In my attempts to wean myself from commercial hygiene products like shampoo, soap, and now toothpaste, I am happy to report that the blogosphere is a bountiful resource of information and testimonials about recipes for homemade scrubs, moisturizers, shampoos, soaps, laundry soap, all purpose cleaners, and toothpaste.
I found a toothpaste recipe a few days ago on Crunchy Betty's blog and bought the ingredients yesterday.
Homemade Coconut Oil Toothpaste
3 tbsp coconut oil [this was news to me - coconut oil is more of a gel or puree than a liquid oil]
3 tbsp baking soda
25 drops peppermint essential oil
1 packet stevia
2 tsp vegetable glycerin (optional) [note: Some commenters on Crunchy Betty said glycerin wasn't good for your teeth so I chose to not use it.]
Put the coconut oil and baking soda in a bowl and mash up with a fork until blended. Add the peppermint essential oil, stevia and optional vegetable glycerin and continue to mash and stir until you’ve reached toothpaste consistency.
Being the geek that I am, and armed with my trusty digital kitchen scale, I weighed the ingredients and did a cost breakdown:
coconut oil - $9.99 for 414 ml
baking soda - $1.99 for 500 g
stevia - $10.99 for a box of 70 packets (works out to 1 g per packet)
peppermint essential oil - $8.99 for 30 ml
I weighed out the ingredients as called for in the recipe:
coconut oil - 45 ml (weighed 41 g)
baking soda - 49 g (volume 45 ml)
stevia - 1 g
peppermint essential oil - ended up with just less than 1/2 tsp, which worked out to an estimated 2.3 ml.
The ingredients mixed together really easily and smelled strongly of peppermint - just like the commercial stuff. I rubbed some between my fingers and it had a very slightly gritty texture from the baking soda.
I dipped my toothbrush in and gave it a run. First impression was a very salty taste from the baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). Bleh. New trick - keep my tongue away from this stuff while brushing. In the past I briefly tried brushing with baking soda. It tasted terrible, but my teeth felt clean - although it also seemed to dry out my mouth. This new recipe, while salty, had a much nicer consistency. My teeth definitely feel very clean, but the coconut oil left a really pleasant softness in my mouth. The salty taste pretty much beat out the peppermint taste, so I may have to adjust either the stevia or peppermint amounts, or both, to get a better flavor. I don't miss the sodium lauryl sulfate foam at all!
Cost Analysis
coconut oil - $9.99 ÷ 414 ml x 45 ml = $1.09
baking soda - $1.99 ÷ 500 g x 49 g = $0.20
stevia - $10.99 ÷ 70 = $0.16
peppermint essential oil - $8.99 ÷ 30 ml x 2.3 ml = $0.69
Grand total for approximately 92 ml of toothpaste = $2.14
So the cost is much cheaper than the Sensodyne I've been using for the last year or so, which is currently about $5.00 for a 100 ml tube - although the homemade stuff may not address the tooth sensitivity, the Sensodyne wasn't really eliminating that either. If you can catch a sale you can get 100 ml tubes of Colgate for $1.29 or something, so that may be a better deal for you, but I'm liking the fact that I know exactly what my toothpaste ingredients are. I also didn't shop around for coconut oil. I could probably get a better price at a health food store or whole foods store. The store I got it from had just a few jars of one brand, so that doesn't scream "we price competitively!" to me.
Another nice feature is that if I don't want to make any more toothpaste, I haven't wasted money on specialized ingredients. I can use everything but the essential oil in the kitchen.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
July 5, 2010. The night out with Catherine.
So my cousin Catherine had been in contact with me during the first part of my road trip and wanted to get together while I was in Toronto. She came to the memorial service but didn't come to the cemetery or the gathering at Nicole's house.
To clarify, Catherine is a step-cousin from my dad's side of the family. My dad had an older brother, John, who was the the only one of the nine kids in his family who lived in Ontario. Everyone else was in Alberta and Saskatchewan. So, because of the distance, we didn't see him very often and I didn't know him very well. My dad seemed to think John was always grumpy about something, and I remember thinking that John looked very much like Christopher Plummer in The Sound of Music. Handsome guy. He had come to Calgary a few times but we didn't visit very long. I knew he was my uncle and that was about it. He passed away about 10 years ago after suffering from Parkinsons for many years.
John's second wife, Anne, had a daughter, Catherine, from her first marriage. Catherine was still young when John and Anne married, so she knew him quite well.
I met up with Catherine near her work after she was done for the day, and we went to a nearby restaurant and planned to see a movie afterwards. During the meal she talked about John and I was so happy to learn more about him. He was a father to her, and she loved him. I wish I could remember all she told me about him, but I do remember feeling really glad to know he was a happier person than I ever knew, and that Catherine appreciated and loved him. It made me wish I had known him better. Really, truly. I feel like I missed out knowing a really good man. Kind of sad how sometimes these good things don't come out until it's too late.
