Mouthwash has been deemed as the ultimate antidote to bad breath.
Whether it’s for a date or a business lunch or even a speaking engagement, you need to gargle with mouthwash.
However, you don’t need to use Listerine or any other alcoholic mouthwash to get the job done. You can refresh your breath with a lot of home ingredients and remedies.
What Is Mouthwash Used For?
It may surprise you to know that Listerine wasn’t invented to be used for Mouthwash at all. It was used as floor cleaner.
This was due to its strong antiseptic properties. It was prescribed for bad breath for the same reason.
However, bad breath was originally considered a medical problem that you would get from certain illnesses or tooth decay.
Normal funky breath after eating lunch or after you woke up in the morning is a natural occurrence.
However, due to the normalization of mouthwash, everybody uses it today to refresh their breath.
So here is a calibrated homemade mouthwash recipe for you.
Ingredients For A Homemade Mouthwash Recipe
All of these ingredients can be mixed and matched or simply used on their own for a mouthwash.
All of them carry properties that can either improve or refresh breath, or reduce chances of tooth decay.
Of course, before you commit to anything, you should consult with your dentist.
1. Peppermint Oil
This is one of the best oils that you can use for a homemade mouthwash. It refreshes breath and gives you a clean, pristine feeling.
You don’t need to use alcohol in your mouthwash at all if you have this. Just add a few drops of peppermint oil and you’re set.
Just make sure that you keep it out of reach of children under the age of 6. This is because of the rare respiratory effect it has on young children.
They may develop, in very rare cases, breathing problems if exposed to peppermint oil.
2. Xylitol
Xylitol is technically a sweetener, but it won’t damage your teeth. It actually helps to keep bacteria and cavities away.
You can add it to make your mouthwash more appealing and palatable.
However, remember to keep it away from any dogs or cats that you keep as pets. In fact, try to keep it away from animals altogether.
Xylitol is a great option to make your mouthwash much easier to gargle with. It won’t give you a gaggling sensation when you gargle with it.
It will also stop you from feeling the tinge that is characteristic of any mouthwash. This is a welcome addition to any of your homemade mouthwash recipes.
3. Coconut Oil
Rinsing one’s mouth with Coconut Oil for 15 minutes daily has been known to be effective at preventing tooth decay.
The method has Ayurvedic origins which date back thousands of years. You can thus add it to your mouthwash if you wish.
Coconut oil also helps to remove any plaque and soothe gums that are inflamed. Also, the fragrance of coconut oil is great to refresh your breath.
4. Salt
Salt is one of the key ingredients that every single mouthwash should have. It’s been used by several cultures for thousands of years to clean their teeth.
Not only does it heal wounds, but it’s also prescribed after any dental work. It can reduce inflammation and contract tissues after any surgery.
Saltwater can also alkalize the mouth, thus reducing any chances of cavities.
It destroys any acid-forming bacteria which can cause gingivitis or affect the integrity of your teeth.
Take care to use natural salt. Don’t go for iodized salt or common table salt that you get from the market.
Try to get Himalayan salt which is also rich in trace amounts of minerals. Substituting this salt for regular salt can actually have health benefits adjacent to better dental health.
Also, your teeth will appreciate the minerals being delivered to them. Feel free to add this to any of your homemade mouthwash recipes.
Also, gargling with salt can also help your throat. Remember when you used to gargle with warm salt water when you had a sore throat? That’s still applicable.
5. Aloe Vera Juice
According to triple blind randomized control trials carried out by the National Institute of Health, Aloe Vera is “an effective mouthwash”.
This is due to its “ability in reducing periodontal indices”. What that means is that it reduces the development of harmful bacteria that lead to gingivitis or tooth decay.
Hence, adding Aloe Vera juice to your homemade mouthwash will definitely be a good idea.
Not only does it have a pleasant taste, but it will effectively stop the buildup of bacteria. It’s already being used in several toothpastes and mouthwashes as it is.
You can prevent gum disease with it due to its anti-inflammatory properties and prevent the buildup of bacteria.
Homemade Mouthwash Recipe
- First take 2 cups of lukewarm, distilled water and put into one bottle. Put in 40 g of xylitol, 2 teaspoons of baking soda, 10 drops of your preferred oil (coconut/peppermint) and shake. Make sure that you shake the bottle until the ingredients are well dissolved.
- You also have an option to substitute the oil with 10 drops of the Aloe Vera juice.
- You can then proceed to sip a little of the mixture and gargle and swish around your mouth. Do this for about a minute and then spit it out. Make sure that you’ve spit into a dustbin or a container. The oil within your mouthwash can sometimes clog the drain. There’s no need to rinse with water since it would remove the protective layer of xylitol.
- This is a rule of thumb for when you brush your teeth as well. The protective layer around your teeth is soluble in water. Don’t remove it by rinsing with water.
And you’re done.
Use this recipe to make your own mouthwash instead of going to the store every time you run out.
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