[B]y now you all should know that I love to make my own natural health, home, and beauty products. I love them because they work and I love them because they’re frugal. So when I was using my fancy-pants “eco friendly, 100% natural” mouthwash the other day, I thought to myself, “I think I could make this and save myself some money!”
So I did 
Benefits of Using Homemade Mouthwash
Good oral care is vital to our health and vice versa. Health and diet have even been know to heal cavities! Rinsing out the mouth with a cleansing mouthwash is a large part of good oral hygiene. And there are many benefits to making your own:
- It’s cheap. You can create your own mouthwash at a fraction of the cost of store-bought and still experience excellent results.
- You control the ingredients. Making your own mouthwash allows you to control the quality of that which you put into your mouth.
- No hidden chemicals. Commercially-prepared products are often heavy-laden with additives such as preservatives, dyes, artifical sweeteners and a multitude of harmful chemicals. Eliminate them all by making your own!
Variety of Homemade Mouthwash Recipes
There are a variety of different recipes to meet the needs of every individual. Here are just a few:
Basic Mouthwash: 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 3 drops peppermint essential oils. Mix all ingredients in a glass jar and shake well. Swish in mouth, then spit out. Store on bathroom counter.
Old-Fashioned Disinfectant Mouthwash: 1 cup water and 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar. Combine ingredients and store in a glass jar. Shake well prior to use. Swish mixture in mouth, then spit out. Will keep indefinitely on the counter.
Hydrogen Peroxide Mouthwash: 1 part hydrogen peroxide mixed with 1 part water. Swish mouthwash in mouth, then spit out. Mix enough for single use and discard extra solution.
Lemon Whitening Mouthwash: Not really a mouthwash, but you can rub a piece of lemon on stained teeth for a whitening effect.
Herbal Mouthwash: Create an herbal infusion by steeping 2 cups of boiling water, 1/2 ounce of whole cloves, 1 ounce of Oregon grape root, and 1 ounce of rosemary in a pint-sized glass mason jar, overnight. In the morning strain the infusion using a piece of cheesecloth. Swish in mouth, the spit out. Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator. Will keep for 1 week.
Simple Essential Oil Mouthwash: To 1 cup of water add 20 drops of either cinnamon, clove, wintergreen, or tea tree oil. Combine all ingredients in a glass jar. Shake well prior to each use in order to distribute the essential oils. Will keep on the bathroom counter indefinitely.
Antiseptic Homemade Mouthwash
Gather the ingredients:
-5 ounces Rum or Vodka
-4 ounces water
-1/2 ounce vegetable glycerin
-1/2 ounce powdered myrrh gum
-5 drops essential oils of cinnamon
-5 drops essential oils of clove
Directions:
-Combine all ingredients in a pint-sized glass mason jar.
-Shake well to blend.
To use:
I do not recommend that you use this mouthwash daily — due to the alcohol content of this mixture, it can have a drying effect. Use of this solution may be better limited to times when a more antiseptic oral cleanse is desired. Shake well prior to use. Swish in mouth, then spit out. Will store in glass jar on bathroom counter indefinitely.
Notes
-Myrrh gum has broad-spectrum antiseptic properties. It is also well known as an anti-inflammatory — excellent for use in treatment of oral ailments…namely gum disease.
-Cinnamon contains many antimicrobial properties as well. It also functions as a natural preservative.
-Essential oils of Clove can be used to heal and prevent cavities. It relieves the pain of a toothache. And it can also act to decrease oral infections because of its antiseptic properties.
-Rum and Vodka kill bacteria and freshen breath.
-Most of the ingredients can be found over-the-counter at a pharmacy. You can purchase powdered myrrh gum and the essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs or The Bulk Herb Store.
What does your natural oral care routine look like? Please share it with us
Please note: These are my own opinions derived from my own research. The statements made here have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or the American Dental Association. They are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure or prevent any disease.
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Lemon juice has been known to demineralize teeth, so I would be careful rubbing it on your teeth on a regular basis. Other than that, I think it would be interesting to try some of these recipes.
These are great recipes!!! I also brush my teeth with sea salt
OMG!! do not use sea salt on your teeth. it will rub away all of your enamel.
