Dr. Pallavi Dandge

Essential oils for healthy teeth and gums

Essential oils are fantastic for helping to keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong. I'm using dreaming earth's germ buster blend for my oral hygiene routine because it contains so many healing essential oils for healthy teeth and gums, all in one go. I am almost three weeks into my natural dental health 'experiment' (see previous post). I can report that my mouth continues to feel much cleaner. My teeth and gums feel stronger. Maybe it's just my imagination, but my skin feels softer, too. These are hardly scientific findings, but they are enough for me to want to continue on. I'll keep you posted on my experience with oil pulling and natural toothpaste in future posts. If you are interested in making your own toothpaste or mouthwash, here are some ideas.

Which essential oils are best for healthy teeth and gums?

Peppermint and spearmint essential oils are both antiseptic oils which help to treat pain. They are great in a mouthwash or toothpaste, which is why they are such prevalent flavors in oral hygiene products. Peppermint and spearmint oils are also very effective in combating bad breath.

Clove oil is one of my favorite essential oils for healthy teeth and gums. It helps fight germs and, like peppermint numbs pain and fights bad breath. Because clove is so intense, make sure to dilute it well before using.

Rosemary essential oil is a good disinfectant and takes care of mouth odor. Plus, it tastes good!

When it comes to a great all-purpose oral health oil, reach for manuka or tea tree essential oil. For oral hygiene, these are both invaluable - helping to fight germs, heal cold sores and kill bad breath.

Myrrh oil is very good for oral hygiene in that it strengthens gums, and has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.

Eucalyptus essential oil is a germicide that has been reported to fight plaque build-up, gingivitis and prevent cavities!

Lemon

Lemon essential oil is antiseptic, strengthens gums and helps to whiten teeth.

Cinnamon essential oil is good for bad breath and has pain-killing properties.

How to use these? the nice thing is you can mix and match with what you have on hand, experimenting until you get a flavor you like. I like the following healthy mouth blend:

10 drops peppermint, 5 drops spearmint, 5 drops cinnamon, 5 drops clove, 5 drops tea tree or manuka, 5 drops lemon essential oils. Blend these together, and add to 8 oz of water. I'd recommend adding a few drops of carrier oil (such as almond or jojoba) to the water to help disperse the essential oils. If you use just water you'll need to shake well each time before using. After brushing, add a few drops to your toothbrush and gently brush teeth and gums. Rinse and spit - do not swallow! or, use as a mouth rinse after brushing. You can adjust the strength to your taste by making the essential oil concentration stronger or more diluted. Also, see our last blog posting on natural homemade oral hygiene products for some simple recipes.

Lastly, if you want to keep it simple, try our germ buster blend - it already combines many of these essential oils to great effect. It tastes good and leaves my mouth feeling super clean all day long. Here's to a fresh, clean, healthy mouth!

Often regarded as less painful and much milder than more serious diseases like periodontal disease, Gingivitis involves the inflammation, redness, irritation and swelling of your gums. People who suffer from Gingivitis are normally unaware of it because of its mild nature, but it might turn out to be serious in some cases and can lead to periodontitis and tooth loss. 

Signs and symptoms
Since Gingivitis is seldom harmful, people who suffer from it are, in most cases, hardly aware of having it. Nevertheless, here are a few signs and symptoms which may indicate that you have Gingivitis:
1. Tender, puffy gums
2. Gums easily bleed whenever you brush or floss your teeth
3. Swollen gums
4. Change in color from a healthy pink to a dusky red
5. Receding gums
6. Bad breath

Causes
Gingivitis is most commonly caused by bad oral hygiene and maintenance. Bad oral hygiene usually supports the formation of plaque and tartar. Because plaque forms and re-forms quickly, it requires daily removal. If you don't give your teeth the attention it needs, plaque can further result in the formation of tartar, which is a heavier and denser substance than plaque and acts as a protective barrier for bacteria. It is even more difficult to remove it and you may require dental cleaning.

Treatment
The main aim of treatment is to reverse the symptoms of Gingivitis and to prevent further development of the disease into more serious dental issues and diseases.
Professional treatment of Gingivitis includes:
1. Initial evaluation and assessment
2. Thorough cleaning with the help of professional dental tools and instruments
3. Instructions on effective flossing and brushing techniques at home
4. Regular cleaning and professional checkups
5. Fixing of crowns and other dental restorations to help prevent the growth of plaque and tartar

If you wish to discuss about any specific dental problem, you can consult a specilized dentist and ask a free question.