This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This homemade mouthwash recipe is all-natural, antiseptic, and super easy to make!
I love that it’s made with lots of beneficial essential oils, with none of the questionable ingredients found in many mouthwashes today.
How Do I Make My Own Mouthwash?
My husband was buying a particular brand of natural mouthwash, and he was happy with it. But then he ran out and we couldn’t just go pick up some more at the health food store.
Necessity is often the mother of invention, and that’s how this mouthwash recipe came about. In his desperation to get some mouthwash, my husband scoured our cupboards and this is what he came up with!
Actually, before going through the cupboards, he studied the ingredients of his favorite natural mouthwash. After looking at the ingredients, he realized he could make something similar.
As it turns out, it’s pretty great stuff (we’ve been using it for the past 4 months). And we no longer buy mouthwash because this one works so well.
Homemade Mouthwash Ingredients
Affiliate links included below. Read my full disclosure here.
Here are the ingredients you’ll need for your DIY essential oil mouthwash. If you don’t have some of the essential oils farther down on the list (like myrrh) you can leave them out.
- 1/2 cup (4 oz.) purified water
- 1/2 cup (4 oz) hydrogen peroxide (food grade is best)
- 1/4 cup (2 oz.) aloe vera juice
- 4 drops peppermint oil
- 4 drops spearmint oil
- 3 drops eucalyptus oil
- 2 drops cinnamon oil
- 2 drops myrrh oil
- 1 drop clove oil
- 1 drop thyme oil
- 2-4 teaspoons xylitol
- glass bottle (this recipe makes about 10 oz, so you’ll want a bottle that size or larger)
How to Make Essential Oil Mouthwash
This mouthwash is so simple to make!
All you really need to do is mix it all together in a glass bottle and you’re done!
Benefits of This Natural Mouthwash
(The following isn’t medical advice, it’s just notes from our own reading. See my disclaimer here.)
So many mouthwashes available today contain all kinds of ingredients that may do more harm than good. Things like alcohol, saccharin, sucralose, and artificial colorings have all been linked to potentially negative health effects. Here’s a study showing the antimicrobial efficacy of five essential oils against oral pathogens.
This natural mouthwash recipe uses all-natural ingredients. To be fair, just because something is “natural” doesn’t mean you don’t have to ever be careful with it.
Based on our study of the potential benefits of essential oils for oral use, here is why each of the ingredients in this recipe may be helpful for promoting good oral health.
- Peroxide: antiseptic (kills bad bacteria), teeth whitening, helps prevent and treat gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), and periodontitis (inflammation of tissues around the teeth)
- Aloe Vera: may help fight plaque and periodontal disease
- Peppermint: kills bacteria that cause gum disease and eases dental pain
- Spearmint: strong antiseptic and aids wound healing
- Eucalyptus: helps whiten teeth, exhibits antibacterial activity against cariogenic (tooth decay-causing) and periodontopathic bacteria
- Cinnamon: antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria responsible for tooth decay
- Myrrh: antiseptic and may help with mouth ulcers
- Clove: kills germs and helps with tooth pain
- Thyme: broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal action
- Xylitol: adds sweetness without sugar (bacteria thrive on sugar), naturally antibacterial, helps to mask stronger essential oil flavors
Pin it for Later:
More DIY Recipes
- Homemade Mint Toothpaste Recipe
- Homemade Beeswax Lip Balm Recipe
- How to Make Homemade Comfrey Salve
- Homemade Sunscreen Recipe
- DIY Toilet Spray
Homemade Natural Antiseptic Mouthwash Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup 4 oz. purified water
- 1/2 cup 4 oz 3% hydrogen peroxide
- 1/4 cup 2 oz. aloe vera juice
- 4 drops peppermint oil
- 4 drops spearmint oil
- 3 drops eucalyptus oil
- 2 drops cinnamon oil
- 2 drops myrrh oil
- 1 drop clove oil
- 1 drop thyme oil
- 2-4 tsp xylitol
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients (we used a 2-cup glass measuring cup) and stir to thoroughly blend.
- Pour into a suitable container (glass jar or food-grade non-BPA plastic bottle with flip-top lid.
- Give the bottle a shake before each use. Use first thing in the morning and swish for 30-60 seconds (do not swallow), then spit. Try to swish mouthwash all over teeth and gums to make sure all parts of the mouth are reached. Rinsing with water afterward is optional.
Thank you for sharing this recipe – I’ve been using this for two years or more and my oral hygiene is so much better! My dentist’s amazed too!
Thank you so much for the positive review, Cherie! I’m so glad it has been helpful- that’s wonderful to hear!
Hello,
Recipe looks fantastic. One question. I had been putting peppermint oil in my coffee. I then found out it was for external use only, and by ingesting it could be dangerous. I clicked on some of the essential oil links in your recipe and they took me to a product that says, for external use only. I realize that you don’t swallow mouthwash, but is it safe to use any essential oil? Or are internal use oils available? Any feedback appreciated.
Hi Scott! I have always used essential oils that were labeled as “therapeutic grade,” so I would look for essential oils labeled as such, if you decide to use them. Whether to use essential oils in dental products or not is a personal choice, and I would recommend consulting a holistic dentist for advice if you have questions. If you want to try a “mouthwash” without essential oils, you could try oil pulling (something I have done off and on through the years), or you can also get dried herbs (like peppermint) and make an infusion and combine those to create a mouthwash that will still have a minty taste without needing essential oils. Also, if you miss the peppermint in your coffee, you could get some dried peppermint leaves and put them in a tea strainer and then pour the hot coffee over it, cover, and allow the herbs to steep for awhile to get a bit of minty flavor. I do this with whole cloves every day in my tea. 🙂
So cool! I have never thought to make my own mouthwash, what a great idea! Thanks for sharing on Homestead Blog Hop 🙂
This is my husband’s favorite mouthwash! 🙂
We love essential oils. This looks like another great use.
Thanks for sharing at Funtastic Friday.
We love it! Thanks for stopping by, Kimm!
I’m excited to try this. I’ve made a lot of other things with our essential oils, but I haven’t tried mouthwash yet. We’re featuring your recipe at our weekly link party. https://www.thelifeofjenniferdawn.com/2017/02/homemade-bath-spa-products-and-weekly.html
Yay! Thanks for featuring my post, Jennifer! 🙂 If you get a chance to try the mouthwash I hope you like it!
Hi Joy
For the peroxide do you mean common household bleach? Or is there something you can get?
Thanks Tanya xxx
Hi Tanya! No, it’s 3% hydrogen peroxide, which you can usually find at any drugstore or grocery store. It’s a totally different product than chlorine bleach, which would be dangerous in this recipe. Hope that helps!
Hi Joy
Oh ok I thought household bleach didn’t sound right but hadn’t heard of anything else. Ill look up your sugesstion.
Thanks for the reply.
Tanya xxx
You’re welcome, Tanya! Hope you’re able to find some locally!