I’ve tried swishing my mouth with peroxide….but I can’t handle the foaming. It makes me gag every time! LOL I have a similar recipe as the one at the top with peppermint oil. Works great.
Didn’t know the tip about clove oil and cavities. Thanks!
Love these! Just skip the clove one if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Also, don’t brush your teeth after using the lemon (same if drinking water with lemon or lime) the acid acts like sandpaper on your teeth when brushing!
just wondering why not while pregnant or breastfeeding new at this and havent found that answer yet
I recently read that the glycerin in regular toothpaste coats the teeth, preventing mineralization….are there different types of glycerin?
We’ve been making our own mouthwash with the water, baking soda and peppermint essential oil recipe for ages! I get kind of tired of the taste of baking soda, however. So I’m glad to see these new recipes to try.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for your post! I’ve been wanting to get my son started on using mouthwash, but…the stuff at the health food store is too expensive and I won’t buy him the stuff at the regular grocery stores.
My mom, who went through a long battle with periodontal disease, swears by clove oil. It’s great stuff!
Thank you again!
Forgive me for sounding silly but what exactly are the reasons to use mouthwash in the first place? I’ve never really understood the point. We gargle for sore throats sometimes but mouthwash always seemed like an advertising ploy. Is it mainly for freshening the mouth?
I know I think contrary to mainstream dental practice in many ways: I believe dental health lies nearly completely in the diet, that blood sugar rather than sugar in the mouth causes caries. Since we began eating a “traditional” foods diet, including bone broths, plenty of animal fats and coconut oil and especially after we started supplementing our vitamin D-3 (because of our far north latitude) we saw much improved dental visits. I’ve even witnessed re-enameling and healing of small cavities.
I gave up flossing years ago (when my gums bled fairly easily) and have had zero new caries since then and on the rare occasion when I floss to get something out from between teeth I get no blood anymore.
There is really no need for using a disinfectant mouthwash on a regular basis! Bacteria in your mouth will help you balance the equilibrium of overall health. So a disinfectant will only kill the helpful bacteria and allow space for problems to appear. This way you have to keep using a mouthwash everyday. Stop doing that (on the first days sores will probably appear). After a balance is attained in your mouth flora, you’ll stop having problems.
As for cavities and sores, they are caused by bacteria and fungi that feed on the sugar on your teeth: that’s why brushing is a bi-daily activity. Also, when the acid of your stomach is too much (for eating too many proteins, too much food, or too much fat) the mouth flora will be out of balance and problems might appear. Last, sores might be a first sign of your immune system breaking down. Listen to your body in order to maintain lifelong health!
We don’t use glycerine in our tooth products because it coats teeth and prevents remineralization. I would be concerned about swishing it in my mouth after brushing because it would coat your teeth and then you have the same issue as if you were brushing with it. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I suspect that’s the case. I do like the cider vinegar and baking soda options and have used them before! Great post.
I love all of the easy, natural options! Mouthwash is one thing I’ve never ventured to try at home because I thought it would be too difficult! Can’t wait to try this one!
I use a mix of essential oils like clove, tea tree, etc. and swish those around with some water. I also use EO’s to disinfect my toothbrush. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
I use peroxide, water and peppermint essential oil.
Hi,
I just found your blog a couple days ago and I love it!!! So many great ideas!!
But, I’m curious if there is a difference between myrrh gum and myrrh essential oil? I have never used myrrh gum, but I do have myrrh essential oil. Would that work?
Do you think you could replace the alcohol with peroxide or just leave it out entirely?
I think the peroxide would be too strong. I’ve often used 1part hydrogen peroxide and 2 parts water for a disinfectant mouthwash/gargle…also hydrogen peroxide alone could induce vomiting.
Always great posts here! Recently I started using a homemade toothpaste, coconut oil, xylitol, baking soda, sea salt, glycerin (which I just read about above maybe not the best ingredient) and peppermint EO, and my teeth feel cleaner than the leading natural toothpaste brands I have used. I’d like to discover a better way to package it tho. I learned a few years ago that glass mason jars were not great in the bathrm….after one smashed on my tub floor while I was in the shower….doing my baking soda, apple cider vin. hair regime…lol….but toothpaste..??
