This past week I have been fighting an annoying canker sore in my mouth. I remember growing up my Mom would have us gargle with warm, salt water when we got canker sores (or sore throats), but with alI the wonderful essential oils available today, I decided to do some research into homemade mouthwash/gargle options. By making your own mouthwash, not only can you to fight canker sores, but also bad breath!
There are many different ingredient options for making your own mouthwash including: fresh herbs, essential oils, vodka, witch hazel, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, raw honey, stevia, xylitol, apple cider vinegar, glycerin, salt, etc.
I looked at a lot of different recipes and then decided to come up with my own that included some of my favorite flavors and offered the healing properties I was looking for.
Honey Mint Mouthwash
- 1 cup filtered, bottled, distilled, or mineral water (if you must use tap water, boil it first!)
- 1 tsp raw honey
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 4 drops peppermint essential oil
- 4 drops lemon essential oil
- 4 drops tea tree (melaleuca) essential oil
- 1 packet stevia sweetener (optional)
Mix all ingredients together. Swish this in your mouth for 30 to 60 seconds and rinse. Be sure not to swallow! It’s pleasant, but strong! Best kept in a sealed glass bottle or jar.
I love honey and lemon together but I wanted my mouthwash to have a “minty-ness” to it too. The baking soda acts as a rinse and a cleanser, neutralizes the production of acid in the mouth and also acts as an antiseptic to help prevent infections occurring. Tea tree oil has antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.
After my first use, the saltiness of the baking soda and the strong taste of the melaleuca were a bit strong, so I added one packet of stevia sweetener, and it was just right!
The amount this recipe makes should last about a week, no refrigeration needed. I loved the way it made my mouth feel so clean! And after only a few applications my canker sore is already much improved.
TIP: When using homemade mouthwash, it is important to shake your mouthwash well every time before using to mix the ingredients as the ingredients may have settled or the essential oils have collected at the top.
Can you use regular Pure honey instead of raw? I don’t even know what the difference is.
Regular honey is heated and filtered to make it look pretty, in the process all of the goodness is removed leaving you a product not too much different to high fructose corn syrup.
http://www.bee-pollen-buzz.com/raw-honey.html
What a great idea! I look forward to trying this out and perhaps develop my own recipe. Thank you so much! You always have such wonderful recipes and ideas.
Great idea! Can’t wait to try this out with the honey from our bees!
Does anyone know if this would help with gingivitis or sore gums?
When I have flare ups with sore gums, I use a cap full of hydrogen peroxide and hold it in my mouth as long as I can. DO NOT SWALLOW IT! Swish well with tepid water afterward. After 2-3 days, my issue is usually resolved.
The tea tree oil has antibacterial properties as does the honey so, yes, it should definitely help!
Red Raspberry Leaf tea is an instant anti-canker in the mouth and for the whole body.
It should help. I’ve used honey for gum swelling and it works pretty well, as it posesses antimicrobial & anti-inflammatory properties.
thank you for this great idea! I really hate getting canker sores. I wanted to suggest try switching your toothpaste if you are prone to canker sores. I used to get a lot, sometimes two or three at a time but after switching my toothpaste to ones that are sodium lauryl sulfate(SLS) free, I hardly get any. changed my life! the best one I tried, and I’ve tried almost every kind, is Burt’s Bees. All of their toothpastes are SLS-Free and you can find it at Whole Foods. I’m so glad I found your site. So many great recipes and ideas!!
I make my own toothpaste: mix 3 tbsp coconut oil, 4tbsp of baking powder, 20-25 drops of peppermint oil (and optionally 3-6 packs of stevia) – I love it, much prefer it to store bought toothpaste. It leaves my teeth and mouth feeling super healthy. You can also pull with oil to clear any infections in your mouth.
Why baking powder and not Baking Soda? I am looking forward to making my own toothpaste. Thank you for posting this option
Betty
Sorry – I already replied to someone below – it is baking soda…
I would be careful with how much baking soda you are brushing your teeth with. It is an abrasive and can wear down your enamel.
