Does your breath smell even though you brush your teeth and floss on a regular basis? This condition of chronic bad breath is known as halitosis. There are many reasons your breath may smell so be sure to check with your doctor to rule out any underlining medical conditions which may be contributing to your unpleasant breath.
If you’re looking to freshen your breath after meals or before that special date read on to find out about natural mouthwashes we’ve discovered and found to be our favorite mouthwash products.
First of all, what is a mouthwash? A mouthwash or mouth rinse works like a cleaner in your mouth to reach the small tight places brushing or flossing cannot reach. Mouthwash is not meant to be a replacement for brushing or flossing, however, mouthwash helps to curb bacteria and keep your mouth clean in between brushing and flossing.
Types of Mouthwash
If you’re looking for mouthwash and want it to be on the natural side there are two types of mouthwash to consider because not all of them are made from natural ingredients.
What are the two types of Mouthwash:
1, Therapeutic mouthwash contains active ingredients that are targeted to kill bacteria and help with gum conditions known as gingivitis. This mouthwash may contain fluoride to help with cavities or decaying teeth.
2. Cosmetic mouthwash on the other hand is designed to freshen your breath but not much else. This mouthwash does not have any ingredients targeted for preventative oral care.
Benefits of Natural Mouthwashes
Many people opt for natural mouthwashes because conventional mouthwashes contain ingredients that can irritate your gums or leave you with sensitive teeth. Some of these products may contain harmful chemicals such as triclosan, alcohol, sodium lauryl sulfate, and artificial dyes that can be absorbed into the delicate gum tissues.
Another reason people choose to use a more natural mouthwash is that conventional mouthwash products often use animal testing for their products.
While these ingredients may not cause problems for everyone, many people are opting to cut down on the number of chemicals and artificial ingredients they use. This is where natural mouthwashes become an option to consider.
Natural mouthwashes tend to be partially or entirely made of natural ingredients such as plant, mineral, or microbial components, alcohol-free, and free from other harmful irritants.
Another reason some folks choose to use a natural mouthwash is that they might have a fluoride allergy and want a fluoride-free product or one with no artificial sweeteners or animal ingredients.
Natural Ingredients
We prefer organic natural mouthwashes whenever possible because of the more natural ingredients used in them such as tea tree oil, coconut oil, essential oils, baking soda, and natural mint flavor to name a few of the less toxic ingredients. Some of our favorites are 100% organic, SLS-free, and animal-free tested.
Another benefit of our best natural mouthwashes is they usually come in environment-friendly containers so they are good for the environment too!
Finally, some people like a more natural mouth rinse because they want to avoid excess waste. Many of them actually choose to make their own homemade mouthwash or rinse using hydrogen peroxide and other ingredients such as farm-grown peppermint.
Our Favorite Mouthwashes
One of our favorite natural mouthwashes is Dr. Brite. We love this mouthwash because of the natural ingredients such as aloe barbadensis (inner leaf) juice, vegetable glycerin, Cocos Nucifera (coconut) oil, xylitol, Fragaria Sinensis (strawberry) fruit flavor extract/powder, rubus idaeus (raspberry) fruit flavor extract, Ocimum sanctum (tulsi) leaf extract, mentha Avensis (menthol) crystals, stevia rebaudiana (stevia) leaf/stem extract, Azadirachta indica (neem) extract, calcium ascorbate (vitamin C), sodium chloride (sea salt), activated (coconut) charcoal, Ocimum sanctum (tulsi) leaf extract.
Dr. Brite’s natural mouthwashes are non-fluoride and SLS-free, containing natural ingredients like aloe vera, coconut oil, activated charcoal, aloe, and more. They’re also 100% vegan and available with non-mint flavors, like berry and coconut chai.
If you’re looking for a mouthwash that is fluoride-free then you’ll want to try Listerine Naturals. This mouth wash also helps to naturally protect against gingivitis and keep your breath smelling great!
Listerine Naturals is made by a very familiar brand in the US and has all of the same antibacterial properties as the well-known product called Listerine. The only thing different about this product is that it doesn’t contain fluoride, artificial sweeteners, or dyes that may affect human health.
If you’re looking for a well-known product from a company that has been around for quite a while in the natural health space check out Tom’s of Maine mouthwash. We love them because they use no animal products or other chemicals nor do they use animals for testing products. They carry a product line that is 100% vegan and alcohol-free.
Tom’s of Maine offers several flavors of mouth rinses, however, be aware some do contain fluoride for those wanting fluoride in their rinses to help prevent tooth decay or better oral care.
Hello Mouthwash with Activated Charcoal
Another top contender we like is Hello Mouthwash with Activated Charcoal. This mouthwash offers a natural way to combat gingivitis and gum disease with the added benefit of whitening your teeth. Many people use the whitening mouthwash in addition to a whitening toothpaste to maintain their pearly whites.
Keep in mind that just because this mouth rinse has activated charcoal it doesn’t mean it falls short of a good mouthwash. The benefits of this mouth wash are amazing because activated charcoal is known to absorb the bacteria that can cause the odors that hang out in your mouth after consuming food. This is one reason people prefer this one as a naturally fresh antiseptic mouthwash.
