Mouthwash Recipes

Know the mouthwash ingredients and try the given recipes for homemade natural antiseptic mouthwash, gingivitis mouthwash and mouth rinses.

A mouthwash is recommended as an antimicrobial, a topical anti-inflammatory agent, a topical analgesic, or for caries prevention. However, note that mouthwashes and mouth rinses are not a substitute for regular brushing and flossing.

Many different mouthwashes are commercially available and it is difficult to select the most appropriate product for a particular need.

A mouthwash may be recommended to treat infection and reduce gum inflammation and pain. An antiseptic mouthwash may be used daily in addition to brushing and flossing for prevention of oral disease. However, long-term use of any mouthwash should be avoided.



Facts about teeth
Teeth Care Tips
Baby teeth chart
Bad foods for teeth
Teeth care tips
Teeth whitening tips
Sensitive teeth remedies
Toothache remedies
Gingivitis cure
Gingivitis pictures
Bad breath home remedies

Mouthwash Ingredients

Most common ingredients are following:

Diphenhydramine - to reduce inflammation
Glucocorticoids - to reduce inflammation
Lidocaine - to relieve pain
Nystatin- an antifungal
Maalox - a coating agent
Sucralfate - a coating agent
Erythromycin- an antibiotic
Tetracycline - an antibiotic

Magic mouthwashes are formulated combining ingredients to treat a variety of oral conditions.The most popular formulation of magic mouthwash contains diphenhydramine (anti-inflammatory), lidocaine (anesthetic) and Maalox to help coat the tissues in the mouth. There is, however, a lack of evidence that magic mouthwashes are effective in decreasing the pain of oral lesions.

Saline solution or salt water mouthwash is one of the most commonly used home remedies for the discomfort caused by gingivitis. It can be made by adding a pinch of salt in lukeworm water. It is as effective as magic mouthwash in pain relief or shortening of healing time of oral mucositis.

Natural ingredients like mint, lemon cranberry juice can make a good mouthwash.

Alcohol in Mouthwashes

Ethanol is used as a solvent, preservative and antiseptic. It has antimicrobial activity against most bacteria, fungi and viruses. However, high concentrations of alcohol (above 20%) in mouthwashes may have detrimental oral effects such as gingivitis, ulceration, epithelial detachment, keratosis and pain.

Most of the commercial mouth washes like Listerine contain too much alcohol which dries out the mouth. Its long-term use is not good. These products give information in a misleading way. For example, Listerine label says that 1ml contains 0.22ml of alcohol. How many can make out that Listerine contains 22 percent alcohol! Why it gives content for 1ml when the normal amount of use is more than 10ml. If you use such a mouth wash before sleeping, then your mouth and throat will remain dry throughout the night, producing bad breath and other problems.

Note that there may be a direct relationship between the alcohol content of mouthwashes and the development of oral cancer so it is not advisable to recommend the long-term use of alcohol-containing mouthwashes.

These ethanol based mouthwashes are unsuitable for children due to the risk of accidental ingestion.

Listerine has recently introduced a zero contgent mouthwash.

Gingivitis Mouthwash

  1. Chlorhexidine Antimicrobial Gingivitis Mouthwash
    A mouthwash containing Chlorhexidine gluconate is the most effective mouthwash for reducing plaque and gingivitis. However, you should use this mouthwash only after half an hour after you finish brushing and rinsing with water, because chlorhexidine may interact with fluoride and sodium lauryl sulfate present in toothpaste.
  2. Herbal Mouthwash for Gingivitis
    Mouthwash containing sage oil, peppermint oil, menthol, chamomile tincture, echinacea juice, myrrh tincture, clove oil, and caraway oil is good for gingivitis.
    Boil 2 tablespoons of dried bilberries in half a liter of water. Use the resulting decoction as a mouthwash several times daily.
  3. Oxygenating mouthwashes
    Hydrogen peroxide oxygenating mouthwashes have been recommended for the treatment of acute ulcerative disease, to reduce gingival inflammation before fixed prosthodontic treatment. They are broad spectrum antimicrobials and have been shown to reduce gingivitis and staining.
    Hydrogen peroxide is an oxygenating agent that releases oxygen into the gum tissues to reduce inflammation. Its long-term use can cause serious side effects including cancer risk, tissue damage, ulcers in the mouth, etc.
  4. Essential Oil Mouthwash
    Mouthwashes containing essential oils (thymol, eucalyptol, menthol and methyl salicylate in up to 26% ethanol) have been recommended for those who suffer from gingival inflammation despite regular brushing and flossing.


More Mouthwashes

  1. Fluoride Containing Mouthwashes
    Fluoride mouthwashes reduce dental caries. Fluoride mouthwashes are not suitable for children younger than six years of age as the risk of ingestion is high.
  2. Sodium Bicarbonate Mouthwashes
    A mouthwash can be prepared by dissolving one teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate in a glass of water. It is recommended in patients suffering from oral ulcerative disease or xerostomia.
  3. Prebrushing mouth rinse

    A prebrushing mouth rinse contains sodium benzoate and about 7 % alcohol. It is not recommended for people on salt restricted diet.
  4. Lemon Mouthwash
    • Water, 1 cup
    • Plain Soda drink, 1/2 cup
    • Vegetable Glycerine, 4
    • Aloe Vera Gel, 1 teaspoon
    • Lemon essential oil, 10 drops
    Mix all the ingredients in a bottle and shake well.
    Never rub pure lemon juice or lemon/lime on your teeth.
  5. Tea Tree Oil Mouthwash
    • Warm water, 1 cup
    • Myrrh tincture, 1/2 teaspoon
    • Tea Tree Oil, a few drops
    • Peppermint or mint oil, a few drops
      Mix all the ingredients and gargle.
  6. Mint Mouthwash
    • Water, 1 cup
    • Plain Soda drink, 1/4 cup
    • Vegetable Glycerine, 4
    • Aloe Vera Gel, 1 teaspoon
    • Peppermint or Spearmint or Pudinhara, 10 drops
    Boil water and add soda, glycerine and aloe vera gel. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature. Add peppermint or spearmint or pudinhara and shake well. Store into an air-tight bottle.
  7. Unsweetened Cranberry Juice
    Take the juice in your mouth and move it vigorously and swallow. Rinse teeth with water.
  8. Vinegar
    A 50% solution of vinegar or apple cider vinegar can help to dissolve deposits of calculus.
  9. Mouthwash For Kids

    Mouth rinses containing alcohol should not, in general, be allowed to young children because they may swallow the rinse. They can use non-alcohol absed mouth rinses as following:

    Children under 6 years age six should avoid fluoride rinses because excessive fluoride exposure can result in fluorosis.
    Children between 6 and 12 years should only use a mouth wash under supervision.




Bookmarks, Share, Email, Add This Page




Search Site & Web




Popular Articles


Health Articles

Home remedies for acne Hair fall home remedies Bleeding Gums Tooth Ache home remedies Normal blood pressure Triglycerides Levels Stress Meaning Abdominal exercises Metabolism boosters Cholesterol Units

Food Articles

Anti aging foods High protein foods High calcium foods High iron foods Foods high in potassium Soluble fiber foods List Best weight gain foods Food poisoning symptomsFat free recipes
Junk food list Pictures of worms in human