That’s an old wives tale. Baking soda is the least abrasive (7) on a list of abrasiveness that I found on a dental site. Toothpaste is far worse…even Tom’s of Maine. Many toothpastes are over 70 and the list goes up to 200. There is a name for this list but I cannot remember it. If I can find that link I’ll post it.
So anyone that makes their own toothpaste using baking soda…don’t worry. Most store bought stuff is way worse.
I found the link for the abrasivity. The info is closer to the bottom of the page.
http://www.epinions.com/content_3128664196?sb=1
Essential oils are the life blood of the plant and knowing the grade and reputation of your essential oils determines the GRAS – generally regarded as safe to use internally. Grades are determined by which pressing of the herb or spice is being used. Like a tea bag – Grade A or Therapeutic grades are the first pressing. These are the very best quality still full of life and active ingredients. Grade B is the second pressing and is sold to medical facilities, Grade C (third pressing) is what is sold to many essential oil companies. These oils can be considered “100 % Pure” by standard if they contain 10 percent of the oil along with any filler the company wants to use to fill the bottle. These oils can be considered not safe to use and even dangerous to ingest.
Young Living is my choice for EO’s the past 16 years
thankyou for this.
i dont know much about essential oils and im always afraid of buying something that isnt safe.
Those “Grades” were something that Young Living came up with as far as I can tell and have no bearing on how other companies label their oils.
I don’t use Young Living and so have no opinion on their quality. But I would encourage you to do research online before purchasing any oils.
You can go one step further and make your own toothpaste. It is easy, takes only a few minutes to whip up a batch and much more cost effective than the store bought versions. It also has NO chemicals in it as long as you use organic / 100% pure ingredients, most of which can be found in your pantry :) I think Jillee has some recipes on here. I also have one of my variations listed here http://i-4details.blogspot.com/2013/04/toothpaste-homemade-whitening.html#more
you can experiment with what essential oils you want to add for flavor and healing properties. Good luck on your journey!
Great idea! Will try for a sore throat! Don’t forget to label the container …. a good practice to follow when making home made anything.
I am definitely going to try this! and the homemade toothpaste! But I’m curious why you say not to swallow. Everything in the recipe is consumable and the oils have many healing properties.
Guessing because you don’t want to swallow and bacteria or debris it removes.
Louize–baking powder not baking soda, what does it do?
CTY – apologies – I guess it should be baking soda not powder (I didn’t realise there was a difference) – in french it is “bicarbonate de soda”!
Most essential oils aren’t currently recommended for internal use.
Right on time! I was JUST saying to myself that I needed to look online for a recipe for mouthwash. Thank you!
A very easy solution to the canker sores is table salt. Just wet the tip of your finger, dip it in the salt, and apply directly to the sore. Yes, it will sting a bit for a few seconds, but that means the salt is doing it’s job. You may need a second application again in a few hours, depending on how long you’ve had the sore before your first treatment. A simple, fail=proof recipe that works every time.
TO JILLEE:
bright idea recipe homemade solution DIY Health
___________________________________________________________
These words above are at the top when I open the page about making your own mouthwash.
Now, My question is, Under those headings is an advertisement that changes and IS a link to click on.
Jillee, My question is, IS that supposed to be there..in other words do you have it there to advertise other blogs and products?
I am asking because I have been “attacked” by spam and ads on everything that I try to do. I ran all my virus and spam software and still get some. If it is supposed to be there..that I am ok with it, but if not your addition, I still have to figure out what’s in my computer that is bugging me! HAHA
I don’t see that on my computer, but I think my browser hides ads like that :=/
Thanks Laura – I wondered about that..as it did not look like the rest of the page, and just did not fit in…
I have been wondering why my computer is slowing down, and now I know.
Thanks for answering my post!
You might need a malware program. I use one called Malwarebytes. you can find it for free just google it.
Thanks. I will try that.
Yes Judy Ann, there is supposed to be an ad at the top of the page that always changes. :-)
WELL Thank You Jillee!
I am glad to find out it is supposed to be there. HAHA
I thought the “gremlins” were at work in my computer again.
