Sweet dishes and spicy food may be hard to resist. But while they satisfy our cravings, they could be bad for our oral health. While there are various mouthwashes on the market, using natural ingredients to do the job can work just as well, if not better. These ingredients can help reducing cavities, plaque build-up, treat mouth sores and keep your mouth clean. Here are some of the best natural homemade mouthwashes.

A teaspoon of fennel seeds helps tackles halitosis issues and makes your breath fresher. It also helps to tackle infections. Add a spoon's worth of the seeds in water and boil it. Once it's nice and hot, strain the seeds and rinse your mouth with the water. You can also chew on the seeds a few times in the day or when required.

Add a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a cold glass of water. Gargle for at least five minutes with it to get the most out of it. You can use this mouthwash twice a day, once in the morning and then just before bed. Apple cider vinegar helps to reduce halitosis and restore the pH balance in your mouth. It also contains antibacterial properties.

Essential oils can really do you a world of good when it comes to oral health. Add a few drops of peppermint essential oil to a cup of water. Mix the two ingredients well before rinsing your mouth with it. This is an effective treatment because it helps to tackle bad breath. You can also try cinnamon oil, which has antibacterial properties. Ideally, you should use this mouthwash once after every meal.

Combine half a cup each of aloe vera juice and water. Add a teaspoon of baking soda to the mix. After brushing your teeth thoroughly, rinse your mouth with the mixture. Make sure to do this at least four times a day. This mixture helps to reduce plaque, gingival bleeding and periodontal indices.

You will need half a teaspoon of baking soda and half a glass of warm water for this mix. You can also add a tiny amount of salt to the mixture. Make sure to stir the baking soda well in the water. Rinse your mouth with this mixture after you brush your teeth. Baking soda helps to get rid of bad breath and treat oral bacteria.

For this mouthwash, you'll need half a teaspoon of salt and warm water. Mix these two components well before you rinse your mouth with it. Ideally, it is best to do this thrice daily after every meal. Salt water is effective because it contains chlorhexidine, which helps to reduce plaque and oral microbial count.

A tablespoon of virgin coconut oil is all you need to use for this mouthwash.Rinse your mouth with it for a good 10 minutes. Do this regularly to achieve the best results in order to keep your mouth and teeth clean. This helps to reduce plaque build up.