LISTERCLEAN MOUTHWASH

Written By Marie Stumphauzer, FNTP

GOLD ~ BOLD GOLD ~ BLUE ~ BRISK BLUE

While the majority of posts in “What’s for Dinner” are about meals you can eat, you may recall this section is also a venue for recipes and how to’s for hand-crafted beverages, do-it-yourself supplements, remedies, and personal care products.  Enter “Listerclean”.  Unlike commercial swish and spits, theoretically you could take a nip of any of the variations and they wouldn’t hurt you (save for an awfully unique buzz) but let’s just stick to it as a mouthwash, ok?

Variations are provided to suit preferences.  It is important to read this site’s disclaimers page before continuing*.  With each of the products, heed manufacturer’s warnings and follow their guidelines for dosing.  Take caution if you have any chronic conditions such as kidney disease, a special diet, are pregnant or nursing, or take other medications where there may be a contraindication and always, always, consult your trusted health care provider for guidance prior to use of any homemade remedies, including the ones outlined here.

Yield: 1 liter per recipe

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: N/A

Skill level: Easy

Directions for each preparation is the same: Place all ingredients into bottle of vodka or preferred glass container.  Let Gold and Bold Gold versions steep a minimum of 3-5 days before first use, shaking occasionally.  The Blue varieties do not need to infuse.

Shake prior to each use.  Use ½-1 ounce to rinse and gargle.  Spit out and follow with a swish of fresh water, if desired.  Store in a cool, dry place. See notes for important additional information.

LISTERCLEAN “GOLD” INGREDIENTS

  • 1 liter VODKA, in a glass bottle

  • 40 whole CLOVES

  • 4 dried STAR ANISE

  • 1 CINNAMON STICK

LISTERCLEAN “BOLD GOLD” INGREDIENTS

LISTERCLEAN “BLUE” INGREDIENTS

LISTERCLEAN “BRISK BLUE” INGREDIENTS

USE CASE

  • Use daily as a part of your oral health care routine, on occasion to freshen breath, and/or as a part of efforts to support wellness and reduce vulnerability.

  • I recommend making one batch of Listerclean (Gold or Bold Gold) and one batch of Listerclean Blue (or Brisk Blue) and alternating them throughout the week as both offer great benefits.

  • For problems with gums try one of the following enhanced options:

    • Bleeding ~

      To every ounce of preferred homemade mouthwash (Listerclean - Gold works especially well), add 1-2 drops yarrow root tincture and blend well.

    • Tender ~

      To every ounce of preferred homemade mouthwash (Listerclean - Gold works especially well), add 1-2 drops yarrow root tincture, 1-2 drops of licorice root tincture, and 1-2 drops of chamomile tincture.  Mix thoroughly. 

      • Close mouth with liquid. Direct and hold it over particularly sensitive areas for a few minutes then gently swish.  Gargle, if desired.  Spit out and repeat as needed.

      • If vodka is too strong for the affected tissues, either dilute it (after pouring) with water or simply use plain water in place of the Listerclean.

      • Cut a clean cloth up and dampen pieces with the liquid. Place on a cookie sheet in the freezer for a few hours.  Use individual pieces as a compress on tender areas and store unused cloths in a freezer friendly container.

NOTES/VARIATIONS

  • Believe it or not, there are alcoholic beverage recipes concocted for the purpose of consumption that are intended to taste like various flavors of popular mouthwashes. The goal of Listerclean isn’t to mimic the taste of any product with the pretense of imbibing.  Instead, the ingredients cited actually have potential health benefits when used appropriately and are intended for medicinal, topical (oral) use only.  The beauty of these preparations is that *if* you happen to swallow it directly (unintentionally, of course, right?), some filters down your throat, or any residual is absorbed by your tissues, it is generally regarded as safe. Everything is sourced from natural or pharmaceutical grade ingredients (foods).

  • An inexpensive vodka that is about 80 proof works well.  Use only vodka that comes in glass bottles.  The higher the proof, the higher the “burn”.  Burn doesn’t always equal better.  Use common sense and adjust the proof or dilute with water (after pouring).

  • Some vodkas are made of wheat, barley, or rye.   Although most of the gluten is distilled out and does not generally cause a problem (especially since it is not being ingested), for those who are sensitive, make sure you select a vodka that is labeled gluten free.

  • Ingredients for the individual recipes can be added to and stored right in the same bottle - just strain out any dried herbs at the time of serving.  If, as the mixture sits, it becomes too potent for you due to any remaining solids continuing to give off their flavoring, you can dilute it with water (after pouring) or add more, plain vodka to the bottle and mix well. This also stretches the ingredients.  If you don’t like it getting stronger as it reaches the end of the bottle, consider straining about 2/3’s to mid-way through the batch. 

