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Want to use a mouthwash but don’t like the chemicals in a commercial brand?  You can make your own mouthwash at home with natural ingredients.

Remember brushing and flossing are still the most important parts of effective oral hygiene.  Rinsing with a mouthwash can only do so much as it cannot very effectively get between the teeth and under the gum-line.  Always discuss with your dentist before trying one of these mouthwashes as it may not be right for you.

For all the following mouthwashes, swirl the liquid in the mouth for at least 1 minute.  You should not swallow the liquid after rinsing as it contains food debris and microbes so you will need to spit it out.  You can repeat this up to 3 times a day.

Salt Water Rinse

Salt water can help draw out infection and is more gentle than commercial mouthwash.  It can help tissue healing and help relieve gum inflammation.

Boil water and let it cool down until it is warm.  Mix in ¾ teaspoon of salt.

Tea Tree Oil Mouthwash

Tea tree oil can reduce gum inflammation, particularly gum bleeding.

Add 3 drops of tea tree oil to warm water to dilute it.

Tea tree oil can interact with some medications so please discuss with your doctor who prescribes you your medication before trying this.

Lemongrass Oil Mouthwash

Lemongrass oil can reduce plaque and gum inflammation.

Add 2 to 3 drops of lemongrass oil to water to dilute it.

Aloe Vera Mouthwash

Aloe vera can help provide relief for inflammed gums.

Aloe vera juice can be used without dilution as long as it is quite pure.

Guava Leaf Mouthwash

Guava leaf is both an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory.

Boil water and add 6 crushed guava leaves to a cup of it.  Let the mixture simmer for 15 minutes and cool.  Mix in a small amount of salt to the warm liquid before using.

Sage Mouthwash

Sage is effective at reducing oral bacteria.

Boil water, add 1 tablespoon of dried sage or 2 tablespoons of fresh sage and simmer for 10 minutes.  Strain away the sage and let the liquid cool before using.