: baking soda and water. Whether you type how to make baking soda toothpaste because you want a natural cleaner or a low-cost whitening option, the process is the same — and the trade-offs are worth knowing before you swap out your regular tube.

The Basic Recipe: Baking Soda and Water

The simplest method, per Verywell Health, is to mix one teaspoon of baking soda with a small amount of water until it reaches a toothpaste-like texture. Some people add a drop of peppermint oil or a pinch of salt for flavor, but neither is required — plain baking soda plus water works on its own.

• Measure 1 teaspoon of baking soda into a small bowl.
• Add water a few drops at a time, stirring until the powder forms a thick, spreadable paste.
• Brush gently in small circular motions for about two minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

The alternative ratio is equal parts baking soda and water. Either way, the goal is a paste thick enough to stay on the brush without dripping.

Is It Safe for Daily Use?

Yes, with limits. Verywell Health notes that baking soda toothpaste is generally safe and effective for daily tooth care, but plain baking soda lacks fluoride — which means it cleans but does not protect against cavities the way standard toothpaste does. For that reason, it should not fully replace a fluoride toothpaste in your routine.

The bigger caution is enamel wear. Baking soda is a mild abrasive, and a dental review in the Journal of the American Dental Association confirms it works well as a low-abrasion cleaner in commercial products — but over-brushing or pressing too hard with any abrasive paste can wear enamel down over time. The key is the right technique: a soft-bristled brush, gentle pressure, and a two-minute limit.

Whitening and the Twice-a-Week Limit

For stain removal, baking soda does help lift surface discoloration from coffee, tea, and smoking. But one source is specific about frequency: baking soda and/or hydrogen peroxide should not be used more than twice a week for whitening purposes. Daily use of a whitening-strength paste can thin enamel and increase sensitivity.

If your goal is whiter teeth, the smarter move is a commercial baking soda toothpaste that includes fluoride — it scrubs stains while still protecting against cavities. If you want to stick with the DIY version, alternate it with regular fluoride toothpaste so you get both cleaning and protection.

What Not to Do

The mistakes people make with baking soda toothpaste are consistent, and they are all avoidable:

• Don’t swap it for fluoride toothpaste entirely. Plain baking soda has no cavity protection, which is why it is not an ADA-approved substitute.
• Don’t mix in lemon juice or vinegar. Acids erode enamel, and combining them with an abrasive makes the wear worse.
• Don’t swallow the paste. It’s not toxic in small amounts, but it’s not meant to be ingested.
• Don’t brush aggressively. Let the mild abrasion do the work; pressure just adds wear.

If you’d rather skip the mixing entirely, the best baking soda toothpastes combine the abrasive power with fluoride for a product that cleans and protects in one step.