I love your site! I have a question though, where do you buy your essential oils? We sell them where I work (an independent pharmacy) but I work about 10 miles from my home and am just wondering if a grocery store would be likely to carry any. I might just get some when I go back to work tomorrow but I want to make some fabric softener crystals tonight!
Essential oils you get from the stores aren’t usually the good stuff. You have to find ones that are therapeutic grade. Most of the ones you find at the stores contain lots of chemicals and they aren’t pure anymore. I get mine from Young Living.
I get the most of my oils from Doterra. Sophorn is right…most grocery stores don’t carry therapeutic grade oils which is the only kind you want for any medical uses. If you just want to use them for scent you can use the lower quality ones which you can find at most health food stores.
Do research online most stores carry NOW foods oils which are lower quality but not harmful in any way. At least in my experience. But the most important thing is to find a company you trust. If you search “How to but essential oils” there are some great posts about choosing a company. These posts will explain that therapeutic grade is a meaningless term. That does not mean that companies that use that term are bad. But using that term means nothing. There really isn’t much regulation on essential oils in the US as something can be labeled “pure” and contain 49% of something else
Bottom line: Do your own research and listen to your instincts. If something seems up with a company it is probably best to purchase from a different one.
Sounds great! L-Lysine works fast on canker sores – found with vitamins.
I buy all of my essential oils, containers, etc. at Majestic Mountain Sage. I have been buying from them for years! Love their site, prices, and customer service!
Perfect timing! I just threw away some expired listerine that was mostly unused. I wanted a cheaper alternative that I wouldn’t waste. I’m definitely making this! Thanks!
This sounds great. Thank you. I’m sure you found this in your research but just in case you didn’t; Cove EO “neat” on canker sores, any mouth sores or toothache actually, works wonders. It will sting like mad at first like most anything you put on a mouth sore but it cuts the pain enough to eat and talk again and lasts. It is also anti viral and anti bacterial so helps fight the cause of the problem as well. If you don’t mind the flavor of clove (I love it) putting it in the mouthwash mixture would probably work well too. Not sure how much it would numb everything in diluted form though…hmmm. Good luck canker sores are the worst.
This sounds so yummy….but why can’t you drink it? I don’t see anything toxic there. Just curious if it’s the combination? Is it the getting too much acid build up from daily doses of baking soda that would change your PH level in your body, or something else. Thanks Jillee! You ROCK.
Thanks for this easy to make home made wash mouth. Do you haveto refrigerate it if there’s left over? How long can a big batch last in the fridge ?
I just pinned my cure-all for canker sores. Licorice root! Put one or two drops directly onto your canker sore and it will be healed in one or two days! It is fantastic! I have been using it for years and also got my son to use it. We are very prone to canker sores and it is such a relief to heal them quickly. I always keep some on hand. I believe it works on cold sores too, but we don’t get those. Sometimes, my lip will feel “tingly” and I put licorice root on a cotton ball and dab it on. Nothing ever forms on my lip, so I don’t know if I’m preventing something or not!!!
This looked so intriguing I had to try it. I didn’t have any lemon EO, so I substituted clovebud EO since that is antiseptic and good for toothaches (not to mention that I like the taste better than lemon) and I also added a teaspoon of organic olive oil since that is supposed to be great for bleeding gums. I made Louize’s toothpast recipe (above) but used baking soda instead of baking powder. I am LOVING the results already!! Thank you, Jillee, for all of your great ideas. I’ve used so many of them and have been very pleased.
This sounds wonderful! Thanks you Jillie!
I used to get canker sores often when I had braces as a kid – and when I started to get a sore, I put a piece of ice directly on top – (the little squares from a restaurant ice machine are the perfect size, or just break a piece off a bigger piece) and it would slow or stop it. That, and campho phenique helps, too.
I love the idea of the mouthwash – there isn’t a commercial one out there that I like.
This looks quick, easy, and just generally perfect. Thank you!
The longer I follow your blog, the more I’m convinced there’s a way to make just about anything at home — and that it will be even easier once I’ve built up my EO collection a little bit. Thanks for that, too!
Your site has so many ads that I can barely load it on my computer anymore. Unfortunately, my adblocker doesn’t block the imbedded ads. You must make a lot of money on each page view and any clicks you get! w00t!