  • Quick overview of benefits of the herbs, tinctures, and essential oils used:

    • Cloves - addresses toothaches and gum irritation, remineralizes, aides in circulation

    • Star Anise - anti-viral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and natural flu fighter, antioxidant, freshens breath

    • Cinnamon - natural pain reliever, anti-microbial, high in calcium

    • Peppermint - kills anaerobic bacteria, fighting gum disease

    • Thyme - treats periodontitis, inflammation, and infections

    • Wintergreen - pain and swelling relief, anti-viral and antibacterial, kills odor causing bacteria, protects teeth and gums, breath freshener

    • Eucalyptus - helps with receding gums, anti-inflammatory, strengthens teeth, freshens breath

    • Lemon - strengthens gums and whitens teeth

    • Yarrow Root - anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, heals wounds, and is a styptic herb (meaning it stops bleeding), addresses periodontal disease

    • Licorice Root - antibacterial, prevents cavities, anti-inflammatory

    • Chamomile - reduces plaque, soothes inflammation, antibacterial, heals wounds, and deodorizer

  • Why would I use a dye?  Sounds hypocritical but not when you realize not all dyes are created equal. It’s too much to cover in this format but I encourage you to read about the benefits of this particular unique antioxidant: 

  • If you don’t want to fiddle around with essential oil measurements in the Brisk Blue recipe, purchase a liter of mint flavored vodka and add the pharmaceutical grade methylene blue according to the directions. If you’re looking for a sweeter mouth feel to, try a liter of cake vodka and add the preferred mint essential oil (or omit the oil and use a combination of half mint vodka and half cake vodka) along with the pharmaceutical grade methylene blue according to the directions.

  • The concentration of methylene blue in the Blue Mouthwashes will not stain your teeth. The drops themselves will stain so take care not to drip on anything that will absorb the color.

  • If you don’t like the ratios, adjust them! Not a fan of an essential oil flavor? Substitute it (e.g.: orange for lemon) or leave it out. Prefer an essential oil or tincture to a dried herb or vice versa? Just make sure the measurements translate well from one to the other as concentrations vary with the form. There really is no wrong answer. The outlined ingredients and measurements are the ones that I found to be most palatable and effective.  Know that, if using methylene blue, more is not better and too much less loses its benefits.

  • ALWAYS use food grade essential oils and tinctures, preferably organic and reliably, clean sourced pharmaceutical grade methylene blue. For a list of options, this protocol through Fullscript is an excellent resource.

  • DO NOT take directly from the bottle. Instead, pour off the amount you wish to use. This keeps it free from any bacteria that might transfer from your mouth. This approach also offers an opportunity to strain it first. I use this spout.

  • DO NOT mix water directly into the container of Listerclean. Instead, if diluting, do so after you pour off the amount of mouthwash you wish to use.  Adding water may encourage bacterial growth.

  • ALWAYS store in glass and away from light.  If for whatever reason you are unable to use the bottle in which the vodka came, use a clean mason jar with a tight-fitting lid, a favorite bottle, or an up-cycled, screw-cap wine bottle that has been thoroughly cleaned and dried before use.  Plastic can degrade and some of the ingredients can be corrosive.  This can lead to chemicals leaching into the mouthwash.

CREDITS/REFERENCES

Thumbnail photo credit: Top 15 Effective Common Cold Home Remedies

When I was a kid, the “grown-ups” used the original, “brown” Listerine. I remember smelling it and even trying to gargle with it - once.  Whew! It was smelled utterly medicinal, was caustically potent, and tasted absolutely horrible! I had written it off and all but forgot about it until I saw a hilarious video by the Unemployed Wine Guy.  It made me wonder if I was at last “grown up” enough to be able to try it again. Turns out that retro antiseptic became my favorite oral elixir.

However, the more I have become in tune with what’s in our day-to-day products, I eventually started to recognize that there were some ingredients in this and all other mouthwashes that I did not believe were necessary and were even potentially harmful.  In fact, I found out that the first Listerine formula was used as a surgical antiseptic and, believe it or not, a floor cleaner.  Even though some ingredients are legitimately “natural” (and granted, some are honorably used in homemade house cleaning products), things like artificial sweeteners (e.g.: saccharin, sucralose), poloxamer, and controversial dyes - no matter how arguably safe they might be - just don’t jive with my interpretation of a clean lifestyle. With that, I started off on a quest to make my own mouthwash. 

I created Listerclean to be the closest to the tastes and attributes of an assortment of commercial mouthwashes to which I had become familiar while using tried and true ingredients and successfully avoiding any “unpronounceables”. My husband aptly named it!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information is for educational purposes only.

Marie Stumphauzer, FNTP
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