Not sure how thick your homemade toothpaste is, but maybe you could put the mixture into a plastic bag, cut a corner off, then pipe it out there. People do that for icings/frostings when they don’t have icing bags.
patty-Jean, in the travel section of wal mart they have these small round containers two for a buck. I use those for my homemade toothepaste. 1 1/2 tb coconut oil, 1 1/2 tb baking soda, and about 10 drops peppermint e.o. (use more oil if you’d like a stronger mint taste). Holds it perfectly fills it all the way to top though so need to be careful the first few uses.
I use little plastic bottles with a pointed tip (and cap) that I buy inexpensively at the local craft store. I think they are in the beading type section with all of those handy little containers. It is a bit troublesome getting my clay based toothpaste in it, but it goes in with patience and a popcycle stick
I like to use fennel seed essential oil along with a bit of peppermint in my mouthwash, which has a very small amount of alcohol and purified water. I find the fennel gives a sweetness without having to use xylitol – same for homemade toothpastes and powders. I like coconut oil with baking soda and some fennel and peppermint EO and add cinnamon/clove powder – just a touch for a change. Coconut oil is antimicrobial, as most probably know.
As for jars in the bathroom – we are really careful. We have gotten rid of most of the plastic containers in our home – all for food and only use mason jars, vintage glass refrigerator dishes. I keep my diluted apple cider vinegar hair rinse in a pint size jam jar in the shower. We don’t have kids so it is easier for us that way. Perhaps you could try making a terry cloth pocket to hold the jars, washing as needed to keep them fresh.
Do you rinse with water after gargleing / washing with 50/50 hydrogen peroxide? If so, how long do you wait to rinse?
Is the essential oil cinnamon leaf or cinnamon bark?
Is the essential oil cinnamon bark or cinnamon leaf?
I made a few different mouthwashes awhile back (a year or two ago). While they were pleasant-tasting and did help with something specific at the time, we just don’t use mouthwash regularly. I looked through my hand-written book that I keep for jotting down recipes and I didn’t see them in there, so it must have been longer ago than when I started the journal. I am bummed since the one I ended up using helped with some issues I am having again right now. I may try some of the above ideas in mini-sizes.
Thank you for posting these! I love to make all my own beauty products as well and am always searching for blogs with ideas I can try. I have my own recipes for no poo shampoo and vinegar rinse, and other hair care and body recipes on my blog at: blueeyedbeautyblogg.blogspot.com.
Helen
Blue Eyed Beauty Blog
From what I understand you should not use peroxide if you have metal fillings. It causes off gassing of the fillings which is toxic to your health.
Just curious, in your post about tooth powders you discuss the harmful effects of glycerin and yet it is used in the antiseptic mouthwash. Is it okay to coat your teeth after you brush or should glycerin just not be used? What is the purpose of glycerin in this recipe?
I have a couple of kids who have pretty horrible breath — halitosis for sure. Trust me, I have done it all — flossing and brushing, of course; parsley pills, eating natural honey (the really good stuff). So I am wondering if this will help… and I am open to any other suggestions! Their breath is bad and very strong, so it is evident even from a distance.
Delores
I would suggest acidophiles and/or chlorophyll. Halitosis comes from deeper than the mouth in your case (or at least from the sounds of it). If nothing from the dental region is resolving the problem then it very well could be deeper like tonsils, esophagus and/or stomach and intestines. With each person having a very unique body one could easily have something causing the issue in the esophagus while the other has an issue in the stomach. I have a cat with it in the stomach and finally resorted to acidophiles and chlorophyll and BOTH were needed to combat the situation as he has developed a digestive issue of some sort that literally gave him dragon breath.
Best of luck
Hi Delores, that sounds like there may be some other issue further on down the line.
Halitosis can be caused by any number of things. A woman I know had halitosis until she had a tooth, that had gone through a root-canal, pulled – there was food perpetually stuck in the hollow tooth – now no bad breath. Also, this is a new dentist who pulled the tooth, she will never return to the guy who did botched the root canal. I read an article the other day, mercola.com, that we should not get root canals – it leaves a dead decaying part of our body to negatively affect our health later. I’ve had 2 root canals and had not thought about it until reading that article.
