Oral care12 min
Guava Leaf Mouth Rinse
Boil tender guava leaves, cool the water, and rinse the mouth. Spit every sip out. This does not replace a dentist for toothache or swelling.
A guava leaf rinse you spit out
Tender guava leaves are simmered into a mild rinse in some households when the mouth feels unclean. The liquid is only for swishing. In this recipe it is not a tea to drink.
Use young leaves from a tree you know has not been sprayed. Cool the rinse until it is lukewarm. Pain that wakes you, swelling of the face, or a broken tooth needs a dentist the same day.
Ingredients
- 8 to 10 tender guava leaves
- 2 cups water
- A little extra water if the guava leaf rinse boils down too far
How to prepare
- Rinse the guava leaves, then simmer them in water for about 8 minutes.
- Strain and cool until the liquid is lukewarm.
How to use
- Take a sip, swish for 20 to 30 seconds, and spit it out.
- Repeat once or twice with the same cooled batch, spitting each time.
- Throw away leftover rinse the same day.
Helpful habits
- A lukewarm rinse feels kinder than a hot one on tender gums.
- Do not add salt here. Salt belongs to the separate saline rinse.
Precautions
- Spit the guava leaf rinse out. Do not swallow it.
- Stop if the mouth stings or a leaf fragment irritates the gum.
- It does not cure toothache, an abscess, or bleeding gums.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drink guava leaf water after rinsing?
- No. This is a mouth rinse. Spit it out.
Will guava leaves cure a toothache?
- No. Swelling, a broken tooth, or pain that wakes you needs a dentist.
How many times should I swish?
- Once or twice with the cooled liquid, spitting every mouthful, then discard the rest.
