Everything You Need to Know About Zero Waste Mouthwash Crystals

A Drop in the Ocean Zero Waste Blog: Everything You Need to Know About Zero Waste Mouthwash Crystals
Listen to the audio of this post here:
This post first appeared in our weekly Make Waves Mondays email series on October 14, 2024.


Hey friend!

Today I want to talk about our zero waste mouthwash crystals.

We’re gonna go on a deep dive all about this refreshing, low waste alternative to traditional mouthwash. We’re gonna [hopefully] answer every question you’ve ever had about them, because they’re really stinkin’ cool but perhaps not something you’re super familiar with.

So let’s dive in! 👇

First of all, why use mouthwash at all?

So truthfully, I’ve never been much of a mouthwash user - hardly ever until I started using our Nix mouthwash crystals - so the last time I was at the dentist I asked what the point of using mouthwash is, because my dentist specifically included “alcohol-free mouthwash” in her oral care lineup overview.

Apparently, mouthwash is really great for getting all the spots in your mouth you can’t really get with a toothbrush, and for rinsing away all those little loose grimey things in your mouth that you’ve knocked loose with floss and a toothbrush (#gross).

It also fights bacteria in your mouth that can cause things like gingivitis, cavities, and tooth decay.

I always thought mouthwash was just for fresh breath between brushes, but it’s actually really beneficial to use every day as part of your normal oral care routine. #TheMoreYouKnow

How do you use mouthwash crystals?

So now that we know why mouthwash is important, let’s talk about how to use our mouthwash crystals.

Our mouthwash crystals are from the company Nix, who only makes these mouthwash crystals. So they know what’s up. 

They spent 3 years creating their formula without alcohol using only natural ingredients, and worked directly with dentists in the process to ensure their formula was not only tasty, but also effective. 

And then, to keep their footprint even lower, they eliminated all the water from their mouthwash, to cut down on packaging waste and shipping emissions. We ~love~ to see it.

But because this is such a unique way to package mouthwash, it might not be immediately obvious how to use it. But I promise, it’s actually super simple.

Here's how to use mouthwash crystals:

  1. Grab a jar or bottle and fill with cold water.
  2. Each jar of mouthwash crystals comes with a little bamboo scoop. Add about 12 scoops of crystals per 8oz of water to your jar or bottle. Adjust the number of scoops to your mintiness preference!
  3. Shake well.

Yep. That’s it. I told you it was easy peasy.

A Drop in the Ocean Nix Mouthwash Crystals

What do each of the ingredients in the mouthwash do?

Like I said, the people behind Nix Mouthwash worked with dentists for years to nail down their formula - making it sustainable, natural, alcohol-free, and tasty while also being incredibly effective with just a small handful of ingredients.

I also want to note here that it’s not ~just~ important for ourselves to use natural ingredients, but also for our waterways. Mouthwash goes into our mouths, swishes around a bit, and then immediately goes down the drain and into our water systems. Natural ingredients are not only better for us but also keep potentially harmful chemicals out of our water.

Here’s what each of the main ingredients in our all-natural mouthwash crystals does:

🌿 Peppermint Oil. The peppermint oil is derived from peppermint leaves, and reduces bad breath more effectively than some conventional chemical mouthwashes.

🌿 Vitamin E. Who woulda thought you’d want vitamins in your mouthwash?? But Vitamin E is an antioxidant that’s known to prevent oral cancer, repair tissue damage, and increase your immunity.

🌿 Aloe Vera Extract. Aloe vera helps fight gingivitis and other periodontal diseases, and also controls bacteria that cause cavities and plaque (even more effectively than some commercial toothpastes!).

🌿 Sea Salt. Sea salt helps fight bad breath and gingivitis, while also healing wounds and infections in your mouth.

🌿 Stevia Leaf Extract. Stevia leaves possess therapeutic effects against tooth decay, inflammation, obesity, diabetes, and cancer.

🌿 Erythritol. Erythritol is actually a cavity-fighting natural sweetener (never would’ve thought those two things could go together!) that inhibits plaque- and gingivitis-causing bacteria in your mouth.

