Eco-Activity: Plastic package-free toothpaste!

It’s #NoPlasticJuly!! A great way to start inspecting your family’s avoidable plastic use is to focus on one room at a time. Ever thought about what’s happening sink-side in your bathroom when it comes to plastic products, like containers that end up in the trash?

Your typical toothpaste comes in non-recyclable plastic tubes. Did you know you can make your very own teeth-whitening, breath-freshening blend right at home in a reusable container? Plus, the ingredients are super simple to find at your local stores and online, ready to order. That’s something to smile about!!

All you need is:

• 1 ½ tsp baking soda*
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1-2 tsp peppermint extract (or experiment by adding other extracts in your favourite flavour, like orange, vanilla, or cinnamon!)
• A small reusable container. This is a great chance to upcycle your jam jars!

Here’s how it’s done:

1. Place all the ingredients together in your reusable container.
2. Mix until you create a smooth paste.
3. Apply a small amount of natural toothpaste to your toothbrush and brush away!
4. SMILE!

*Note: you can alter the amount of baking soda to your preference. For deep cleaning, add an additional ½ teaspoon. Or, if you have more sensitive teeth, use just 1 teaspoon.

Plus, you can take it to the next level by waving bye-bye to plastic toothbrushes! Think of how many plastic toothbrushes your family tosses in a year… You can totally take on a new tooth-tickler in order to reduce your family’s plastic consumption! Have you ever looked into alternatives like bamboo? Get online and start researching what your family can try together this summer!

The Earth Rangers App is where kids go to save animals! It’s free to join and you’ll have access to real-world Missions like this one. Plus, you can adopt an animal to support conservation projects, and learn all about animals in the Wild Wire Blog. Find activities like this, and so much more in the App!