We are all aware that a cup of green tea comes with practically innumerable health benefits. Did you know that it is also something that can help keep your mouth in A1 condition? It’s exactly due to this reason why nowadays you can come across bottles of mouthwash containing green tea.
Most commercially-available mouthwashes can actually do more harm than good, according to dental experts themselves. They contain chemicals that can bring havoc to your mouth than save it from bacteria which cause bad breath and plaque formation that can ruin both your pearly whites and gums after some time.
The following are some of the most questionable ingredients found in a lot of mouthwashes:
- Alcohol. The addition of alcohol makes mouthwashes effective at zapping microbes. However, this ingredient can actually lead to mouth dryness, leaving your breath reeking even more. Additionally, some studies say that the use of alcohol-based mouthwashes may increase one’s risk of oral cancer!
- Chlorhexidine. A lot of today’s mouthwashes contain chlorhexidine, which is an antibacterial agent. While definitely very good at killing off microbes in your mouth, a study said that even small amounts of chlorhexidine can cause problems like headaches, blurring of vision, impaired taste for hours and high blood pressure.
- Methylparaben. This chemical is commonly used as a preservative in various beauty and personal care products, including mouthwashes. Experts say that methylparaben can be linked to hormonal imbalance that may lead to breast and ovarian cancer. Also, the chemical may cause poor sperm quality in males.
- Methyl salicylate. Some mouthwashes contain synthetic menthol aroma and flavoring which is in the form of methyl salycilate. Based on reports, methyl salicylate may cause allergic reactions that range from itchiness to shortness of breath. Gastric ulcers, vomiting, tinnitus, coma and convulsions are also linked to it!
As you can see, rather than giving you a smile to die for, certain commercially-available mouthwashes can ruin your health because of some of the ingredients they contain. The good news is mouthwashes that contain none of these highly questionable ingredients are becoming more and more available in the market, and some of the most sought-after of them all are those that contain green tea.
What makes green tea an excellent mouthwash ingredient is the fact that is possesses superb antimicrobial properties sans all the unfavorable side effects. Also, green tea contains tannins that promote healthy gums. Alas, you may have noticed that green tea-containing mouthwashes tend to come with slightly steeper price tags.
Fret not because it is actually easy to make your very own green tea mouthwash at home. Not only will it let you save a lot of cash, but also keep your smile winsome all-naturally. Here’s how to make it:
Ingredients:
- 1 liter of water
- 3 to 4 green tea bags
- 2 tablespoons of dried peppermint leaves
Directions:
- In a large saucepan, allow 1 liter of water to boil. Switch off the stove once its boiling.
- Place 3 to 4 green tea bags in the boiling water. Add the dried peppermint leaves, too. You can add a few more tablespoons of dried peppermint leaves, depending on how minty you want your homemade green tea mouthwash to be.
- Allow the water to completely cool to room temperature.
- In the meantime, grab some small bottle containers with caps. Clean and dry them thoroughly.
- Once the water is already at room temperature, stir. Remove the tea bags and strain.
- Carefully divide your homemade green tea into your small bottle containers.
- Seal and store in a cool, dry place.
That’s how trouble-free it is to make your own version of green tea mouthwash! Worried that the green tea in the product may leave your pearly whites stained? Easy — just give your mouth a quick rinse with plain water after using your homemade green tea mouthwash.
Sources: shareably.net
