Our family has now completely switched to a natural oral health routine. We eat to boost oral health and even make our own remineralizing toothpaste.
The one thing we hadn’t used since changing our oral health routine was mouthwash, as most commercial versions are filled with chemicals and artificial colors and flavors.
This homemade herbal mouth wash was the solution for us. It combines herbs that are naturally cleansing and healing to the teeth and gums in a convenient tincture for easy use. It cleanses and freshens the mouth while naturally killing germs and alkalizing the mouth.
Herbs and Spices for a Healthy Mouth
- Cloves – traditionally used in oral health preparations for their natural antiseptic, antibacterial and antiviral properties. Clove paste and clove oil even help sooth toothache or minor cavities until they can be healed or filled.
- Peppermint – adds the traditional mint flavor, but is also antibacterial and cooling to the mouth.
- Plantain – antibacterial and antimicrobial and is traditionally used in healing preparations for its ability to speed wound healing.
- Rosemary – an aromatic and cooling herb that is also antibacterial and soothing to sore gums.
- I also use cinnamon or peppermint essential oil
Herbal Mouth Wash Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tsp cloves (or ground cloves)
- 2 TBSP dried peppermint leaf
- 2 TBSP dried plantain leaf
- 1 TBSP dried rosemary leaf
- water (boiling)
- 8 oz rum (or vodka)
- 15 drops cinnamon essential oil (or peppermint essential oil)
Instructions
- Place the herbs in a pint size mason jar.
- Pour enough boiling water over the herbs to just dampen all of them.
- Pour the rum or vodka into the jar with the herbs and hot water.
- Cover tightly and place in a cool dark place for 2-3 weeks.
- Each day, shake the jar to help the herbs infuse into the alcohol mixture.
- After 2-3 weeks, use a cheesecloth or a very fine mesh strainer to strain the herbs out of the tincture.
- Discard the herbs and pour the tincture into small dropper bottles or another glass jar to store.
- Add the essential oils, return lid and shake well.
Notes
How to Use Herbal Mouth Wash
Keep a glass bottle with herbal tincture on the bathroom counter with a small cup or glass.
For each use, mix a mouthful of water with about 40 drops of the tincture and swish well for 30 seconds.
For extra cleansing, add 40 drops of the tincture to a half and half mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water instead of plain water and swish for 30 seconds.
Mouthwash Alternatives:
If you’d prefer to avoid the hassle of making mouthwash, oil pulling can be a simple one-ingredient alternative. The basic idea is that an oil, like unrefined coconut oil, is swished in the mouth for up to 20 minutes as a way to help remove plaque and support gum and tooth health. There is even some evidence that coconut oil may be effective against the streptococcus mutans bacteria that causes tooth decay.
Though oil pulling is somewhat controversial and experts debate its ability to whiten teeth or benefit other parts of the body, they all seem to agree that it is a safe and effective alternative to mouthwash.
Here is a full tutorial about how to try oil pulling.
Other DIY Products for A Healthy Mouth:
If you enjoyed this recipe and like making your own products, you might also enjoy these other natural oral health products:
- Homemade remineralizing toothpaste
- Simple whitening toothpaste recipe
- How to whiten teeth with charcoal
- How to remineralize teeth naturally
Ever made your own herbal mouthwash? Share below!
My Healing Birth
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hello i am from mexico.. can you tell me what exactly are cloves..?? i tried to look it up but can’t find what it is.. is it garlic???? thks…
It is a spice that is often used in pumpkin pie…
Cloves= clavos en espanol
Hey, silly question 😉 what if I accidentally added the essential oil to the mixture to infuse…do I need to toss and start over? Thanks in advance and thanks again for all your recipes! 🙂
Nope… its ok, just keep it covered so they don’t evaporate…
Ok, thank you so much! 🙂
I heard you can’t take mint with homeopathics….do you know if this applies to cinnamon as well? I would like to make this but may omit the peppermint. Love your blog!! So grateful for you!!
I have never heard that this applies to cinnamon as well as they are in different plant families..
Hello there! Quick question: My husband and I are TTC #2 and I’ve ready that you should stay away from Peppermint and Rosemary Essential Oil (shame since they smell so wonderful together). I read that they were estrogen inhibitors or something like that. Will using them in this capacity be cause for concern if one is TTC or in the 1st Trimester? PS: Loving your site! Thank you so much for posting great Homemade Natural Recipes =D
In those concentrations and just in the mouth, I would feel comfortable using them while TTC or pregnant. Best of luck!
I have used your remineralising toothpaste and it has worked wonders. I love LOVE love your site
If I dont have any of the leaves can I sub for clove, rosemary, and peppermint eo?
Yes
I couldn’t find all the dry ingredients either so would like to use EOs instead. I’m fairly new to using essential oils, how much of each would you recommend if it’s a substitute for the dry ingredients?
Could I sub water for the alchohol?
You can, but it will make a tea not a tincture so it won’t store more than a day…
I thought it was a little weird to use alcohol. I don’t think I would do that for little kids because they kind of swallow toothpaste and mouth wash a lot.
Can you just dilute the tincture with water and store it in a bottle ready to use instead of putting drops in a mouthful of water each time?
Hi, in mine i use myrrh EO, echinacea root, and peppermint EO to boost receding gums.
I had gums trouble after first pregnancy, and like you, i had all the blabla dentist talk.
Since i passed to all natural teeth care, everything is almost back to normal.
Can receding gums be helped with natural remedies without grafting? My dentist pointed out that I have that problem (now after baby #2).
Yes… have you heard of OraWellness? Their founders reversed severe gum issues and if you email them they can offer some suggestions…
i had a issue as well with receding gum surrounding a crown. after doing research i learned that aloe vera juice is good for gum disease. ( organic lily of the dessert- inner fillet) i am a living witness it does work. after brushing my teeth with a natural toothpaste( tea tree- neem- wintergreen oils w/ baking soda) i swish and swallow with 1 to 2 oz twice daily. i have been using for approx 9 months. i would recommend researching essential oils as well for gum issues. hope this help. i know post is more than a year old , but maybe info will be beneficial to others.
Thanks JLC I found your comments very interesting and will certainly be trying out the aloe vera and tea tree toothpaste
Thank you your post certainly was beneficial to me. I have issues with my gums receding and it is great help.
Love the idea of home made mouthwash, but what alternative to alcohol could be used?
I would like a alternative to alcohol as well. Do you have any ideas?
You can make tinctures in apple cider vinegar as well.
Non alchol witch hazel