Homemade mouthwash is a great alternative to commercially-produced mouthwash. Although you have to gather a few ingredients to make it yourself, DIY mouthwash is considered safer to use inside your mouth as it does not use harmful chemicals that may be present in some commercially-produced ones.
Mouthwash, in general, is sometimes overlooked by people when it comes to mouthcare. For most people, brushing your teeth is enough to keep their mouths clean.
That is definitely not the case as mouth care involves the use of toothpaste, flossing, mouthwash, and regular dental check-ups.
In this article, we cover how mouthwash works, why it's important to use a natural mouthwash, and how to make a mouthwash recipe. All of this information is vital in ensuring that you are keeping your mouth in tip-top shape!
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In this article:
- What Is Mouthwash?
- When to Use Mouthwash?
- Benefits of Natural Mouthwash
- How to Make a Mouthwash
- Add-On Ingredients
Make Your Own Homemade Mouthwash at Home!
What Is Mouthwash?
Mouthwash is a type of oral rinse that primarily gets rid of bad breath. It helps protect your teeth by balancing the acid brought about by plaque bacteria and also fights against fungal infection or some problems with your gums.
It is important to note that mouthwash does not replace toothbrushing and flossing and should be done alongside the two for complete oral hygiene.
When to Use Mouthwash?
This oral solution should be used after brushing and flossing your teeth. Brushing your teeth is required twice a day, which means rinsing your mouth with mouthwash can be done twice a day, as needed.
Apart from observing proper oral hygiene, mouthwash can be used if you wish to freshen your breath at specific times, perhaps during a special date or while out with friends. It can also be used if you want pain relief from a sore throat or from any dental issues.
Benefits of Natural Mouthwash
There are plenty of benefits of using natural mouthwash. For one, you are certain of the ingredients that are in your mouthwash and ultimately, your mouth.
You can control the amount of each ingredient and you can customize it according to your oral needs. Most importantly, you can choose whether you want to put alcohol in your mouthwash or not.
Alcohol is a common ingredient in most commercial mouthwash products. While alcohol is effective in freshening your breath and giving your mouth a clean feeling, long-term use of it could possibly lead to a dry mouth.
Not to mention, making your own mouthwash saves you money. Below are the steps on how to make your own natural mouthwash at home!
How to Make a Mouthwash
What You'll Need:
Gather your ingredients. You would be needing:
- 1 cup of distilled water
- A teaspoon of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 5-8 drops of your chosen essential oil (or a combination of)
You have several options for which essential oil to use, but the most recommended ones are tea tree, peppermint, clove, spearmint, and wintergreen. You can opt to use just one, or go for a combination of oils. It's up to you!
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Step 1: Don't Forget the Container!
[instagram url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BlsykJ0B9lh/ hidecaption=true width=800]
Make sure that your chosen container is big enough to fit your solution. If you're using a bottle with a narrow neck like the one pictured above, use a small kitchen funnel to put your ingredients in so as not to make a mess on your working table.
You can even take it a step further like her and label it accordingly!
Step 2: Put Ingredients In
Place your ingredients in your container in the following order: salt, baking powder, essential oil, water. As shown in the image, put your ingredients in the bottle through a small kitchen funnel to avoid making a mess and make the process easier.
Step 3: Shake, Shake, Shake!
Place your mixture into your prepared glass jar. You can opt to use a small kitchen funnel if available, so you don't spill some of your powder mixture on your working table.
Step 4: Try out Your Homemade Natural Mouthwash!
Now it's time to try your natural mouthwash that's safe and free of harmful chemicals! Pour a little bit of the solution onto a cup and gargle your solution. See if your DIY mouthwash needs more essential oil and add more drops as necessary.
Add-On Ingredients
You are free to add other ingredients to make your homemade mouthwash more customized to fit your needs when it comes to your oral hygiene.
Some people choose to add xylitol which is essentially a sweetener that is targeted to help with your homemade solution's taste. Xylitol will make your solution taste sweet which is pleasant for a lot of people as it resembles the taste of commercial mouthwash–something that most people are used to.
It is also good to note that xylitol doesn't damage your teeth, so it is totally safe to use in your homemade solution!
Another ingredient that you can add as well is mineral drops. This is added primarily to expose your teeth to minerals that are beneficial to making it stronger and healthier in general.
Moreso, mineral drops may aid in mineralizing your teeth that have been affected by dental plaque. Mineral drops can not only be added to your homemade mouthwash, but also to your homemade toothpaste and your drinking water!
Here's a helpful DIY mouthwash recipe by Oh, The Things We'll Make!:
Having your own natural mouthwash gives you the peace of mind of knowing that you're using the right ingredients in your mouth. Not only that, but it also gives your teeth proper care and protection with ingredients that are proven to be safe and beneficial to your overall oral hygiene.
What are some of your favorite homemade mouthwash recipes? Tell us in the comment section below!
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