How to Make Your Own Natural Mouthwash

As well as regular brushing and flossing, lots of people use mouthwash as part of their daily dental routine. Commercial mouthwashes can be purely cosmetic, meaning that they simply act to freshen your breath temporarily. Others are therapeutic and are used to treat certain oral conditions such as gingivitis.

In general, mouthwash can help to freshen breath, clean between teeth, and provide some antimicrobial or antibacterial effects. Mouthwashes are generally made with alcohol and can feel quite harsh to some people, especially those that use it regularly. The alcohol can give a stinging sensation in the mouth and leave the mouth feeling dry. Other questionable ingredients show up in commercial mouthwashes, too.

If you enjoy making your own beauty and hygiene products, you can add homemade mouthwash to the mix. There are various ingredients that you can use to make a mouthwash that is freshening and can even help with basic oral hygiene.

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Homemade Mouthwash Base

Using water as a base for mouthwash works perfectly well as a base for other active ingredients. Distilled or purified water is ideal, but what you have on hand is just fine.

Commercial mouthwashes often use alcohol as an inactive ingredient. It is simply used as a preservative. On the other hand, water does not work this way, so the shelf life of your mouthwash will be much less. Since it is difficult to gauge how long homemade products will last, it is best to make just enough for either single use or to last just a day or two.

Homemade mouthwash is not an alternative to mouthwash that has been prescribed to you by a medical professional for specific conditions. These recipes are fun, thrifty, and simple ways to make a more natural mouthwash than some of the over-the-counter ones.

Mouthwash Active Ingredients

Fill a one-cup mason jar with water and add any combination of the following ingredients. Once you have added your active ingredients, put a lid on top and shake before using. As we know, oils and water don’t mix, so you have to shake before use to get reasonably good dispersion of the active ingredients.

• Peppermint or Spearmint essential oils– The cool and refreshing flavor and sensation that mint gives you make it ideal for mouthwash. Minty fresh breath is all many people are after. However, peppermint is also naturally anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, so it may help with minor oral issues you might be experiencing. For one cup of water, you will only need three or four drops of peppermint oil. You can always add a little more if you want extra zing, but be very careful not to add too much as it may cause a burning effect in your mouth, especially if you have open sores. Shake the oils and water together before taking a mouthful. Swish it in your mouth for about 30 seconds and spit it out.
• Clove essential oil or whole cloves– Cloves are famously used to ease the pain of minor toothaches due to their mild numbing properties. They are also naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial, helping to kill bacteria that cause bad breath. Instead of using 2-3 drops of clove oil in your cup of water, you can actually use whole cloves to make an infusion. You will essentially make a clove tea that you will then use as a mouthwash. Add ten cloves to a cup of hot water and allow them to infuse. Let the water cool before using.
• Baking soda– Baking soda has long been used for its teeth whitening and odor quelling properties. Some research suggests that rinsing with baking soda helps to freshen your breath and increases the pH balance of your saliva. This reduces acidity, which helps to inhibit bacterial growth. All you need to do is add one teaspoon of baking soda to your cup of water. Warm water may help the baking soda to dissolve. Shake the mixture before swilling it around your mouth and spitting it out.

Remember, feel free to mix and match these ingredients. Peppermint and clove go really well together and make a very zingy breath freshening mouthwash. Add baking soda and essential oils to your base for extra power!

Research each essential oil individually for quality and recommended dosage. Check with a medical professional before using any essential oil medicinally. Do not ingest essential oils.

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