Looking for a homemade natural mouthwash recipe that not only freshens breath but improves oral health? This DIY All-Natural Herbal Mouthwash for Healthy Teeth & Gums is exactly what you’re looking for!

Ah, there’s nothing that compares to that fresh and clean feeling of mouthwash!

It doesn’t matter if you’ve been stuck on a bus with busted AC all day next to an old Italian man with garlic seeping out of every pore (been there), swish a little mouthwash you’ll feel like a whole new you in an instant!

Related: The 5 Best Essential Oils for Healthy Teeth and Gums

But most store-bought mouthwashes are filled some pretty unhealthy ingredients.

Let’s take a look at the ingredients of one of the most popular mouthwashes out there:

Active Ingredients:

Thymol (0.064%) [ORGAN SYSTEM TOXICITY], Eucalyptol (0.092%), Methyl Salicylate (0.060%) [DEVELOPMENTAL/REPRODUCTIVE TOXICITY], Menthol (0.042%)

Inactive Ingredients:

Water, Alcohol (21.6%) [ORAL CANCER], Sorbitol Solution, Flavoring, Poloxamer 407, Benzoic Acid [ORGAN SYSTEM TOXICITY], Sodium Saccharin, Sodium Benzoate [ORGAN SYSTEM TOXICITY], FD&C Blue 1 [ORGAN SYSTEM TOXICITY; has actually been banned for use in other countries]

Let’s take a deeper look at the alcohol. Not quite sure why this is considered an “inactive ingredient” since there is so darn much of it in there and certainly for its germ-fighting properties.

There is now sufficient evidence to accept the proposition that developing oral cancer is increased or contributed to by the use of alcohol-containing mouthwashes…

It is the opinion of the authors that, in light of the evidence currently available of the association of alcohol-containing mouthwashes with the development of oral cancer, it would be inadvisable for oral healthcare professionals to recommend the long-term use of alcohol-containing mouthwashes. — McCullough and Farah, Australian Dental Journal

Time for a safer alternative, huh?

This DIY natural mouthwash gives you that fresh and clean feeling plus benefits the teeth and gums.

The salt and calcium-magnesium powder help to strengthen and remineralize teeth while the essential oils freshen breath, fight bacteria, and reduce gum inflammation.

DIY All-Natural Herbal Mouthwash for Healthy Teeth & Gums

Ingredients:

• 1 cup filtered water
• 1 teaspoon Real Salt or pink Himalayan sea salt (rich in minerals; inhibits bacteria growth; helps heal cuts and reduce gum inflammation)
• 1 teaspoon calcium magnesium powder (helps remineralize teeth)
• 2 drops spearmint essential oil*
• 2 drops cinnamon essential oil*
• 2 drops peppermint essential oil*
• 2 drops clove essential oil*
• 2 drops myrrh essential oil* (myrrh is not an herb, it’s a resin, but I’m including it in here!)

*After doing the research, I consider these essential oils to be the best essential oils for healthy teeth and gums. If you’d like, you can instead just use one or a few rather than all 5.

Directions:

Add all of your ingredients to a glass bottle (I used an old ACV bottle!), shake it on up, and ta-da! You now have your very own DIY all-natural herbal mouthwash for healthy teeth & gums!

I use this mouthwash twice a day, morning and night after brushing with my DIY all-natural whitening + remineralizing toothpaste. While the salt and EOs inhibit bacteria growth, to play it safe I make a new batch weekly.