For a sweeter-smelling breath, we like Jason Mouthwash. This mouth wash can be spicier with ingredients such as tea tree oil, aloe vera, clove, and cinnamon to help curb bad breath. An added benefit of this mouth wash is that it does not contain gluten, parabens, phthalates, sulfates, or petrolatum like many others. This mouth wash does not contain clinically tested ingredients that help with gum disease and prevention like most of its competitors but rather just freshen your breath.
Naturally Healthy Antigingivitis Mouthwash
Finally, we like this Naturally Healthy Antigingivitis Mouthwash because it is free from SLS and fluoride-free. This mouth wash contains natural ingredients such as aloe vera, coconut oil, sesame oil, perilla seed extract, and grapefruit seed extract. These ingredients are mild to use and help to calm things down in the mouth leaving your breath refreshed.
How to Use a Natural Mouthwash?
Mouthwashes are not meant to replace daily brushing or tooth decay but to help in between brushing and when you’re on the go. The most common way to use mouthwash is to swish it around the mouth for a few seconds and spit it out. This practice can be repeated once every few days or more often depending on the reasons you’re using a mouth wash.
It’s probably best not to use mouthwash right after you brush your teeth because it could diminish the effects of the residual toothpaste to prevent the added benefits of the toothpaste.
Most of us do not brush our teeth in the middle of the day after lunch or snacks so this may be a good time to use a natural mouthwash to combat those food particles that may be lingering after meals and after eating snacks.
The type of natural mouthwash you choose is more of a personal choice depending on why you want to use it whether as a natural antiseptic or one for oral hygiene benefits. If you want maximum effectiveness look for a product that includes a therapeutic mouthwash with natural ingredients as much as possible to help prevent periodontal disease and freshen your breath.
Irritating Ingredients
Standard mouthwashes many times contain ingredients that do not work for everyone because they can cause irritation in some people. For example, some mouth rinses contain alcohol which can be very drying, causing dry mouth, and may be abrasive with sensitive mouths and sensitive teeth or bleeding gums. Alcohol can also dry out the mouth and contribute to an environment conducive to bacteria.
While these ingredients may not affect everyone, it’s best to take note if you experience any symptoms when using a mouth wash and talk with your dentist about the best solution for you before trying a mouth rise or after using one that seems to cause irritation.
What About Natural Mouthwash For Kids
When it comes to kids using mouth wash the American Dental Association recommends not using one because it’s hard to keep them from swallowing the solution. If children swallow mouthwash it can cause symptoms such as nausea, and vomiting among a host of other complications depending on how much they’ve ingested, so beware If your child is young.
What about the older kids using a mouthwash? Your dentist might recommend a mouth wash for your child depending on the age and the reason to use a mouth wash. Once again this does not replace proper brushing and flossing.
Kids will be kids so be aware when using a mouth rinse so they don’t get into the habit of using the rinse to replace their proper oral hygiene routine.
When it comes to choosing a mouth wash product for children look for natural products for dental health without harmful ingredients such as artificial flavors and with the ADA seal of acceptance.
Some of the best mouthwashes for kids might contain cruelty-free ingredients such as aloe vera, baking soda, and some natural flavors such as minty flavor or fruity flavor because kids look for taste when trying new things. When using mouth rinses remind your child, even older kids the importance of not swallowing the solution because if you choose flavored ones they might be tempted to swallow them.
Are Homemade Mouthwashes Just As Good
What about homemade mouthwashes or rinses? We sometimes like to make our own homemade products because they’re easy and fun!
Saltwater rinses are simple to make because they usually contain salt and warm water which most people have on hand. Using a salt rinse may help to keep the mouth free of bacteria so these spores do not have an opportunity to thrive in between brushing and flossing and it’s so soothing to sensitive or inflamed tissues.
Simply swish with a saltwater solution after lunch or during your coffee or smoothy break to ward off bacteria without the sting or smell of alcohol, zero waste, and it’s cruelty-free.
Another benefit to saltwater rinses is they help to remove leftover food particles that become stuck between teeth and can lead to inflamed gums. Who knows this may help improve oral health and prevent cavities and bad bacteria from forming on teeth or at least keep your teeth cleaner and help with a breath fresh mouth.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has gained much popularity in the wellness space, for dental hygiene habits especially when used for oil pulling. If you’re not familiar with the concept of oil pulling it’s a natural remedy used in India which involves swishing coconut oil in the mouth once a day for a few seconds and then spitting it out. Many people credit this method with keeping their teeth cleaner since it’s hard for food particles to adhere to the teeth because of the slippery nature of this coconut oil mixture.
Does oil pulling work? Many people like to use this method on a nightly basis because of its natural cleaning effects and believe it helps to whiten teeth. However, as a word of caution, if you have an allergy to coconut then this may not be the best solution for you. If you have no known allergy test it out for yourself or ask your dentist if you have any questions before using this method.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has been around for years and is popular for many at-home remedies for treating pain, freshening breath, treating gingivitis, and many other ailments. As good as Tea Tree oil can be we caution you that this oil can be very toxic if ingested. Therefore it’s best to work with a trained professional, like your dentist, to make sure if you’re going to use this oil because it needs to be in proper concentrations to rinse your mouth.
This blog serves to provide general information about natural mouthwash solutions. While mouth rinses may not work for everyone it’s best to consult with your dentist to find out what is the best rinse for your particular oral hygiene protocol whether natural or conventional. The above content is not to be a replacement for medical advice from a licensed dentist