We talked about my trip and the places I would be seeing soon, and we talked about church. She seemed interested in what a tremendous positive influence my faith had on my life, and the confidence it gave me to take this long, adventurous trip on my own, brave enough to do so because I felt inspired to take this trip and felt totally safe and secure wherever I went. After our visit, when I was in Palmyra I ordered a church video for her, about the beginning part of the restoration of the church.
We went to see Toy Story 3, I think it was. She said it was the first movie she'd seen in a long time.
It was a nice visit, and it was really nice to get to know her better.
To clarify, Catherine is a step-cousin from my dad's side of the family. My dad had an older brother, John, who was the the only one of the nine kids in his family who lived in Ontario. Everyone else was in Alberta and Saskatchewan. So, because of the distance, we didn't see him very often and I didn't know him very well. My dad seemed to think John was always grumpy about something, and I remember thinking that John looked very much like Christopher Plummer in The Sound of Music. Handsome guy. He had come to Calgary a few times but we didn't visit very long. I knew he was my uncle and that was about it. He passed away about 10 years ago after suffering from Parkinsons for many years.
John's second wife, Anne, had a daughter, Catherine, from her first marriage. Catherine was still young when John and Anne married, so she knew him quite well.
I met up with Catherine near her work after she was done for the day, and we went to a nearby restaurant and planned to see a movie afterwards. During the meal she talked about John and I was so happy to learn more about him. He was a father to her, and she loved him. I wish I could remember all she told me about him, but I do remember feeling really glad to know he was a happier person than I ever knew, and that Catherine appreciated and loved him. It made me wish I had known him better. Really, truly. I feel like I missed out knowing a really good man. Kind of sad how sometimes these good things don't come out until it's too late.
We talked about my trip and the places I would be seeing soon, and we talked about church. She seemed interested in what a tremendous positive influence my faith had on my life, and the confidence it gave me to take this long, adventurous trip on my own, brave enough to do so because I felt inspired to take this trip and felt totally safe and secure wherever I went. After our visit, when I was in Palmyra I ordered a church video for her, about the beginning part of the restoration of the church.
We went to see Toy Story 3, I think it was. She said it was the first movie she'd seen in a long time.
It was a nice visit, and it was really nice to get to know her better.
July 3, 2010. The day of mom's memorial service.
It was a hot and humid day in Toronto. I'll let you pause a moment to reflect on that revelation. (That's sarcasm. Summers are always hot and humid in Toronto.)
A bunch of cousins, some of whom I'd never met before, met at the church in Longbranch. It was noon, I think, so the sun was really strong and the priest was running late so we had to wait outside for quite a while. It was July 3, 2010. Fifty-six years earlier, on this exact day, a Saturday in 1954, my mom and dad were married in this church. It seemed fitting to have a memorial there on that day.
Once we got inside we all appreciated being able to get out of the sun. The service was short, but it was really neat to be inside that little church and imagine what it was like in 1954 on their wedding day.
After the service we headed out to the cemetery in Mississauga. We had a small wooden box containing a portion of mom's ashes and the cemetery had excavated a small hole over my grandfather's grave for us to place her ashes in. Aunt Denise put the box in and then every took a rose and placed it in the hole or leaning against the headstone.
The next stop was a gathering at my cousin Nicole's house. They have a lovely big home with a large yard and pool and SHADE! It was really nice. There were lots of people there, lots of visiting, and everyone was glad to be able to get together, even though it was kind of a sad occasion.
I had made a DVD of pictures and music for mom's funeral in Calgary, and I brought several copies to Toronto to share with family there. We gathered in the house and watched it. My uncle John was quite emotional and my cousins (Denise's kids) were too, when they saw their dad's picture in there. He died suddenly in 1998. My cousin Andre saw a picture of his dad, my uncle Jack, that he had never seen before. They all really enjoyed it and were glad I put that together.
Oh, yes, can't forget this. Andre's wife Judy was there that day. She was beautiful. Attractive, friendly, and fun, and I got a nice picture of her standing there smiling. Several months ago she passed away unexpectedly. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was in hospital starting treatment, presumably chemotheraphy, when she had an adverse reaction to something and suffered organ failure. That just hit me in the gut. It seemed so wrong and unfair that someone so vibrant was gone so fast. The cancer wasn't terminal, but the treatment was. I still ache about that. What a devastating loss. They had a son and a daughter, both married, and a young grandson. :(
I had the chance to visit with my cousins and some of their friends in the shady back yard and I told them about my trip so far and the church history sites I planned to see. I think it surprised them that someone in this day and age still felt religion had a place in every day life! It was good discussion.
A bunch of cousins, some of whom I'd never met before, met at the church in Longbranch. It was noon, I think, so the sun was really strong and the priest was running late so we had to wait outside for quite a while. It was July 3, 2010. Fifty-six years earlier, on this exact day, a Saturday in 1954, my mom and dad were married in this church. It seemed fitting to have a memorial there on that day.
