Xylitol Rinse for You and Baby

In one of my previous posts, I discussed how xylitol is amazing for the health of your teeth. We had been wiping Meo's teeth with Spiffies, which are xylitol wipes for baby teeth and gums. Well, when I went to the dentist most recently, they gave me a recipe for xylitol mouth rinse that is safe for both babies and adults. This mouth rinse is easy to make and it is MUCH cheaper than purchasing Spiffies or other similar products. Here is the recipe:

Remove 3 oz. out of a 20 oz bottle of water.
Mix 4 tsp of baking soda to the water, shake well.
Add 3/4 cup xylitol sugar, shake again.

This is the water bottle we keep our xylitol rinse in and the gauze we use for Meo

It's as easy as that! We have little square pieces of gauze that we poor some of the xylitol rinse on and wipe it all over his teeth and gums twice a day after he "brushes his teeth" with his tooth brush. He doesn't seem to mind that it doesn't taste like apple or grape; he likes the homemade brew just as much.

Teeth brushing 15 months

The best part about this rinse is that it is great for adults to use too! In fact, our dentist recommends it. He has Robbie and I swishing this stuff after we brush our teeth twice a day for 60 seconds. Then we follow that by swishing a flouride mouth rinse for 60 seconds, then do not eat or drink for a half hour. Seems like a lot to do twice a day, but its a sinch once you make it routine and your teeth and gums will thank you for it. If you are not planning on using the rinse for a baby/toddler, you can make it right in fluoride mouth wash instead of water. Just mix the baking soda and xylitol into 17 oz of fluoride mouth wash instead and then you only have to swish once after you brush rather than two separate times. Babies CANNOT have this though; that's why we have two separate rinses in our house.