An Effective Natural Mouthwash – Matcha and Tea Tree Oil

I’ve been using a homemade natural mouthwash that has been blowing me and my dentists’ socks off, and I want to tell you about.

It’s using matcha tea powder and tea tree oil.

Let me tell you what the research is showing, then I’ll share with you my experience, and then I’ll give you the formula!

First of all, people interested in natural oral care are experimenting with plant-based alternatives to commercial rinses. Below is what the science is saying about each ingredient’s benefits and risks.

Why Matcha Might Help Your Mouth

First of all, Matcha is a finely ground green tea harvested from the Camellia sinensis plant. Like green tea, it’s rich in antioxidants and catechins. These are compounds known for antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Scientific research on matcha mouthwash has shown promising results. Let me give you a couple of examples:

• A 2024 study published in the peer-reviewed journal Microbiology Spectrum found that a mouthwash made from matcha significantly reduced levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis, which is a bacterium strongly linked to gum disease, such as periodontitis. People with periodontal disease who rinsed with matcha mouthwash showed significantly lower levels of these harmful bacteria compared with controls.
• In lab tests, matcha solutions were able to kill almost all P. gingivalis cells within hours, which means that it has real antimicrobial action.

This data indicates that matcha could be a useful natural adjunct to oral hygiene, particularly for supporting gum health alongside brushing and flossing.

Matcha also contains antioxidants, which may strengthen enamel and help protect tissues from oxidative stress.

Tea Tree Oil: Benefits and a Warning

Tea tree oil, derived from the Australian plant Melaleuca alternifolia, is widely touted for its antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory effects. Some older studies and clinical trials suggest that mouthwashes containing tea tree oil can help reduce plaque and gingivitis — sometimes comparing favorably with chlorhexidine, a gold-standard oral rinse.

However, there are some issues you need to be aware of:

• Tea tree oil should never be swallowed.
• It can cause irritation or allergic reactions to sensitive oral tissues or skin if used undiluted or in too high a concentration.

While the formula I’m going to be giving you only contains 2 drops of tea tree oil per ½ cup of water, which makes it a mild dilution, you do want to make sure to rinse thoroughly and avoid swallowing.

And remember: this isn’t a replacement for toothpaste, regular flossing, or professional dental care.

So…what has my experience been using this as a mouthwash?

I started using this twice a day, morning and nighttime, about 9 months ago. At night, I’d do what I’ve been doing for years – scrape my tongue, then floss, then use toothpaste, and then rinse with the matcha mouthwash, and finally rinse well with water.

Three months after I began, I had a dental appointment for a cleaning. The hygienist immediately commented about how much better my teeth looked with less plaque buildup.

Then, 6 months after this past Wednesday, I went to my periodontist for a routine cleaning. She took a look at my teeth and commented that she couldn’t see any plaque buildup. She could only see what she described as a very mild film. This meant that in doing the cleaning, she had to go by sound when she was scraping to determine if there was any plaque there.

She also checked around my teeth for pocket depths, and I had mostly 2s, some 3s, and a few 4s. She said my teeth were in great shape.

So…I hadn’t changed my toothpaste during these 9 months. I continued to floss every day and brush 3 times a day. The only difference was the Macha tea formula. My experience is it’s quite powerful (just don’t swallow it and rinse thoroughly).

 So, here’s the formula:

•  ½ cup water heated to about 170 °F (77 °C)
•  ½ tsp matcha powder
•  2 drops of tea tree oil

I’d suggest mixing up a batch and keeping the extra in a jar in the refrigerator. I’ll refill the dropper bottle when it’s empty.

A couple of final things:

·         Always spit, never swallow this mouthwash.

·         If you experience tingling, burning, or irritation, discontinue use.

·         This rinse can be a complement to traditional oral care. It is not a substitute.

·         If you have gum disease or sensitive gums, consult your dentist.first!