Natural Homemade Mouthwash Recipes

A few months ago, I had a sinus infection that caused sensitivity in my upper molars. Without realizing it, I stopped chewing or drinking on that side of my mouth, and developed mild gingivitis in the upper gums.

My dentist ordered regular flossing (I was a floss slacker) and using a mouthwash to help treat the gingivitis. I'd never used mouthwash before, and stood dismayed in the mouthwash aisle of the local megamart.

There was nothing suitable. Every bottle was too big — I would only need to rinse for a few weeks or a month at most. Most mouthwashes had alcohol, which I thought was unnecessary, and a lot of ingredients with suspiciously long names.

I just wanted something antibacterial to cleanse my mouth. Something that wasn't circus-colored, something made with natural ingredients that I wouldn't have to worry about.

Of course. I'd have to make my own.

1. Simply made. As with all products, there's little reason to run around fetching exotic ingredients and spending hours over a stove. Thankfully, there are many recipes for homemade mouthwash that take 5 minutes to mix up.
2. It is inexpensive. Those bottles in the store run 4, 5, 6 dollars and more!
3. You control what goes into your mouth. Don't want to dry your mouth out with alcohol? Then don't add it. Like spearmint more than peppermint? Use that instead. Want antibacterial effects? Add some essential oils. The possibilites are nearly endless for creating your own custom mouthwash.

The basic formula for a great homemade mouthwash recipe:

Ingredients

1 cup water

4 to 8 drops of any combination of essential oils, preferably those with antibacterial properties (more about essential oils on page 2)

pinch of sweetener, if desired (it does help palatability)

Preparation:

In a small water bottle, add 1 cup of water, 4 to 8 drops of essential oil of your choice, and a pinch of sugar or another sweetener if desired. Shake well. Store at room temperature or refrigerate, if desired. It's not necessary to keep chilled, though.

To Use: After brushing and/or anytime, swish homemade mouthwash around in your mouth for several seconds, the longer the better. Think about getting the liquid all around your mouth, between your teeth and gums. Then spit it out. Never swallow mouthwash.