Oh hello friends, we are back! Cristiana and I had a lovely Sunday of catching up and making all sorts of fun things for you folks to take a crack at, so keep an eye out in the next few days for a barrage of blog posts. This first recipe may be one of my favorite things that we have made thus far. Homemade mouthwash! The recipe was essentially lifted straight from here (with a few small adaptations). We love her blog by the way, tons of fantastic recipes!
Admittedly, I don’t have the best oral hygiene regimen (go ahead, JUDGE ME). I don’t floss (ain’t nobody got time for that, although apparently some people find time for that). I brush twice a day, sure. However, I’ve been plagued by some bad gum recession on a few of my teeth. Dentists have never been outright ALARMED by it, however, they also aren’t super helpful with telling me what to do about it. They just seem to mark it on their little chart and move on with their lives. However, since I value keeping my teeth in my face I am trying to be more proactive about taking steps towards gum health (still probably not going to floss, sorry, I’m not sorry).
A few things that you can do to promote good gum health and healing is by making sure you are chock full of Calcium, and Vitamins A, E, and C as well as folic acid. So you know, eat right or take a multi vitamin (check). Other things include using a soft bristled brush or an electric toothbrush to make sure that you remove all of the plaque without irritating the gum line. And of course, there is flossing (ugh).
Studies have shown that another great treatment for things like bad breath, oral candidiasis, gingivitis, inflamed gums and plaque, is…wait for it….TEA TREE OIL! Betcha thought I would say baking soda, which is of course magical and also in this recipe, and also great for promoting gum growth (making a paste of baking soda and water and massaging it into gums is thought to increase circulation and promote growth).
Here’s what you’ll need:
- One cup filtered or bottled water (if using tap, make sure to boil it first)
- 1 tsp raw honey
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 4 drops peppermint essential oil
- 4 drops lemon essential oil
- 4 drops tea tree essential oil
- 4 drops birch essential oil
- ½ tsp xylitol (optional: to sweeten, you can also use a packet of stevia)
- A mason jar (because you know, what’s more obnoxiously Brooklyn than your own homemade mouthwash in a mason jar?)
Here’s what you’ll do:
- Mix that business up, shake and enjoy! Make sure you shake it every time you use it to get all of the ingredients properly mixed.
I’ve only been using it for a few days and already my mouth feels cleaner. It’s such a refreshingly minty and wonderful rinse and I am really looking forward to seeing what effects it has on my ailing gums.
That’s all for today folks, stay tuned for more fun things to come, including but not limited to: toilet bowl cleaner! And dry shampoo that doubles as a foundation (what?!)
Happy swishing.
{the fixins’}
{add whatever flavors you like best, and feel free to wing it if you want it more pepperminty, or perhaps more lemony}
{somebody get this girl in a mouthwash commercial quick!}
{the final product. warn your roommate that it exists so he/she doesn’t think you are saving a jar of your own urine.}
all of your beeswax 