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All About Mouthwash

Basic commercial mouthwash may contain up to 2% of flavor-creating compounds like clove oil or mint, up to 2% of a surfactant — which serves to dissolve the flavor and create foaming action, and up to 2% humectants and/or thickener. Commercial mouthwash can also contain up to 25% alcohol, plus any number of “active ingredients.”

Ingredients commonly thought to effectively tamp down bad breath odor include:

- zinc chloride (found in quantities of approximately 0.2%)

- quaternary ammonium compounds (for example, cetylpyridinium chloride, found in quantities up to 0.05%)

- and certain combinations of essential oils.

The most effective antibacterial agent you’ll typically find in over-the-counter mouthwashes is chlorhexidine.

Chlorhexidine-containing mouthwashes are good choices for initial diagnosis and therapy, as well as for post-surgical treatment, but are not adviseable for every-day use. Although some investigators have reported sodium bicarbonate reduces bad breath, the consensus among most medical professionals is that it isn’t particularly effective. 

Making Your Own Mouthwash

If all those multisyllabic ingredients seem a little off-putting — or even scary — you can make your own 100% natural mouthwash at home.

Recipes abound, but you’ll want to avoid the ones containing alcohol (no matter how attractive they might sound).

Instead, make a simple infusion using one of the well-known antibacterial or antifungal herbs, such as parsley, peppermint, cloves, rosemary or myrrh (for starters). Here’s an easy “recipe” to get you started:

- 2 cups boiling water

- add 1 ounce cloves, powdered myrrh, fresh peppermint, fresh parsley, fresh thyme, or antimicrobial herb of your choice.

Place boiling water and herb in a glass or non-reactive metal container, cover, and let steep overnight or for eight hours.

Stir ingredients, strain and use. Refrigerate remainder. Re-brew this infusion every two or three days to avoid spoilage.