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Learn how to make toothpaste for kids with this Kid Friendly Strawberry Toothpaste. It’s so easy to make, pretty inexpensive, and kids LOVE the flavor!
When it comes to oral health, brushing our teeth is one of the most important things that we can do.
This habit is so important that from the moment we see that first tooth in our baby’s mouth, we are supposed to start brushing their teeth.
This healthy practice continues to be so important that it’s something that we teach our children to do so that they can continue having great teeth.
Toothpaste is something every person needs. Adults and kids alike use toothpaste but it’s rare that children like the minty toothpaste that their parents use.
Since kids sometimes need extra coaxing to get them to brush their teeth and because we all would rather use a toothpaste that tastes great, companies have developed dozens to kid toothpastes in a variety of kid approved flavors.
The Problems with Many Kid Toothpastes
Unfortunately most store bought kid toothpastes are full of ingredients that I do not want going anywhere near my kids mouth.
Have you read the ingredient list on a kid toothpaste? They are full of crazy ingredients that most of us have no clue as to what they are!
Ingredients like propylparaben, methylparaben, propylene glycol, sodium fluoride, cocamidopropyl betaine, artificial colorings, and more!
Most of these ingredients come with allergen concerns, organ system toxicity concerns, endocrine disruption concerns… Toothpaste should not come with concerns!
If you are curious as to what’s lurking in your kiddo’s toothpaste then I encourage you to head over to EWG’s cosmetic database, plug in the toothpaste name, and see what is going in your little one’s mouth.
Now that I have you all worried about toxins in your child’s toothpaste, I’m going to tell you that it’s easy to switch to a safe and natural kid toothpaste.
There are some natural brands out there if you want to buy safe kid toothpaste.
They are great when you are short on time although they often are pricey and even the natural brands can have ingredients that I’d rather avoid.
Even natural ingredients like glycerin can be a concern. Glycerin is in almost every single toothpaste but the problem is that it coats your teeth and prevents them from remineralizing.
The solution? DIY Kids Toothpaste!
This DIY strawberry toothpaste is inexpensive, easy to make, just as effective, and you’ll know all the ingredients that go into it!
What Ingredients Are in the Kid Friendly Strawberry Toothpaste?
Xylitol – You might recognize this ingredient from many toothpastes and chewing gums. Xylitol is a sweetener so it helps make the toothpaste yummy but it’s a sweetener with perks because it also prevents cavities and can even help remineralize teeth!
Note: xylitol is toxic to dogs so make sure your dog does not have access to xylitol.
Coconut Oil – Coconut oil is a popular toothpaste ingredient thanks to it’s antibacterial and anti-fugal properties. There’s also evidence that coconut oil helps fight cavities!
Strawberry Flavoring – While there really aren’t any reasons to include the strawberry flavoring for oral health, it does make this toothpaste taste similar to many kid toothpastes on the market.
A kid friendly flavor is always a helpful thing when getting kids to brush their teeth!
If your child is more fond of orange flavored toothpaste, I have a kid friendly creamsicle toothpaste!
Kid Friendly Strawberry Toothpaste
1 tbs xylitol – finely ground
2 tbs coconut oil – softened
1/8 tsp strawberry flavor extract
Directions:
In a small bowl, mix all ingredients together.
Transfer toothpaste to a storage container.
To Use:
Scoop out a tiny bit each time you need to brush teeth.
You may want to reserve a popsicle stick or some such tool for scooping out toothpaste to avoid contaminating the toothpaste.
Note: The above listed strawberry flavor extract contains glycerin, many prefer to avoid glycerin as it coats the teeth and keeps them from remineralizing.
I’d suggest using an extract (although you’ll want to check out those ingredients as well) or Natures flavors offers strawberry flavoring which I believe does not contain glycerin.
This sounds super simple, I’m pinning this for future reference!
Love this Brittany!
How long would you say this keeps before you’d have to toss it?
I’d say it should last at least a few months but odds are you will use up the batch before it goes bad. 🙂
Thank you!
Could you please tell me where you order xylitol ? Is this strong enough to replace adult toothpaste ?
Hi Samantha,
I actually order mine off of Amazon. (I have the xylitol linked in the post). It is strong enough to replace adult toothpaste. In fact, it’s pretty much the same recipe as my adult toothpaste; the only difference being that for adults I use peppermint essential oil instead of strawberry flavoring.
This is great – virtually flavored coconut oil, which is just what kids would love and could benefit from! My toddlers usually just use coconut oil anyway, and this is the perfect way to step it up for them. Thanks for sharing!!
Wow, I never would have known I could use JUST coconut oil – in the sense that I assumed I’d need additional ingredients other than the flavors. I’m totally trying this; thanks so much!!
I had no idea this was even possible. How cool! Thanks for sharing at the Healthy Living Link Party.
Blessings, Leigh
Great recipe! Thank you for sharing with us on the Art of Home-Making Mondays at Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth! 🙂
My kids would really love this. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday! 🙂
Brittany, this is awesome! Can’t wait to try this with my kiddos, and I’m adding it to my post on homemade toothpastes, because I don’t have a fruity one for kids. Thanks! 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing this over at Healthy Living Link Party, I do appreciate it and I hope to see you again! Pinned!
My kids would love me for making this. They’re always complaining about my homemade melaleuca toothpaste that I force upon their poor sensitive selves. Haha! Thanks for sharing it at Savoring Saturdays!
I think my kids would like this version better than what I currently make. I do love all the ingredients and how simple it is.
Strawberries are actually said to brighten teeth in some posts that I have read . You might want to add some to your adult toothpaste , too.
I’ve heard that too… although I think you might need actual strawberries to get the whitening effect.
Where do you get strawberry flavoring?
The strawberry flavoring is linked in the post (amazon)
The strawberry flavoring you linked to has glycerin in it, but you state on your minty paste blog (and I’ve read in other places as well) that it prevents your teeth from remineralizing, do you have any other suggestions?
Oh dear! I don’t know how that didn’t even catch that! There are a few options… Natures Flavors (www.naturesflavors.com) has strawberry flavoring which as far as I can tell does not contain glycerin (their website is not the greatest for ingredient lists but the bottle I have in my fridge does not list glycerin) Alternatively, you could make my creamsicle toothpaste with orange essential oil (instead of the flavoring) or you could use an extract. (strawberry extract seems to be full of yucky ingredients but I know mint and vanilla are ok)
Off to go edit my post. Thanks for catching that!
You could make your own strawberry extract, just like vanilla: I believe that is what Natural Flavors is selling, as glycerine usually subs for alcohol in extracts. I plan to do this myself, make strawberry extract and use it instead: more of my own ingredients, less unknowns! Thanks for the idea!!
Yes! That’s a great idea!
Is it save to swallow for kids? Would love to use for my 19 month old but he doesn’t know how to spit it out he always swallows it
Yes, it’s safe to swallow. My kids aren’t great at spitting it out yet either… and since it’s safe, I don’t really care if they just swallow it. 🙂
Hi! Just made this toothpaste, but the color is all white. How did you make it slight pink?
It just depends on what brand of strawberry flavoring you use. I believe Nature’s Flavors was what gave me the pink tint.
What a great recipe to have on hand. Trying to make more things homemade.