Natural homemade mouthwash useMy parents lost their teeth very young. So I always felt the need to keep my mouth clean and healthy. Nowadays we have many tools to keep our teeth clean and our breath fresh. We can choose from multiple varieties of toothpastes, powders, floss, mouthwashes, chewing gums, and mints. Usually we have all of the above on our shelves at home. However, despite the endless choices I chose to come back to the routes of natural recipes. I was especially interested in homemade mouthwash. It comes as no surprise since I love using only natural ingredients that in my opinion can be healthier than modern chemicals.
Ads bombard us with varieties of mouthwashes. They tell us that their products are safe and good for us. And we trust the ads. We often do not have time to look at the ingredients. We do not know what some of them even do to our bodies. But we can pause just for a moment and think about it in simple terms. If something can be stored for many years, it probably contains plenty of preservatives to prevent it from spoiling.
One of the common notions about mouthwashes is that they are useful because they clean your mouth and reduce acidity, remove food particles, and freshen your breath. However, mouthwash can be even more toxic than toothpaste. And oftentimes small doses of mouthwash are ingested. Main component in many mouthwashes is ethanol (in some cases up to 22%). It has a strong antibacterial properties but it does not chose bacteria it kills. It means that it can also kill useful micro flora and cause gum inflammation and bleeding. Some mouthwashes substitute ethanol for sodium lauryl sulfate or SLS. It is also used in majority of household cleaners. It can cause skin inflammation, stomatitis, and more.
Of course it is wrong to claim that all mouthwashes out there are bad. However, if we can, why not to do it yourself? It is simple and easy to make homemade mouthwash. it does not require a lot of time.
Mouthwash is simply an antibacterial mix. Depending on components it can freshen your breath, strengthen your gums, reduce pluck. There are many natural components that can help accomplish all of the above. They are safe and you can pick what you like best. I will provide some of the recipes but you can experiment even further.
DIY Mouthwash 1: for teeth whitening properties mix 1/2 tsp baking soda in a glass of water. It is important to remember that you should not use this mouthwash too frequently as soda can make your enamel thinner. Best frequency is 1-2 times per month. You can also add mint for fresh breath.
DIY Mouthwash 2: tea tree oil is well known for its antibacterial and healing properties. It can remove unwanted bacteria, bad breath, gum inflammation and periodontal disease. You can use the following recipe as mouthwash every evening before going to bed. Add 3 drops of tea tree oil to a glass of water. You can purchase a wonderful tea tree oil here. In my opinion, tea tree oil based mouthwash is the best natural mouthwash.
DIY Mouthwash 3: 5 drops of myrrh oil, 10 drops of lemon oil, 10 drops of mint oil, 1 tsp of glycerol, 1/3 glass of natural apple cider vinegar and water. Mix all of the ingredients except water in dark glass bottle. Let it stand in dark cool place for 4 days. Shake occasionally. After 4 days you can please the bottle in the refrigerator to store. You can add 1/2 tsp to a glass of water and your mouthwash is ready.
DIY Mouthwash 4: put 3 glasses of water to a pot and bring it to boil. Chop and add 1 tsp of fresh rosemary leafs, 1 tsp of fresh mint leafs, 1 tsp of anise seeds. Boil for 10-15 minutes. Let it cool down and sift. Store this mouthwash in a cool place.
DIY Mouthwash 5: this mouthwash uses rose-hips as a base. Rose hips are known to reduce bleeding and heal wounds. Make rose-hips broth, cool down and use as a mouthwash. You can also add several drops of your favorite antibacterial essential oil.
DIY Mouthwash 6: Birch tree leaves are known for their whitening properties. Get some fresh birch tree leaves, wash and chop them. Add them to a glass of boiling water and let stand for 30 minutes. Sift and use as your mouthwash.
DIY Mouthwash 7: another wonderful ingredient is oak bark. Use already made oak bark broth or make your own.
DIY Mouthwash 8: Chamomile and sage have a powerful antibacterial effect. Make a concentrated chamomile/sage broth. Cool it down. You can store it in the refrigerator. Add 2 tablespoons of the broth to a glass of water.
As you can see, it is very easy to make homemade mouthwash. It is enough to spend a few time just once or twice a week to prepare truly healthy, natural, and beneficial mouthwash for several days.