For better or worse, I require a lot out of my mouthwash. All the artificial sweeteners and chemical additives in conventional mouthwash are a no-no in my book, but often “natural” mouthwash brands fall short for me too. Either they aren’t so natural, not really effective, or insanely expensive. So for a couple of years, I’ve been perfecting my own mouthwash recipe and I wanted to share it with you.
What I Look for in a Mouthwash
1. It must be minty. I never went for the whole citrus mouthwash fad–and the herbal ones that taste like a snake oil remedy from 1894 aren’t my cup of tea either.
2. It must be (a little) sweet. No sickeningly sweet flavor is necessary, of course, but a touch of sweetness makes the whole mouthwash experience a little more pleasant.
3. It should remineralize. Ideally, our saliva “bathes” our teeth in minerals to restore what might be lost through eating, drinking, and everyday life. Imbalances can interfere with the process (which is discussed in the bookCure Tooth Decay), so I feel like it doesn’t hurt to use a mouthwash that serves as a sort of backup.
4. It should whiten. Hey, I admit I like a nice bright smile. But I don’t like to use icky whitening kits that burn my gums and contain who-knows-what. I also prefer something that does a little whitening every day, instead of having to worry about something I need to do on a weekly or monthly basis. Because, let’s face it, I’ll just forget!
5. It should protect from cavities. Again, this is just a protective measure. As Weston A. Price reported so thoroughly in his book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, diet has a tremendous impact on our dental health. But I still don’t mind having a mouthwash that works in my favor, if that makes sense.
So with these five requirements in mind, I fiddled with ingredients until I found a recipe that tastes good and does what I want it to do. Here’s what I’ve come up with:
How to Make Homemade Mouthwash that Whitens and Remineralizes
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons calcium carbonate powder
- 1 teaspoon xylitol crystals
- 10 drops concentrated trace minerals liquid
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil
- 5 drops lemon essential oil
- 5 drops spearmint essential oil
- 2 cups of filtered water
Directions:
- In a large glass mixing cup, stir together the calcium powder and xylitol crystals.
- Add liquid minerals and essential oils.
- Add water and stir.
- Pour mixture into a glass bottle (I reused an old apple cider vinegar bottle).
- Close the lid tightly and shake ingredients together for about 30-60 seconds so the xylitol dissolves.
- Shake well before using.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Why These Ingredients?
Calcium carbonate powder: for remineralizing teeth
Xylitol crystals: for sweetness and cavity protection
Concentrated trace minerals liquid: for remineralizing teeth
Peppermint essential oil: for flavor and fresh breath
Lemon essential oil: for whiter, brighter teeth
Spearmint essential oil: for flavor and fresh breath
Love It? Hate It? Need Some Help?
http://www.livingthenourishedlife.com/2013/09/homemade-mouthwash-recipe-for-whitening-and-remineralizing
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