How to make a natural homemade mouthwash to help freshen breath and cleanse the mouth. This mouthwash is alcohol-free, inexpensive, all-natural, and super easy to make yourself!

Opting for a natural mouthwash means you avoid commercial varieties that commonly mix alcohols, sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), triclosan, sodium benzoate, methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, and other toxic ingredients in with the product.

These ingredients have been found to cause serious long-term health effects, including liver failure and organ system toxicity. The brands you most commonly see on supermarket shelves use these ingredients to provide significant profit margins to their products and to increase their shelf life.

In an article by Dr. Axe, he specifies that ‘the active ingredient, methyl salicylate, in many commercial mouthwashes may cause developmental/reproductive toxicity. It is important to note that doctors advise that children under the age of 6 years should not use mouthwash unless under proper supervision since they may swallow the mouthwash.’

Most companies that use ‘lab ingredients’ have triclosan as their antibacterial agent. However, there have been numerous studies linking triclosan to health problems like hormonal issues, allergies, cancer, and even antibiotic resistance.

Uses for Mouthwash

Most people use mouthwash either in the hopes of eliminating bad breath or to help give their mouth a fresh, clean feeling. There are numerous types of mouthwash available that serve a variety of different purposes, some of which include fighting cavities, removing plaque, tartar, or gingivitis (gum disease), and whitening teeth. If you have a specific ailment you wish to remedy, the ingredients you use may vary depending on the issue at hand.

Mouthwash can be great if you’re wanting to freshen your breath before a date, or if dental pain is a problem and you need something to soothe your mouth during the interim while you wait to see your dentist. If canker sores (mouth ulcers) or other small wounds are giving you grief, a mouthwash can help prevent infection. Or maybe you have a sore throat and want to gargle something to help lessen the pain, a natural mouthwash can be just the thing.

Why Avoid Alcohol-Based Mouthwash?

Using an alcohol-based mouthwash can leave your mouth feeling cleansed and refreshed because of the cooling effect of the alcohol and menthol. However, with long-term use, alcohol-based mouthwash products could potentially lead to a dry mouth.

Alcohol is a drying agent, so swishing an alcohol mouthwash around in your mouth inhibits saliva production which can cause a dry mouth with time. Dry mouth, in turn, makes you more susceptible to cavities and can cause bad breath. So, if overused, an alcohol mouthwash may be doing more harm than good.

If you are wanting something a little stronger to use as an occasional mouthwash, which does still contain alcohol, this is a great natural mouthwash recipe to make.

Before we get started in learning how to make this natural mouthwash recipe – if you like what you’re seeing, subscribe to my email newsletter at the bottom of the page to keep up to date on the latest recipes, DIYs, gardening and health tips I share!!

Homemade DIY Natural Mouthwash

This natural mouthwash recipe is great for rectifying bad breath, improving oral hygiene, avoiding tooth decay, and contains only a few natural household ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 10 drops peppermint essential oil
• 5 drops tea tree essential oil
• 1 cup filtered water (can also use spring or distilled water)
• 1 tsp bicarb soda
• 1/2 tsp Himalayan salt (can also use Celtic sea salt)
• 1 tbsp calcium carbonate powder
• 10 drops concentrated trace mineral drops

To make:

1. Add all the ingredients to a mason jar or glass bottle, cap the lid and tighten to secure it, then shake well to combine.
2. Store the mouthwash in a dark, dry place or the refrigerator. Shake well before each use as the oils can separate.
3. To use, take a small sip of the mouthwash then swish the liquid around your mouth, gargling every so often for 20-30 seconds, then spit it out. Do not swallow. Be sure to keep the mouthwash out of sunlight and use it within three months.

As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor before trying or using any new products. I am not a doctor. All opinions expressed are my own personal thoughts and feelings of the products mentioned. Check with your doctor or health practitioner if you are uncertain about trying out any of the products, recipes or tips mentioned in this post.

Have you made your own natural mouthwash before? What did you think? Share in the comments below.

Lots of love,

🖤 Vanessa