We have just had some interaction with an ENT for a medical issue, and where told that the hallatosis could be from stones on the tonsil. I don’t know anything more, but you could research it. My husband has had this problem for the 30 years I have known him, and this was an explanation that made sense since he would periodically have this bad breath that rinses had no effect on,
great posts……amazing ……..and helpful….
I have a water ionizer which makes antibacterial ionized acidic water. I simply add a few drops of peppermint or spearmint essential oil to the acidic water and swoosh
The unflavored acidic water is also great to gargle with for sore throats among many other things.
I made your antiseptic mouthwas a week ago and I love it. I added orange oil and tea tree. Its a nice combo.
Great tips.
Thank you.
I heard the inside of a banana peel is supposed to be good for whitening teeth. Anyone try this?
Can I use something besides rum in the antiseptic wash? Can’t stand the taste. Thanks!!
I did it for about 4 days a month ago, then stopped basically because I didn’t; have any bananas. It worked for me. After doing it once you might even see a difference. After 4 days it was definitely a shade lighter. They way you have to do it two weeks straight to get good results.
Thanks so much for posting these! I have made a version of your antiseptic one with whiskey (the only thing I had in the house, and I don’t want to use a molasses based spirit as I am very allergic to sugar), clove and cinnamon, and I love it!
However, I’ve just begun wondering if it’s okay to use spirits. Aren’t there some natural sugars left in them? And if so, won’t it harm your teeth to put it in your mouth after you’ve brushed?
I’d love to hear what you all think!
Hi.I’m glad to hear that there are other people who have a severe allergy to sugar. I can’t have it at all. If I do eat it ,even a very small amount, I get panic attaches. I have found out that if you acciddently have sugar take 2000 mg of V-C. I know it works, so when I go out and am not sure if there is sugar or sugar products in a dish I take 2000mg before I eat and I have no problems. I can’t even use Splenda. The only sweeteners that I can use is honey and maple syrup.
Are there others out there with the same problem?
Thanks.
Joan
I make my own herbal mouthwash at home using this recipe: http://JetCityOrange.com/mouthwash/
Do you recommend a specific place to purchase the essential oils?
I’ve tried the Powerful Natural Mouthwash recipe on EHow, but my dentist (a very enlightened man) made an additional suggestion (peppermint essential oil), so here’s the complete (modified) recipe:
Combine:
1 cup distilled water
1 TBSP xylitol (note research on effects for inhibiting tooth decay; also, it’s alkaline)
1/2 TSP baking soda (alkaline environment inhibits acidic decay-causing bacteria)
1/2 TSP sea salt (or pink Himalayan salt) (carries on the alkaline theme)
3 drops GSE (aka Grapefruit Seed Extract). Very good for mouth and tooth and gum health
1-2 drops Clove essential oil (very good for mouth and tooth and gum health)
1-2 drops Peppermint essential oil (very good for wiping out bad mouth bacteria)
Shake vigorously while adding dry ingredients to promote dissolving, and shake when adding the essential oils to promote dispersion; shake before using to keep everything mixed.
Note: you can get essential oils (and the Xylitol) from good health food stores, or from Amazon.com.
I love how fresh this leaves my mouth. Also, after you swish it around in your mouth, don’t rinse with water–there’s nothing in this mouthwash that is toxic or dangerous or bad, even if you were to swallow it.
Hi,
I have a question regarding the ingredients for the basic mouthwash. When I went to the store to buy the essential oil (peppermint) they told me that they’re not officially safe for human consumption, they didn’t seem to think it was a good idea to use them for the mouthwash making. They were the Aura Cacia brand of essential oils. They then pointed me toward the peppermint oil in the baking section but that was a mixture of “sunflower seed oil” and “peppermint oil”.
Do you have a certain brand of essential oil you recommend? Or if you use or know someone who uses Aura Cacia?
Thank you!
IS HYDROGEN PEROXIDE SAFE TO INGEST?
Myrrh Gum is hard to come by, do you know where I can find it in oil form at a commercial store? Or is it exclusively bought online somewhere? If so, what’s a trustworthy site that sells it at a reasonable price?
Why do you need your toothpaste to be sweet?