Rinsing with mouthwash certainly has its advantages, but there are many mouthwash products on the market that do more harm for your mouth than good. If you are tired of the small selection of mouthwashes your favorite supermarket has to choose from, you might decide to make some all your own. There are a variety of mouthwash recipes out there, and any one of them could be perfect for you. Here is a guide showing how to make your own mouthwash from home.
Step 1 – Choose Your Ingredients
There are so many different ingredients you can add to your mouthwash, depending on what you like. Some common examples of homemade mouthwash ingredients include:
- Aloe Vera
- Baking Soda
- Basil
- Cardamom
- Cinnamon
- Coriander
- Eucalyptus
- Fennel
- Glycerin
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Lemon Essential Oil
- Myrrh
- Peppermint
- Sage
- Salt
- Spearmint
- Thyme
There are plenty of other ingredients to play around with as well, and they all help in different ways. You will have to do some experimenting to see which combination works best for you.
NOTE: You will need to use water for almost any mouthwash recipe you use. Choose distilled or bottled water instead of tap water because tap water is full of chemicals you don’t want in your mouthwash.
Step 2 – Get Your Bottle Ready
You will need some sort of bottle to put your mouthwash in. A simple water bottle can be perfectly sufficient, but you can also buy a new bottle to use. You might want to get a funnel to put in the top of the bottle to make it easier to pour the mouthwash into.
Step 3 – Mix the Ingredients
You can choose from three basic “cooking” methods when putting your mouthwash together. These include:
- Boiling – Bring water to a boil, add in herbs, and let the mixture infuse for about 20 minutes. Strain out the large ingredients and bottle the liquid to use.
- Steeping – Put herbs into your bottle and pour boiling water over them. Steep this solution overnight and then strain out the large ingredients. You may also try steeping over the course of a week, shaking the bottle up once a day.
- Mixing – If you are using essential oils to make your mouthwash, you can simply put them all in a bottle and mix them before you use them. This will not work well for raw herbs.
Step 4 – Use Your Mouthwash
Make sure to shake up your mouthwash well before using it because the ingredients may settle and separate. Don’t be afraid to make a few different mixes to test put until you see which one is best for you. Use your homemade mouthwash once a day before bed for optimal oral hygiene, and you will wake up feeling refreshed and ready to smile.