Thanks for sharing, Jill! I’m going to try this!
Frankinsense is great for healing any wounds and if it is100 percent pure
it is fine to ingest. It is great for stomach problems and a great diuretic. I will be adding some to this recipe
Is there something that you can use instead of tea tree oil? My husband is allergic to it.
Many essential oils are antibacterial so you’re fine using something other than tea tree oil.
My family way of dealing with canker sores is Alum. Alum is a spice used for making pickles. You can find it in the grocery store with the other spices. All you do is wet your finger and place it in the Alum, making sure you get lots on your finger tip. Put that on your canker sore and leave it on for as long as you can, one minute if you can stand it.
Rinse your mouth out and that’s it! It does sting a bit, but not bad. I repeat later the same day. The canker sore will be gone in 24 to 48 hours. You may want to repeat the treatment the next day.
My friend has used this for her cold sore with good results.
Good grief! ALUM IS NOT A SPICE! It is a manufactured chemical compound (an aluminum salt) known fully as potassium aluminum sulfate! It is a form of aluminum not unlike the aluminum salts found in deodorants. If you haven’t heard the warning about aluminum (in general) by now: there is strong evidence of a link to Alzheimer’s disease. Aluminum is widely recognized as a neurotoxin when it goes beyond the trace amounts found in nature. It’s use in making pickles is as a preservative and to enhance crispness. It has an astringent effect that produces a pucker when eating a pickle (especially Sour Pickles). It is the ingredient in styptic pencils that stop the bleeding from a shaving cut. It is the stuff folks used to add to hot water to make a soak for their hands or feet if sweaty palms or sweaty feet were a problem (which is why it’s added to anti-perspirants). And yes, it’s an old remedy for canker sores. But it’s toxic in amounts other than trace amounts. A few possible causes of canker sores: B-12 deficiency, digestive/colon problems, mouth injuries, and just plain old stress. Canker sores are not related to cold sores (herpes simplex virus).
I LOVE THIS!!!!! Just made it and it reminded me of the old days when I’d chew on green mint herbs….wow..what a blast from the past. My mouth feels so clean especially after brushing my teeth with homemade toothpaste too :) I love DIY natural homemade products. I started making/using them in December and am addicted. Everything in my home that I use to cook with, I can clean with, do laundry with, use on my skin and hair, eat, etc….the sky is the limit. All you really need are around 10-15 essential items which are dirt cheap to begin with, then it’s all uphill from there. Start saving your money. Put what you would’ve spent in a jar for a year then use it for a nice vacation. I’m telling you, the savings are out of this world and the products are even better.
NEVER BEEN MORE HOOKED IN PA :)
I read years ago, if you are prone to canker sores, you should eat more yogurt. My husband used to get them all the time, and now, thirty+ years and lots of yogurt later, he never gets them! But if he ever does, we will surely try this!
What is the honey for? Just flavor? I’m a dental hygienist and I’m a little bit concerned about people swishing with a mouthwash containing honey because of the sugar in it. It’s one thing to swish with a rinse like this to soothe and help heal a canker sore, but what if people are using this right before bedtime after they brush? Rinsing with a mouthwash containing sugar is just asking for a mouth full of cavities!
Uhm…I don’t know where you do your research on foods and sweeteners, but honey doesn’t actually contain sugar. It is an invert sugar, so it contains the same properties as other sweeteners like sugar. But, as I said, there is no sugar IN the honey. Unless you’re using the honey-flavored syrup that most restaurants serve with their biscuits. But, raw honey is not.
Right on! Not to mention raw honey has antibacterial properties as well.
Oops – I see my query has already been dealt with! Baking Soda it is, then :)
My Mom used the alum trick on me when I was young for canker sores. Never much cared for the taste, although it was effective. My newest remedy is just to place a squeezed out wet tea bag on the sore for a bit. I use a plain old Lipton tea bag or whatever brand you have, just not an herbal one. I usually try this before bedtime and begin to feel relief right away. Usually by morning, the sore will be on the way to healing. Try it, you’ll be convinced.