Once we got inside we all appreciated being able to get out of the sun. The service was short, but it was really neat to be inside that little church and imagine what it was like in 1954 on their wedding day.
After the service we headed out to the cemetery in Mississauga. We had a small wooden box containing a portion of mom's ashes and the cemetery had excavated a small hole over my grandfather's grave for us to place her ashes in. Aunt Denise put the box in and then every took a rose and placed it in the hole or leaning against the headstone.
The next stop was a gathering at my cousin Nicole's house. They have a lovely big home with a large yard and pool and SHADE! It was really nice. There were lots of people there, lots of visiting, and everyone was glad to be able to get together, even though it was kind of a sad occasion.
I had made a DVD of pictures and music for mom's funeral in Calgary, and I brought several copies to Toronto to share with family there. We gathered in the house and watched it. My uncle John was quite emotional and my cousins (Denise's kids) were too, when they saw their dad's picture in there. He died suddenly in 1998. My cousin Andre saw a picture of his dad, my uncle Jack, that he had never seen before. They all really enjoyed it and were glad I put that together.
Oh, yes, can't forget this. Andre's wife Judy was there that day. She was beautiful. Attractive, friendly, and fun, and I got a nice picture of her standing there smiling. Several months ago she passed away unexpectedly. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was in hospital starting treatment, presumably chemotheraphy, when she had an adverse reaction to something and suffered organ failure. That just hit me in the gut. It seemed so wrong and unfair that someone so vibrant was gone so fast. The cancer wasn't terminal, but the treatment was. I still ache about that. What a devastating loss. They had a son and a daughter, both married, and a young grandson. :(
I had the chance to visit with my cousins and some of their friends in the shady back yard and I told them about my trip so far and the church history sites I planned to see. I think it surprised them that someone in this day and age still felt religion had a place in every day life! It was good discussion.
Sigh - such a slacker. Time for an update! The bridge. July 1, 2010.
So here it is almost two years since my awesome road trip and I read the post where I said I'd talk more later about some sights I saw. Well, two years later *is* later, so don't hate! :)
The blue bridge at Sarnia...I had a couple of options available to travel from Michigan to Ontario. One was going through Detroit to Windsor, the other was going through Sarnia. I felt that Sarnia was going to be a less busy and perhaps more scenic route, so I chose that one.
By the way, Kalamazoo is really lovely. Just putting that out there. If you're on a road trip through the area and you need a place to rest your head for the night, consider stopping there. The name is funkily awesome and it really is nice.
Somewhere in Michigan there was a sign on the highway that made me laugh. "Prison nearby. Do not pick up hitchhikers!" LOL. They have a lot of faith in their prison security!
The bridge in question is actually called the Bluewater Bridge. Google streetview has a shot from the bridge but it's nothing like what I saw that day. The bridge (connecting Port Huron, Michigan and Point Edward, Ontario) is a very long bridge and goes very high. It was July 1, 2010, and it was a clear, sunny, hot day. Coming up to the top of the arch of the bridge, I looked to my left to see Lake Huron and was blown away by the beautiful rich blue hues of the lake. There was a sailboat skimming along that looked so small from way high up on that bridge. The lake is so vast that I could see nothing beyond the curvature of the earth, just nothing but the various shades of blue almost glowing in the bright sun. It was a spectacular sight. I wish I could have stopped to take a picture. At least I'll always have that image in my head. Beautiful blue waters on a bright summer day. Stunning.
The blue bridge at Sarnia...I had a couple of options available to travel from Michigan to Ontario. One was going through Detroit to Windsor, the other was going through Sarnia. I felt that Sarnia was going to be a less busy and perhaps more scenic route, so I chose that one.
By the way, Kalamazoo is really lovely. Just putting that out there. If you're on a road trip through the area and you need a place to rest your head for the night, consider stopping there. The name is funkily awesome and it really is nice.
Somewhere in Michigan there was a sign on the highway that made me laugh. "Prison nearby. Do not pick up hitchhikers!" LOL. They have a lot of faith in their prison security!
The bridge in question is actually called the Bluewater Bridge. Google streetview has a shot from the bridge but it's nothing like what I saw that day. The bridge (connecting Port Huron, Michigan and Point Edward, Ontario) is a very long bridge and goes very high. It was July 1, 2010, and it was a clear, sunny, hot day. Coming up to the top of the arch of the bridge, I looked to my left to see Lake Huron and was blown away by the beautiful rich blue hues of the lake. There was a sailboat skimming along that looked so small from way high up on that bridge. The lake is so vast that I could see nothing beyond the curvature of the earth, just nothing but the various shades of blue almost glowing in the bright sun. It was a spectacular sight. I wish I could have stopped to take a picture. At least I'll always have that image in my head. Beautiful blue waters on a bright summer day. Stunning.
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