During a recent check-up with a patient, Dr. Bruce Marshall dug up the following recipe for a homemade anti-cavity rinse that we previously posted in January 2015.
Many people do not like the harsh strong taste of commercial mouthwash; plus the cost can be very expensive. We found a formula for pH balancing mouthwash you can make right at home.
Directions for Use:
- Rinse for 45-60 seconds and spit
- Rinse immediately following acidic or highly sugary meals/snacks (if you brush after meals do this first)
- Please remember that with any mouthwash avoid swallowing while gargling
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces tap water
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 20 drops peppermint oil (or another essential oil to taste – peppermint works best)
- Optional: 5 teaspoons Xylitol for sweetness (you can find this online or at a local health store)
- Warning: Xylitol is poisonous to dogs, so be careful
- Note: these instructions will make 1 cup of an alkaline mouthwash at home (~pH 8)
Shelf-Life:
Homemade rinses like this don’t have any of the preservatives you’ll find in store bought rinses, and the baking soda in the re-balancing rinse is converted to sodium carbonate after a few days at room temperature. Sodium carbonate is still alkaline, but baking soda is a bit more gentle of an ingredient. If you want your re-balancing rinse fresh, only mix enough at one time to last you 3-4 days.
Credit: http://www.freysmiles.com/blog/view/re-balancing-your-oral-ph