Have used milk of magnesia or pepto bismo on cancer sores. No sting and it is such a cooling relief plus they dry up very quickly. It feels like they are neutralizing the acid. And, not to whine (at least not too much) I wish there was an alternative to honey and tea tree oil, since I am quite allergic to both.
Jillie, I take exception to your comment “If you just want to use them for scent you can use the lower quality ones which you can find at most health food stores.” Excuse me? Our local health food store is called Foods For Living, and they wouldn’t think of selling anything that was lower quality. All their products are natural and organic. Wherever did you get that idea?
Check the bottles….they will be labeled not safe for consumption. Those are the lower grade oils. The higher grade will tell you otherwise. For example, doTerra sells lemon oil that is safe to ingest, but the oil that I saw at Sprouts is not. There are different types of processing for essential oils. You can find the information online.
Steph that is not why they are labeled unsafe for consumption. It is not always about quality. It has to do with the fact that not everyone is on board with the science that ingesting essential oils is safe. The only companies I know of that recommend it are doTerra and Young Living. But there are many companies who’s oils are just as high of quality as theirs.
Also I would like to know where you got the information on processing methods as I haven’t seen that before and I would be really interested, because I am trying to learn about this as much as I can.
There are several processing methods that you can find just about anywhere with essential oil blurbs (online, books, the bottles of EO.,etc.) Usually it depends on what oil is being made and what part of the plant it comes from such as lemons, the peels are cold pressed to get the oils out, others that are more delicate like rose petals are distilled.
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I started having canker sores for the first time a couple years back. Upon research, I quit using regular toothpaste and started using coconut oil. I have not had a canker sore since. If I feel a need to rinse my mouth, I use diluted apple cider vinegar and then rinse with water so the acid doesn’t eat my tooth enamel.
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Love this recipe! Will have to try it!!
Two words: OIL PULLING
Another reader mentioned it above. All it is is swishing oil in your mouth, but it is one of the most amazing health remedies I have ever tried. It will get rid of plaque, heal your gums, make your teeth white, drain your sinuses, and rid you of bad breath. And that’s just what it has done for me in a few weeks. According to Ayurvedic medicine, if you do it long enough it will cure other illnesses too.
Jillee, do a blog on this! You will notice a difference after just 2-3 days of trying oil pulling.
What kind of oil do you use?
Probably unfiltered coconut oil. I’ve heard a ton of good things about it lately and dental hygiene is one of them!
Welcome to Chicago and its weather! Please stay safe and warm in our not so welcoming weather.
Bet you thought you would miss the snow this year
Yours is the first e-mail I read in the morning. Love your view of life and all the articles you write.
Pat
Just made the mouth wash this morning. My God that is nasty stuff but it really does seem to take care of the mouth. swished it for about 30 seconds and then rinsed out with water. Might have to add stevia next time. But is really good.
i too get canker sores. They were so bad because i had them on my tonsils…hard to eat or drink. So i went to see doc. he wrote me a med which was about the size of your pinky and was $36…My daughter knocked it in the sink while i was gargling with it….i called doc and he said you can just use peroixde…..it works too….usually gone in 2-3 days….be sure and do this 3 -4 times a day and do not swallow it….i know it foams your mouth up..cleans your teeth too….been doing this now for 30 years.
I made this and it turned out fantastic! Thanks so much for this recipe. My boyfriend wants me to make it for him as well :)
Jillee, I really like a lot of your recipes, but this one is concerning me. I made it last night because I discovered I ran out of my little bottle of listerine and didn’t realize my big refill bottle was empty too. I normally brush my teeth with regular toothpaste (don’t have all the ingredients for home made yet). Then brush again with activated charcoal, then mouthwash. After I do the activated charcoal my teeth are squeaky clean (quite literally, put my finger on them and rub, and my teeth squeak). My teeth will stay squeaky clean after using listerine, but when I use your mouthwash recipe they feel… mildly coated? I guess that’s the best way to discribe it. My teeth aren’t squeaky anymore. Am I missing something? Do other people have this result? Is there something else to do to return that squeaky clean feeling?