Natural Mouth Rinses You Can Make at Home

There is something quietly powerful about caring for your mouth the same way you care for your skin: gently, naturally, and with herbs that have been trusted for generations.

Most conventional mouthwashes rely on strong alcohol and synthetic antiseptics to kill germs, but that approach often wipes out the good bacteria too. At Alpine Apothecary, we believe in balance rather than brute force. A healthy mouth is a living ecosystem, and plants know how to support that harmony beautifully.

Here are three simple herbal mouth rinses you can make at home using the same kinds of botanicals we grow and use in our own formulations.

1. Alpine Herbal Mouth Rinse – Soothing and Balancing

A gentle daily rinse that calms gums and keeps breath fresh without the sting.

You’ll need

• 1 cup distilled water

• 1 teaspoon dried peppermint leaves

• 1 teaspoon dried chamomile flowers

• 1 teaspoon dried calendula petals

• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

• 2 drops tea tree essential oil (optional)

How to make it
Bring the water to a gentle boil and pour it over the herbs. Cover and steep for 10 minutes. Strain through a fine cloth, then add the baking soda and essential oil if using. Store in a clean glass bottle in the fridge for up to one week. Shake gently before each use.

To use
Swish one or two tablespoons for 30 seconds, then spit it out.

2. Calendula and Sage Gum-Care Rinse

Calendula’s golden petals meet sage’s warm, earthy tone in this rinse that comforts and refreshes.

You’ll need

• 1 cup distilled water

• 1 teaspoon dried calendula petals

• 1/2 teaspoon dried sage leaf

• 1/2 teaspoon rosemary leaf

• 1 teaspoon xylitol (optional, for a mild sweetness and dental benefit)

How to make it
Simmer the herbs in the water for five minutes, then strain and cool. Stir in the xylitol until dissolved. Pour into a clean glass jar and refrigerate.

To use
Swish a mouthful after brushing to soothe gums and promote natural freshness.

3. Peppermint and Yarrow Fresh Breath Rinse

For moments when you want instant freshness without synthetic mint or alcohol.

You’ll need

• 1 cup distilled water

• 1 teaspoon dried peppermint

• 1/2 teaspoon dried yarrow

• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 drop peppermint essential oil (optional)

How to make it
Steep the herbs in hot water for 10 minutes, then strain and cool. Stir in baking soda and essential oil. Keep refrigerated for three to four days.

To use
Shake before use, swish for 30 seconds, and spit. Cool, clean, and herbal.

Why Go Herbal

Herbal mouth rinses do more than mask odour. They work in gentle harmony with your body.

Peppermint refreshes while easing inflammation.
Calendula and chamomile soothe tender gums.
Sage and rosemary offer time-honoured cleansing support.
Yarrow helps keep the oral environment balanced.

No alcohol. No artificial dyes. Just clean botanicals doing what they do best.

A Note from the Apothecary

Our herbs, from peppermint to calendula, are grown and hand-harvested in the cool mountain air of the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales. When you use them in your own rituals, you are connecting to that same landscape: fresh, pure, and alive with alpine energy.

These rinses are not a substitute for dental care but a gentle addition to your daily routine. Keep your mouth’s ecosystem thriving the herbal way.

Shop our Alpine Apothecary Herbs
Alpine Calendula, Alpine Peppermint, Alpine Yarrow, Alpine Rosemary, Alpine Chamomile