How to Make a Simple Homemade Xylitol Mouthwash
Learn how to make your own homemade mouthwash that is antibacterial and helps prevent dry mouth, which may help aid in the prevention of cavities and gum disease.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our site disclosure for more information.
Shop the Post
As a former dental hygienist, I learned some tips and tricks along the way when it comes to dental care. While fluoride is the hot topic that most dental professionals talk about in regards to cavity protection, xylitol tends to fly under the radar.
Even though it is less talked about, xylitol has some promising research that points to anti-cariogenic (aka anti-cavity) activity. Therefore, it is my main ingredient in this homemade mouthwash.
While I make zero promises that using this mouthwash will prevent anyone from getting cavities (many factors influence whether or not someone will get a cavity), I will explain how this has the *potential* to help prevent cavities.
If you enjoy the recipe, be sure to check out my tooth brushing powder recipe to complete your oral hygiene routine.
How Do Cavities Form?
Did you know that enamel is the hardest substance in the body? Let me walk you through how it’s possible that such a strong substance can decay.
The definition of a cavity is a hole in a tooth that develops due to tooth decay. How does that decay occur?
Every time you eat or drink anything, besides pH neutral water, you lower the pH in your mouth. A lower pH means an acidic environment.
Your mouth is also in the process of constantly forming plaque. Plaque is that sticky white material that can form on your teeth, which is basically a collection of bacteria.
While there are many different kinds of bacteria in your mouth, the most commonly discussed bacteria that can cause dental cavities is Streptococcus mutans. S. mutans are gram-positive bacteria that produce acid when fermentable sugars and starches are consumed (I wonder if carnivore people get less cavities?! 🤔).
If you do not do anything to interrupt this process of fermentation and acid production, you will likely end up with a cavity. Some ways that you can interrupt this process are through brushing (homemade tooth brushing powder 😉), flossing, and using mouthwash.
Also, the more frequently you snack and drink (besides water) during the day, the more your mouth will remain in an acidic state. It takes about 30 minutes for your mouth to return to a neutral pH after eating and drinking. Therefore, it is much better to reduce snacking and sipping in-between meals, as far as your teeth are concerned.
(source) (source)
Benefits of a Homemade Xylitol Mouthwash
Good oral hygiene can’t be emphasized enough. As one of those things in life that is usually taken for granted, it is well worth the effort to care of your teeth and gums while everything is still healthy.
In addition to brushing and flossing, using mouthwash can enhance your oral hygiene routine. Here are some reasons to make your own homemade mouthwash:
Quick and Simple
While I appreciate more complex mouthwash recipes, this homemade mouthwash is extremely basic, making it quick and simple to make. You don’t have to have many ingredients on hand, and it literally only takes 5 minutes of your time.
All-Natural
Even though not every synthetic ingredient out there is awful for you, in my opinion it is usually best to avoid them if you can. I love learning how natural ingredients such as herbs and essential oils can be beneficial to my health. While essential oils are only optional in this mouthwash (I honestly never add them), the xylitol and baking soda are very beneficial to oral health.
Sustainable
While there are plenty of products that I purchase in one-time use plastic containers, I like that I can avoid that with this mouthwash recipe. I buy my ingredients in bulk and then use mason jars, or other glass containers, to store my mouthwash. Glass jars can be washed and used again and again.
Money Saving
As with most DIY creations, I save a ton of money by making my own homemade mouthwash. I haven’t bought mouthwash in years since coming up with this recipe. The price difference between the two is significant! See the cost-benefit analysis for a full breakdown.
Benefits of Xylitol and Baking Soda in Mouthwash
This homemade mouthwash is very basic, which I enjoy. No science experiments here with combining 20 different ingredients 😅. By combining water, baking soda, and xylitol, you can have your own homemade mouthwash that can help aid in the prevention of cavities and gum disease.
Xylitol
Baking Soda
While the ingredients may seem too basic to be effective, they pack a powerful punch in this homemade mouthwash.
I enjoy the plain, sweet flavor of this mouthwash. However, if you want to make it minty, you could add peppermint or spearmint essential oil.
