make your own natural mouthwash

i love all things fresh, clean and simple. i love fresh, clean and simple clothes, fresh, clean, simple food, makeup, rooms, colors, scents.......just about everything. when it comes to cleansing routines, i like them to be the same.....fresh, clean and simple. over the past couple of years, i have made an effort to learn more about natural health, beauty and cleansing products and how to make them myself. i have been able to replace many store bought products with simple, natural, homemade and healthy substitutes and it....well, it just feels good. 

my newest changeover, which should have been my first effort, is natural mouthwash. i dislike e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g about the scary-looking, brightly-colored bottles of shocking-tasting rinses i have used for years only because i thought they were beneficial for my dental health. well it turns out, they are not. first of all, they contain several toxic ingredients including thymol, hexetidine and methyl salicylate as well as synthetic colors and sugars, all harmful ingredients easily absorbed by the body. that was enough for me to know it was time for a change. 

i learned how easy it is to make your own mouthwash that freshens breath, improves oral health and prevents cavities using just five simple and natural ingredients: 

peppermint essential oil - gives you minty, fresh breath. i chose to use peppermint essential oil for my recipe but if you are not a fan of the taste of mint, like my son ben, you could try using clove, cinnamon or wintergreen essential oil instead

coconut oil - as with peppermint essential oil, coconut oil helps rid your mouth of bad bacteria as both have antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. using the liquid form of coconut oil is most practical for this recipe (thanks for my bottle of coconut oil, ben)

sea salt - helps eliminate bacteria as well as promote healing of gums

distilled water - best for homemade products, you can use filtered water for short-term use

baking soda - helps neutralize acids, fight germs and take care of odors, some studies show that it may also help fight stains on teeth

here is my tried and true recipe for fresh, clean and simple mouthwash.

natural mouthwash

1/2 cup distilled water

1 teaspoon coconut oil (liquid)

2 drops peppermint essential oil

pinch of sea salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

combine all ingredients in a lidded, glass bottle. 

shake well before each use to mix ingredients.

pour a small amount, 2 teaspoons, into a glass and swish around your mouth for 30 seconds or so and spit out. 

as with any mouthwash, do not swallow. rinse with water.

there, that looks, tastes and well, just feels good.