How long does one jar of mouthwash crystals last?

Obviously, the answer to this is going to depend a bit on how often you use mouthwash, but one 2oz jar of Nix mouthwash crystals holds about 60g of crystals, which equates to about 80oz of liquid mouthwash.

That means if you use mouthwash daily, one little 2oz jar of mouthwash crystals will last you about 4-6 months!

A Drop in the Ocean Nix Mouthwash Crystals

(Ignore the fact that all of the mouthwash jar photos in this email show “32g” instead of “60g” on the label. When we first started selling Nix, each jar only held 32g of crystals, but a couple of years ago they started filling the jars all the way to the top, so they now hold 60g. I just haven’t taken new photos since then because everything else is the same… #SmallBusinessLife)

Are zero waste mouthwash crystals more expensive than conventional mouthwash?

You know ya girl can’t resist some math… 🤓

If one 2oz jar of mouthwash crystals makes about 80oz of liquid mouthwash, and each jar costs $25, that’s about 31¢ per ounce of mouthwash.

Depending on the conventional brand of mouthwash you prefer, the per ounce price is actually pretty similar! Looking at Target’s best selling mouthwashes…

  • Crest Deep Cleanse Mouthwash = 50¢ per ounce
  • TheraBreath Mouthwash = 48¢ per ounce
  • Listerine Total Care Mouthwash = 27¢ per ounce
  • Crest Pro-Health Advanced Mouthwash = 21¢ per ounce

So right off the bat, our Nix Mouthwash crystals are pretty middle-of-the-road - if not on the lower side - when looking at a cost comparison.

But we gotta remember - all of the examples I listed above are mostly water. 

The #1 ingredient in all four examples here is water. Plus, they’re all packaged in plastic and support large corporate conglomerates.

Crest is owned by Proctor & Gamble, Listerine is owned by Johnson & Johnson, and TheraBreath is owned by Church & Dwight (who also owns brands like Zicam, OxiClean, Batiste, Arm & Hammer, Orajel, and Nair).

So with conventional mouthwash, you’re paying for extra water, a large plastic bottle, and multi-million-dollar CEO bonuses

No thanks, fam 🙅‍♀️

When you purchase Nix Mouthwash crystals from A Drop in the Ocean, you’re supporting two small businesses, sustainable business practices and ingredients from manufacturing to shipping, and multiple give-back programs.

Nix Mouthwash Give-Back Program

You probably already know that every time you purchase from A Drop in the Ocean, we plant 1 tree for every item purchased and donate 1% of our sales to ocean conservation.

But what you may not know is that we also prioritize products in our shop that also give back to people and planet on their own - and our mouthwash crystals are no exception.

Nix donates 10% of their profits to organizations like Global Dental Relief, which brings free dental care to children in rural communities across the globe every year.

Sometimes, something as simple as access to a toothbrush and toothpaste can prevent significant health issues like infection, heart problems, or even death. 

Being able to support small businesses that are also stepping up and supporting critical work like this is one of my favorite things, and I have a feeling if you’re reading this right now, you might also feel the same way 😉

A Drop in the Ocean Nix Mouthwash Crystals

So in summary…

Is making the switch to low-waste mouthwash crystals worth it? Abso-freaking-lutely it is.

✅ All-natural, dentist-approved, cavity- and gingivitis-fighting ingredients
✅ 100% plastic-free
✅ No extra water
✅ 2oz of crystals makes 80oz of mouthwash
✅ Similar price point to conventional mouthwash
✅ Supports multiple small businesses with multiple give-back programs
✅ Tastes oh-so-refreshing with zero alcohol sting

Don’t wanna take my word for it? Check out this review from Sustainable-ish! And no, it’s not a paid post or anything like that. I had no idea this video was happening until I was tagged in it!

So when your current bottle of mouthwash runs out, definitely pop over to the shop and grab a jar of sustainable, low-waste mouthwash crystals instead.

Was there anything I missed here? Any other questions you’ve got about our mouthwash crystals? Comment below and lemme know!


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