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8 Natural Alternatives To Toxic Mouthwashes (We Give You The Recipes Right Here!)
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Believe it or not, mouthwashes have been around for a long, long time. In fact, the very first references that we have are from books in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine that list ingredients for a mouth rinse for the treatment of gingivitis from about 2700 B.C.!
There are other examples as well. Hippocrates recommended making a combination of vinegar, alum, and salt to stop bad breath. Native Americans often used plants, such as three leaf golden thread, soaked in water as a mouth rinse to stop infections. The Romans, and Greek upper class people, typically used a mouth rinse after “brushing” their teeth with sticks or reeds.
It wasn’t until the 17th century that a scientist discovered that there were living organisms inside the mouth. This scientist, Anton Van Leeuwenhoek, experimented with many different types of materials to see which would kill these organisms.
In 1960, a compound called chlorhexidine was found by Harald Loe to be super effective against plaque buildup for numerous hours because it adheres to the teeth, which prevents plaque from sticking to the teeth.
After this discovery, numerous companies began making mouthwashes with various ingredients and chemicals. Many of these are still used today, including:
- Cetylphyridinium Chloride – This causes tooth staining sometimes and has a rather unpleasant taste. One study in 1998 showed that this chemical often causes plaque buildup, rather than decreasing the amount of plaque on the teeth. Because it tastes bad, it is often mixed with alcohol or artificial sweeteners.
- Methaparaben – This is a preservative, and several studies have shown that parabens cause cancer and have been strongly linked to breast cancer in particular.
- Chlorhexidine – Studies published in the Journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine found that this compound increases blood pressure. This is because this chemical, although it does kill bacteria that cause bad breath, also kills good bacteria in the mouth and digestive tract that relax the blood vessels.
- Benzalkonium Chloride – This is actually toxic to humans, causing irritation of the mucous membranes and skin. This well-known allergen can even cause death if consumed in a sufficient quantity.
- Alcohol – One of the most commonly used compounds because it kills germs, but this is also a drying agent that reduces saliva output, which actually makes bad breath even worse! One study out of the Dental Journal of Australia found that alcohol can even increase the risk of oral cancer.
- Hexetidine – Sometimes called oraldene, this compound can cause blood clots in the brain, an irregular heartbeat, and allergic reactions, and is known to be a carcinogen.
- Methyl Salicylate – Just one teaspoon of this compound is equal to about 23,300 mgs of aspirin! One 17-year-old in New York actually absorbed a fatal dose of this compound by applying a great deal of muscle pain reliever to her skin that contained this compound.
- Fluoride – Let’s not forget that many mouthwashes now contain the neurotoxin fluoride.
In 1970, there were only about 15 brands and types of mouthwash in the US. Today, there are more than 112! Most of these are intended to kill or control the bacteria that live in our mouths. Unfortunately, almost all commercially-made mouthwashes not only kill all bacteria in the mouth, they contain a great many cancer-causing and toxic chemicals.
We aren’t bad-mouthing mouthwashes. We think they serve a very good purpose. Our objection is to the ingredients that are being used.
Want to make your own natural mouthwash at home, using natural ingredients that will remineralize your teeth, kill germs, protect you from cavities and give you a beautiful white smile you can be proud of? Then keep reading, because we are going to share 8 of the best recipes for natural mouthwashes that you can make at home and feel good about using. (Oh yes, did we mention that you will save some big bucks, too?)
1. Super Citrus Oil Mouthwash
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of filtered water
- 2 teaspoons of calcium carbonate powder
- 1 teaspoon of xylitol crystals
- 10 drops of trace mineral liquid
- 10 drops of peppermint essential oil
- 5 drops of lemon essential oil
- 3 drops of wild orange essential oil
Instructions:
In a mason jar, or other similar container with a lid, stir together the xylitol crystals and the calcium powder. Add the essential oils and liquid minerals. Stir again to be sure everything is well combined. Add your water and stir. Close the lid and shake for 1 minute. That’s it! How easy was that?! You can find all these ingredients in your local natural or health food store or online. Store this in the refrigerator (it keeps for 2 to 3 weeks) and shake well before each use.
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