Peppermint Essential Oil
- Antibacterial– kills bacteria that can cause gum disease
- Freshens breath– can kill bacteria that cause halitosis (bad breath)
Spearmint Essential Oil
- Antibacterial– may help kill harmful bacteria and bacteria that cause bad breath
- Freshens breath– minty taste without being too strong
Whether you keep it plain, or add in essential oils, this homemade mouthwash will be a boost to your oral hygiene routine.
(source) (source) (source) (source) (source) (source)
How to Make a Simple Homemade Xylitol Mouthwash
With just 3 ingredients and 5 minutes of your time, you can have your own homemade mouthwash that can aid your oral hygiene routine.
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 6 tbsp xylitol
- 10 drops essential oil of choice (optional)
Equipment
Instructions
Tap/click the images for a description of each step ⬇️
Step #1– Add baking soda and xylitol to a quart size mason jar.
Step #2– Heat water slightly on the stove to get it hot. It doesn’t need to simmer or boil, just get hot enough to dissolve the powder ingredients.
Step #3– Add hot water to the quart size mason jar and shake to dissolve everything.
Step #4– You can optionally add about 10 drops of essential oil. Peppermint and spearmint create a nice mint flavor.
Step #5– Swish daily for a clean, fresh mouth 😁✨.
Tips
- Xylitol is toxic to dogs!! Please store your xylitol in a cabinet and do not let your dog come in contact with this homemade mouthwash.
- Do not swallow the mouthwash. Xylitol can cause digestive upset in some people.
- Do not add essential oils if you are sensitive to them.
- Ask your dentist or dental hygienist about this recipe and see what they think 😉.
Ways to Use
- Can be used in conjunction with a natural toothpaste or tooth brushing powder.
- Swish daily for best results.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
There was a pretty stark difference in price when I did the cost-benefit analysis for homemade tooth brushing powder vs. buying a natural tooth brushing powder (I compared REDMOND Earthpowder).
For this homemade mouthwash recipe, let’s see how much we can save by making it at home vs. buying it at the store (or online).
As of September 2026 in Tennessee:
2 tsp baking soda
- 4lb bag = $3.34
- 4lb = approx. 451 tsp
- $3.34 % 451 = $0.007 per tsp
- $0.007 x 2 = $0.01
- 2 tsp = $0.01
6 tbsp xylitol
- 5lb = $45.95
- 5lb = approx. 567 tsp
- 567 tsp = 189 tbsp
- $45.95 % 189 = $0.24
- $0.24 x 6 = $1.44
- 6 tbsp = $1.44
Total: $1.45 (2 cups mouthwash)
RiseWell Balancing Mouthwash (find here)
- 16oz bottle = $18.00
- 16oz = 2 cups
It was very difficult to find a simple mouthwash that didn’t have many ingredients, and was free of certain ingredients such as fluoride and alcohol. RiseWell uses both xylitol and baking soda in it’s formulation, so it was the closest comparison that I could find.
In breaking down the cost of each batch of homemade mouthwash vs. buying a mouthwash, it turns out that my mouthwash recipe is 12.5x CHEAPER to make.
Not sure about you, but I will gladly keep baking soda and xylitol on hand so that I can make my mouthwash recipe whenever I want it at a fraction of the cost.
FAQs
Related Products
Related Posts
I hope you enjoy this homemade oral hygiene product! 🦷
Simple Homemade Xylitol Mouthwash
Equipment
- 1 quart size mason jar
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 6 tbsp xylitol
- 10 drops drops essential oil of choice (optional)
Instructions
- Add baking soda and xylitol to a quart size mason jar.
- Heat water slightly on the stove to get it hot. It doesn’t need to simmer or boil, just get hot enough to dissolve the powder ingredients.
- Add hot water to the quart size mason jar and shake to dissolve everything.
- You can optionally add about 10 drops of essential oil. Peppermint and spearmint create a nice mint flavor.
- Swish daily for a clean, fresh mouth.
Notes
- Xylitol is toxic to dogs!! Please store your xylitol in a cabinet and do not let your dog come in contact with this homemade mouthwash.
- Do not swallow the mouthwash. Xylitol can cause digestive upset in some people.
- Do not add essential oils if you are sensitive to them.
- Ask your dentist or dental hygienist about this recipe and see what they think
.
Shop the Post
This is a personal blog. All posts, recipes, recommendations, and how-tos are for informational use and personal viewing pleasure only. Blog posts are not written by AI.
subscribe