DIY Mint Tea Tree Mouthwash Recipe with Xylitol
Why You Should Make Your Own Mouthwash
Making your own mouthwash is similar to making your own toothpaste, only it’s much more easier! You only need four ingredients in this mint tea tree mouthwash recipe and one of the ingredients (baking soda) is totally optional. This tea tree mouthwash recipe contains only natural ingredients and won’t burn your mouth like conventional mouthwashes do. Here’s what’s in conventional mouthwashes – nasty chemicals & ingredients that you should avoid by all costs!
- Alcohol – According to EHANS (Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia’s), almost every conventional mouthwash is alcohol-based, with an alcohol content ranging from 18-26 %. EHANS also notes that oral care products containing alcohol are major contributors of cancers of the mouth, tongue and throat when used regularly – think of how many times you use mouthwash: at least once daily!
- Sodium Fluoride – Fluoride is a common ingredient added to toothpastes, mouth rinses, mouthwashes and drinking water with the claim of fighting cavities. It’s also a toxic chemical that gradually accumulates in the body and triggers a variety of health conditions including neurological problems and cancer.
- Formaldehyde – Formaldehyde is also known as quanternium-15 and is a chemical that has been known to cause burning sensations and discomfort in the eyes, nose, mouth and throat. Formaldehyde has also been listed as a suspected human carcinogen by The US Environmental Protection Agency.
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – Also known as SLS, sodium lauryl sulfate and its sister chemical Sodium Laureth Sulfate are harsh cleansing and foaming agents that are also used in garage floor cleaners, toiler bowl cleaners and engine-degreasers. Using mouthwashes containing this ingredient everyday can wreak havoc on the enamel and cause mouth disorders including canker sores.
- Artificial colors, fragrances and flavors – Common mouthwash sweeteners such as sucralose and saccharin are suspected carcinogens and pose a myriad of health risks including triggering allergies and migraines.
Note: The above are just some of the toxic and harmful ingredients in conventional mouthwashes. You don’t know what other secret ingredients are carelessly added to these sensitive oral care products!
How to: Mint Tea Tree Mouthwash Recipe with Xytolil
It’s easy to make this mint tea tree mouthwash since it contains only 5 ingredients, including distilled or filtered water (I recommend distilled to prevent any bacteria or microbes from growing in the mouthwash), xylitol, baking soda (which is optional in this recipe), tea tree essential oil and peppermint essential oil. See the benefits of each ingredient for healthy teeth and gums below.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of distilled water or filtered water (get it here)
- 2-4 tsp xylitol (get it here)
- 1 tsp baking soda (get it here)
- 4 drops of tea tree essential oil (get it here)
- 4 drops of peppermint essential oil (get it here)
What Each ingredient Is Useful For
→ Baking Soda – The mild gritty texture of baking soda helps loosen plaque and tartar from the teeth as well as reduce teeth stains. When baking soda is dissolved in water, it releases unstable molecules that need to combine with other molecules to stabilize. Once baking soda is in your mouth, the unstable molecules interact with the stain molecules on the teeth, by gaining molecules to stabilize themselves thereby neutralizing them & breaking down the stain, leaving you with brighter and whiter teeth.
→ Xylitol – This is a natural sweetener, extracted from the fibrous parts of plants , that offers great benefits for the teeth and gums. Unlike sugar, it does not break down and attract bacteria that cause tooth decay. Xylitol helps balance the mouth’s pH level, prevents bacteria from sticking to teeth, repairs damage to the enamel protects teeth from decay, etc.
→ Tea Tree Essential Oil – A powerful antiseptic, tea tree essential oil fights off bacteria, germs and microbes, cleanses the teeth and gums as well as keeps the mouth fresh.
→ Peppermint Essential Oil – Due to its high menthol content, peppermint essential oil keeps the mouth fresh and minty, cleanses gums and teeth, fights off bacteria as well as leaves a soothing and fresh clean feeling.
Directions
- In a mason jar or amber glass bottle, combine 1 cup of distilled water, 2 tsp of xylitol, 1 tsp baking soda, 4 drops of tea tree essential oil and 4 drops of peppermint essential oil.
- Store in your bathroom or medicine cabinet. Shake well before each use.
- Swish a small sip (about 2-3 tsp) of this tea tree mouthwash in your mouth for about a minute, then spit and rinse well.
My Tips
► This batch can last you a week if using it once daily. Go ahead and double the recipe for a bigger batch but don’t make very large amounts as the essential oils keep on blending with time and the taste and flavor of your mouth wash will change drastically.
► Baking soda settles at the bottom of the mouthwash jar so ensure to shake well before each use.
► Try other essential oils for different tastes, flavors and properties! Here are a few of my favorites:
- Clove essential oil – Relieves toothaches, fights germs & bacteria, prevents tooth decay, freshens breath.
- Sweet orange essential oil – Gives a sweet citrusy flavor, whitens and brightens teeth, fights bacteria.
- Spearmint essential oil – Substitute for spearmint essential oil. Just like peppermint essential oil, spearmint freshens breath, kills germs and leaves a soothing feeling.
- Rosemary essential oil – Powerful antiseptic, antibacterial and antimicrobial.
- Grapefruit essential oil – Has a fresh citrusy scent and flavor.
- Lemon essential oil – Whitens and brightens teeth, gets rid of bad breath, cleanses mouth, fights germs.
- Cilantro essential oil – Freshens breath, fights germs.
► I didn’t add it in this mint tea tree mouthwash recipe but you can add 1 tbsp of raw honey to emulsify the essential oils. If you do add raw honey, you wouldn’t need to add xylitol to sweeten.
Take Care
Xylitol is toxic for dogs so keep any homemade products including this mouthwash in a safe and high ground away from their reach. Like any other conventional mouthwashes, make sure not to swallow this homemade tea tree mouthwash since it contains potent essential oils that shouldn’t be ingested.
Dmember says
You forgot to add the Baking Soda under “Directions” above. Excellent page…thank you!