Zero Waste Mouthwash: Homemade Mint + Tea Tree Recipe

My mom is a dental assistant, but she absolutely loves the homemade toothpaste I make. So much so, that whenever she runs low, she’s always asking me to make more. If a dental assistant approves of it, its got to be good. That made me think: What if I took it a step further and replaced our conventional mouthwash with zero waste mouthwash? My mom had no objections to this. In fact, she even admitted she doesn’t like traditional mouthwashes, saying “mouthwash with alcohol in it is too abrasive anyway”. 

It’s true there are a lot of mouthwashes on the market that contain alcohol, but they also contain a lot of other icky ingredients besides that. Stuff that shouldn’t be going down the drain (because it contributes to water pollution) or swishing around your mouth. Enter my homemade mint and tea tree recipe for mouthwash. The recipe for this kind of hit me out of nowhere and I decided to just go with it. 

This homemade mouthwash is fairly simple to make and won’t sting my mouth (like traditional mouthwash does). It’s got a very mild taste to it (similar to that of mint tea) but does a good job of gently freshening my breath. There’s nothing harsh or abrasive about it, and as my mom likes to say “it’s different in a good way.” We both use this zero waste mouthwash on the daily and so far, so good. Also, just a heads up, I do have two affiliate links in this post. It’s to other zero waste dental hygiene items I use on a regular basis (so nothing I wouldn’t recommend or use on myself). Without further ado, here’s how to make zero waste mouthwash using just 5 basic ingredients (dental assistant approved!).

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Ingredients:

• Baking soda: Protects the teeth from acid wear because it balances acid in the body.
• Tea tree: Antibacterial and antiseptic, making it perfect for preventing gum diseases.
• Peppermint essential oil: Eliminates bad breath odors in the mouth.
• Mint sprig: The leaves contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to eliminate harmful bacteria and prevent dental problems.

Directions:

1. Add 3 cups of distilled water (you can distill water by boiling it) into a pot with your mint sprig. Turn the heat on medium and cover with a lid. Leave it undisturbed for 15 minutes so the mint can infuse.
2. Once the water is infused with the fresh mint, remove from heat and let cool. Add the tea tree and peppermint essential oil, mixing it in with a wooden spoon. Funnel the mixture into the bottle of your choice. Add the tablespoon of baking soda to the bottle, cap it, and shake it up. Done!