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Our family has now completely transitioned to a natural oral health routine. We eat to promote oral health and even make our own demineralized toothpaste. Next on the must-try list is a homemade mouthwash recipe.
This natural mouthwash combines herbs that naturally clean and heal teeth and gums. Since it’s in a convenient alcohol form, it’s easy to use and won’t break down quickly. I get fresh breath while it kills germs and alkalizes my mouth naturally.
Why Use Herbal Homemade Mouthwash?
Commercial mouthwashes are often filled with sweeteners, harmful chemicals, and artificial colors and flavors. Some natural choices aren’t my first choices either. Many of these contain glycerine, which can coat the teeth. That’s one of the reasons why I came up with my own toothpaste for oral hygiene that doesn’t contain glycerin.
For a homemade mouthwash, I knew I needed something that could treat bad breath, dry mouth, and gum disease without the potential side effects.
Regular and Homemade Mouthwash
Prescription mouthwashes contain the chemical chlorhexidine, which helps fight gingivitis. But their success in periodontal disease is limited. And there’s also the risk of tooth discoloration, mouth irritation, and rare, life-threatening reactions.
Good oral hygiene doesn’t mean choosing an irritating mouthwash!
Even some factory-stored mouthwashes on the shelves of your local grocery and drug store carry SLS, which can cause or irritate sores. Making your own mouthwash helps fight bad bacteria and improves oral health in a much gentler way.
Herbs and spices for healthy teeth
- Clove – used in oral care for its natural antiseptic, antibacterial and antiviral properties. Clove oil even helps soothe toothaches or minor cavities until they can be healed or filled.
- Mint – adds a traditional mint flavor, but is also antibacterial and mouth-freshening. We use it in our Wellnesse Charcoal Toothpaste.
- Plantain – is antibacterial and antimicrobial and is used in preparations to speed up wound healing. It is also a mild analgesic and anti-inflammatory to help soothe sore tissues.
- Rosemary – a fragrant and cooling herb that is antibacterial and soothes sore gums.
- Cinnamon Essential Oil – This helps give the mouthwash a pleasant warm taste while also fighting bacteria in the mouth. Cinnamon bark is more irritating than cinnamon leaves, so cinnamon leaves are the preferred choice here. Cinnamon has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.
- Peppermint Oil – You can use it with or in place of cinnamon essential oil for a refreshing taste. It is also antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral. Spearmint is similar, but not too pungent if you like to use it.
- Tea Tree Oil – This has a unique flavor in mouthwash so I like to combine it with mint when using. Tea tree oil is useful against many types of bacteria, fungi and viruses. If you don’t like the taste though it’s completely optional.
No time to do it yourself?
If you’re short on time and want some healthy, healthy oral care options, then try some of these from Wellnesse.
Homemade herbal mouthwash
Make your own natural mouthwash at home using soothing, antibacterial herbs and essential oils.
Productivity: first Cup
Guide
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Put the herbs in a pint-sized jar.
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Pour the rum or vodka into the jar along with the herbs.
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Close the lid and keep in a cool dark place for 2-3 weeks, shake about 1 time a day to infuse the medicine.
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After 2-3 weeks, use a cheesecloth or very fine mesh strainer to filter the herbs out of the alcohol.
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Put herbs and tinctures into dropper bottles or another glass jar for storage.
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Add essential oils, close the lid and shake well.
Note
- To use: Combine 40 drops of mouthwash with 2-3 tablespoons of water and gargle for 30 seconds.
- Warehouse: Keep away from sunlight and heat.
How to use homemade mouthwash
- Leave a glass bottle of herbal tincture on the bathroom counter using a small glass or tumbler.
- For each use, mix a sip of water with about 40 drops of tincture and rinse well for 30 seconds.
- For an extra clean, add 40 drops of tincture to a half mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water instead of plain water and soak for 30 seconds.
Alternative mouthwash
If you want to avoid the hassle of making a mouthwash, then oil pulling can be a simple one-ingredient alternative. The basic idea is that the oil, like unrefined coconut oil, can stay in the mouth for up to 20 minutes. This can help remove plaque and support gum and tooth health. There is even some evidence that coconut oil may be effective against the bacteria streptococcus mutans that causes tooth decay.
Oil pulling is somewhat controversial and experts debate its ability to whiten teeth or benefit other parts of the body. However, they all agree that this is a safe and effective alternative to mouthwash.
Other homemade products for healthy teeth:
If you like this recipe and enjoy making your own products, you can also enjoy these other natural oral health products:
Have you ever made your own homemade mouthwash? Share below!
- Altenburg, A., et al. (2014). Treatment of chronic recurrent oral aphthous ulcers. Deutsches Arzteblatt International, 111(40), 665–673.
- Hussan, F., et al. (2015). Anti-inflammatory properties of Plantago main leaf extract reduce inflammatory response in experimental Acetaminophen-induced liver injury. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine: eCAM, 2015347861.
- Kaushik, M., et al. (2016). Effect of Coconut Oil on the number of Streptococcus mutans in saliva compared with Chlorhexidine Mouthwash. Journal of contemporary dental practice, 17(1), 38–41.
- Multum, C. (2022). Chlorhexidine gluconate (gargle). Drugs.com
