Everyone is interested in keeping their mouth fresh, but it can sometimes be hard to find solutions that are not too sugary. There are many ways to keep your mouth looking and feeling fresh naturally. Be aware that many of the natural alternatives taste more bitter than their sugar filled commercial alternatives, but they contain piece of mind that you are utilizing nature’s remedy. When possible, try growing helpful herbs in containers in your kitchen, or in a back yard or balcony. Homegrown herbs are a fun, organic way to treat yourself to a fresh mouth.

Bad Breath Remedies

To counter bad breath, try chewing on fresh mint leaves, parsley, tarragon, or fennel. These herbs will keep your mouth feeling zesty, and are a good alternative to gums and commercial mints for bad breath. To clear your palate, try chewing cardamom pods, or cumin seeds.

Tea Tree Oil Mouthwash

Tea tree oil is one of the best natural antiseptics, making it a great choice for clean teeth and breath. For a simple tea tree oil mouthwash, mix 3 to 4 drops of tea tree oil with one cup of water. Swish gently around your whole mouth, and spit. Repeat if necessary.

Sage Tooth Treatment

Sage stimulates the mucous membranes and gums in your mouth. Rubbing fresh sage leaves on your teeth and gums makes your teeth whiter, and improves gum health. This treatment has been utilized for a healthy mouth since the middle ages.

Myrrh Mouth Disinfectant

Myrrh fights infection, and has been used for centuries in gum infection treatments. For gum health, add 3 to 4 drops of tincture of myrrh to a glass of water for a bitter but effective treatment.

Herbal Mouthwash

For a more complicated mouthwash that includes a large variety of health gum and tooth agents, try this recipe:

For the dry herbal mixture, mix 10 parts sage with 10 parts rosemary, 6 parts red oak bark, 2 parts cassia bark, and 2 parts cloves. (for a more complete mix, also add 6 parts spotted cranebill root, 2 parts goldthread root, and 2 parts rhatany root.) Boil 4 teaspoons of the mixture in 1 pint of water for 5 minutes. Let it stand and steep for 10 minutes, and strain. Add 1 tablespoon of table salt. Dilute with water if mixture is too astringent for you. Use every 2 to 3 hours to reduce swelling and inflammation of the mouth.

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