Let’s pretend it was on purpose. I could have specifically bypassed it for multiple reasons: I thought maybe procrastinating would make it easier; or I wanted to skip it to see if anyone was paying attention; or I liked the idea of adding an extra, bonus recipe at the end.

Or should I say, an eXtra recipe … did you notice that I completely skipped writing about the letter X? And definitely not purposefully, even though the logic would be there if I had. I didn’t even notice my mistake until a friend mentioned it. I had gotten so distracted by the what-I-thought was such a timely focus on yogurt after teaching a class on it that I had gone straight to Y and was already brainstorming Z, without ever considering X.

There are, however, 26 letters in the alphabet, and ignoring one doesn’t mean it disappears. I was afraid I might forget a letter at some point in my journey through them, but I was so close to the end that I let down my guard. Kind of like the photo album I made last year, wherein I apparently got so distracted by November and the appearance and subsequent glut of pictures of our precious Kiah, that I completely missed making pages for September and October. Oops. 

Fortunately, I can fix this alphabetical mistake a little less awkwardly – although finding an X to write a recipe on isn’t the easiest; the classic X is for Xylophone doesn’t work so well here. But we can go eXtracurricular, with a not-for-eating recipe featuring Xylitol: homemade toothpaste. 

Like most words that begin this way, the x sounds like a z; don’t say “ks” or “ex” at the beginning of xylitol. It is a derivative of birch bark, and is often used as an alternative to sugar. While it tastes sweet, xylitol doesn’t cause blood sugar spikes and is less caloric, and instead of contributing to tooth issues, it may actually help protect against dental cavities. It’s quite commonly used in chewing gum, and can also be found in things like medications and oral hygiene products. 

I haven’t used xylitol much in baking or as a sugar substitute, but my son goes through so much gum, I’m very glad if it can help his teeth instead of hurt them. Trust me, he needs all the help he can get; I would rather not discuss how many cavities he has. Kiah is an overachiever and is working on getting her last tooth or two; while she seems way too young to go to the dentist, I hear the earlier kids get teeth the worse they are likely to be, and Benson’s track record isn’t making me feel optimistic. I know bad teeth can be somewhat genetically predisposed, and while he skipped my brown eyes, he apparently inherited my teeth.

Fortunately, both kids also inherited my seemingly paradoxical love for good dental hygiene. I brush and floss multiple times a day, but even I can’t hold a candle to Benson’s and Kiah’s love for toothbrushes. They each have several brushes of their own, and you never know where you’ll find one or more lying about the house. (Toothbrushes, not kids.) Round-handled ones, suction-cup-base ones, battery-powered ones, you name it. It’s a battle every bedtime not to get them to brush their teeth but rather for Kiah not to freak out about needing to use everyone else’s toothbrushes. 

I made homemade toothpaste before kids anyway, but especially since they don’t spit well, I didn’t want them ingesting commercial toothpaste. 

Making toothpaste might seem really “eXtra,” but trust me, it’s so easy. Definitely easier than trying to safely get my kids out of the dental aisle without them grabbing handfuls of new toothbrushes. 

Homemade Xylitol Toothpaste

I’m not a dentist, so of course I should include the disclaimer that I can’t technically vouch for this product’s effectiveness. But I checked with the hygienist and she said it was good stuff, and we sure like how it tastes and feels. I often add some bentonite clay to my mix, hence the grayish color, but that’s totally optional. I could barely get a picture because my kids kept trying to grab all the toothbrushes! We use this in the mornings and “regular” toothpaste at night. 

Prep tips: the texture of this paste varies with the temperature — the coconut oil is more or less solid as it fluctuates. 

• ⅓ cup baking soda

• ⅓ cup unrefined coconut oil

• 2 tablespoons xylitol, to taste

• 10 drops peppermint essential oil, to taste

Mix-smash all ingredients together until homogenous (I use a spoon and rubber spatula). Taste a smidge and adjust, remembering it’s not meant to be eaten but you do want it to be pleasantly minty and not off-puttingly bitter. Store in a tight-lidded container and use a small spoon to scoop out what you need to brush. 

Amanda Miller lives with her husband, two young children, and whoever else God brings them through foster care on the family dairy farm in Hutchinson. She enjoys doing some catering, teaching cooking classes, and freelancing, but mostly chasing after her kids. Reach her at hyperpeanutbutter@gmail.com.