Make Your Own Minty Mouthwash

It’s easy to make your own mouthwash, and I’ve been using this one for years. It has none of the burning effects of alcohol, zero artificial sweeteners and all the germ-fighting power of tea tree oil. I add in a dash of peppermint oil for a refreshing, cooling effect, and clove oil to round it out with a subtle sweetness. Including salt might seem surprising, but sodium chloride is a very effective germicide.

Note: It’s important to use food-grade essential oils for your mouthwash. Check the label before you buy them.

What each ingredient in this DIY mouthwash does

Each ingredient in this homemade mouthwash has its own job to do. And while each is safe and effective in your mouth, they aren’t necessarily good for your stomach. Always spit out and rinse when you’re done swishing.

Water

Water is the swishy base for your mouthwash solution. It dilutes the intense active ingredients so they can do their job without harming you mouth’s tender gums and membranes. Diluted or filtered water is best, but regular tap water works just fine.

Baking soda

Baking soda neutralizes the acidity in your mouth that can attack the enamel on your teeth and contribute to tooth decay (caries). The acidity is caused by mouth bacteria as they consume sugars on your teeth and in your saliva. Baking soda is also a very effective deodorizer, leaving your breath fresh as a spring breeze. If you have canker sores or other little mouth wounds, baking soda can sooth them and speed their healing.

Salt

Salt is a natural antibacterial. It sucks the water out of germs and kills them. Salt can also tame inflamation of gums and tongue, sooth canker sores and promote healing. Gargling with a salty mouthwash can ease the pain of a sore throat.

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is another antibacterial that can help to reduce plaque and gingivitis. It’s made from the leaves of the Australian tea tree. Australian aboriginal peoples have used the tree as a healing medicine for hundreds if not thousands of years.

Peppermint and clove oils

Both peppermint oil and clove oil are great for fighting bacteria in your mouth, but their primary purpose in this mouthwash is giving it a minty fresh yet soothing flavor to counter the medicinal notes of tea tree oil. Don’t limit yourself to these two though. Try a few drops of sage oil or rosemary oil or lemon oil or cinnamon oil to customize the mouthwash’s flavor to your liking.

Polysorbate-20 (optional)

This is an ingredient that will turn some folks off, and that’s why I consider it totally optional. What it does do is emulsify the oils so they don’t always float to the top of the bottle. Polysorbate-20 is derived from plant sources and is considered safe for consumption in small amounts. You can buy it online. This recipe only calls for a few drops. Too much can give the mouthwash a bitter taste. I recommend buying as small a bottle as possible.

If you don’t want polysorbate-20 in your mouthwash, leave it out! You’ll just need to shake the bottle before each use.

What this DIY mouthwash doesn’t have

Alcohol

While it’s common in many mass-produced mouthwashes — and it definitely kills bacteria — alcohol can also kill the cells lining your mouth. What’s more, it has a tendency to throw a healthy oral microbiome out of whack. Another drawback is that alcohol makes your mouth temporarily produce less saliva. That can leave you with a dry mouth and bad breath. Isn’t that what you’re trying to avoid?

Artificial sweeteners

Although most artificial sweeteners are relatively harmless, they’re still artificially produced. This mouthwash gets a subtle, natural sweetness from the peppermint and clove oils. If you like a sweeter experience while swishing, add a tablespoon or two of xylitol, a natural sweetener. It promotes salivation and doesn’t cause tooth decay.

Sodium laureth sulfate

You’ll see this chemical in a lot of factory-made mouthwashes. It’s basically a detergent and it makes the mouthwash frothy. But that detergent action can irritate the membranes of your mouth and make canker sores worse.

Fluoride

Let me be clear, fluoride is a miracle worker when it comes to preventing tooth decay. It strengthens tooth enamel and makes it harder for the bad bacteria to attack your teeth. But it’s also not something easily bought over the counter. If you use this mouthwash regularly, make sure to also use a fluoride toothpaste and/or get regular fluoride treatments at your dentist to get the full protection that your teeth deserve.