Eucalyptus oil could give instant relief if you have got a stuffy nose. But do you know that it can work wonders for your teeth, mouth, and even gums? It is a natural way to prevent diseases and improve your overall oral care.
There is a lot of science to back up the use of essential oils for dental health and other holistic dentistry methods, like oil pulling. In fact, most of the essential oils have anti-inflammatory, healing and anti-bacterial properties, which are very effective at treating gum recession and other oral health problems.
Eucalyptus is anti-inflammatory and thus can effectively reduce swelling in gums. You can rub diluted eucalyptus oil on your gums as a remedy to help prevent gum recession. As it has the potential to prevent gingivitis, tooth decay and bad breath, eucalyptus is one of the active ingredients in many toothpastes and mouthwashes.
What Is Eucalyptus Oil?
The eucalyptus plant is a native of Australia. However, today, eucalyptus trees are harvested throughout the world. You would be surprised to know that there are actually more than 400 types of eucalyptus species. But the Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus) plant is most commonly used for oils.
Eucalyptus trees produce oval-shaped leaves, which are used to extract the oil. The leaves of the tree are dried, crushed into tiny bits, and distilled in order to extract their valuable oil. The natural oil is heavily diluted in order to use it for medical purposes.
The oil is known to prevent cancer-causing oral bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. If you add only a tiny drop to your mouthwash or your herbal toothpaste, it can go a long way in maintaining your oral health.
The ancient Egyptians were well versed with many medicinal herbs and aware of their usefulness in treating various diseases. Eucalyptus oil is used to control several diseases, including microbial infections. The oil is used for many other purposes based on tradition or on scientific theories. The major component of eucalyptus oil is cineole which has antimicrobial properties.
What Makes Eucalyptus so Healthy? Eucalyptus oil is a wonderful product if you want to heal wounds and improve medical ailments naturally. Interestingly in the 19th century, English hospitals successfully fought off urinary infections through healthy doses of eucalyptus treatments.
In 2016, a study done in Serbia proved that eucalyptus contained antimicrobial attributes and was very effective in fighting off infections, similar to an antibiotic. Hence eucalyptus oil was used for improving breathing, clearing out mucus, repel insects, disinfect wounds, soothe coughing, ease joint pain, relieve stress and anxiety, prevent lice and fix dry scalp.
Using Eucalyptus Oil for Dental Care
The oil from the eucalyptus leaves keeps your gums and teeth strong by driving away bacteria that lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Using small doses of eucalyptus oil helps to support strong teeth and prevent the need for dentures, veneer teeth, and adult braces.
The oil is commonly added to most of your mouthwashes, gum and dental products. After using eucalyptus oil, most people claim their mouth feels cleaner and their breath tastes fresher.
Listed below are few benefits of eucalyptus oil for your mouth:
- Fights off bacteria
- Prevents gum disease, tooth decay, and cavities
- Builds stronger and healthy teeth
- Decreases the need for adult braces
- Freshens and fights off bad breath
- Soothes cold sores
Polish Off Plaque
Are you wondering if herbal toothpaste works as well as the standard stuff? The answer is yes. One small study compared a natural toothpaste containing eucalyptus with normal toothpaste.
Researchers tested both kinds of toothpaste on 30 people with gingivitis and plaque buildup (the sticky film that coats your teeth when you do not brush your teeth properly). Both toothpastes worked equally well to reduce both these problems.
Chew Away Dental Problems
Brushing is not the only way to utilize the power of eucalyptus oil for a healthy smile. Chewing gums that have it as an ingredient can reduce dental issues like plaque, gingivitis, and bleeding, too.
Your dentist would recommend chewing sugar-free gum as it is good for stimulating your salivary glands. It also helps to keep your mouth moist, and the saliva cleanses your teeth. But remember, it is not a replacement for brushing and flossing.
How to Use Eucalyptus Oil on Your Teeth
It is important for you not to go overboard with the eucalyptus oil when it comes to treating your teeth. You should try adding it to a homemade mouthwash or dental paste. You can follow the dental recipes below or ask your dentist how he would recommend you to use eucalyptus oil in your oral care routine.
Eucalyptus Mouthwash – In order to create your own eucalyptus mouthwash, fill a container with 8oz of water. Then mix in the following oils mentioned below.
- Peppermint (10 drops)
- Eucalyptus (5 drops)
- Cinnamon (5 drops)
- Spearmint (5 drops)
- Clove (5 drops)
- Lemon (5 drops)
- Tea tree (5 drops)
Eucalyptus Dental Paste – In combination with regular, ADA-approved toothpaste, you can try creating your own dental paste to build cleaner and stronger teeth. Use the same ingredients discussed above in the eucalyptus mouthwash recipe but add baking soda and use less water.
Using Essential Oils for Oral Health
Do you know that essential oil is a time-tested treasure that is gaining new popularity among fans everyday and everywhere. These potent liquids are fresh ingredients that you can customize for almost any oral hygiene need.
As with any home remedy dental treatment, do your research first and then use the product. And be extra cautious about using them. Not all oils are safe to ingest, and some might hurt if you apply them directly onto your skin.
Most of the essential oil you use is distilled from natural plants and are easily available in the market. Many of those in the natural health field are concerned that strong chemicals present in these conventional health products could hinder your natural bodily functions.
Some believe they might affect the endocrine system. The best part of using essential oils in dentistry is that they generally do not pose such a risk to your body.
Peppermint, cinnamon, spearmint, and tea tree are a few of the many essential oils that are all believed to be antimicrobial – which means they kill germs that cause pain, decay and disease.
Myrrh oil is also antimicrobial and can soothe and heal gums by increasing the blood flow to this tissue. The antimicrobial property of clove oil can aid in numbing your tooth pain.
How to Use Essential Oils for Your Oral Hygiene?
Each person has unique dentistry needs and there are three main things you should care about: gum disease, tooth decay, and halitosis or bad breath.
There are two simple ways to apply the healing powers of essential oils to your oral health. In order to promote healthy gums and fresh breath with an essential oil mouth rinse.
You can use 5 to 10 drops of your choice of oils in one cup of water. Swish one tablespoon of this mix at a time and spit – similar to what you would do with other mouthwash.
In order to prevent tooth decay and fight plaque, you can put two drops of an oil of your choice on your toothbrush. Brush gently for a few seconds and spit out the excess oil and saliva.
You can also keep your toothbrush clean by regularly placing it in a quarter cup of peroxide mixed with one drop of essential oil. Let your brush sit for ten minutes before shaking it off.
If you use essential oils in conjunction with regular brushing and flossing, it could be a powerful part of your preventative oral hygiene routine. Always discuss these with your dentist and seek his opinion before you use these essential oils for dental use.
Essential Oils an Integral Part of Dental Care
Recent studies have shown that tooth decay is very common and more than 91% of adults have dental caries in their permanent teeth.
The problem is so critical there have been more than 2.4 billion people reported to suffer from untreated tooth decay. Although not as common as tooth decay, periodontal disease – commonly known as gum disease is also a major issue.
These unfortunate stats show that gum disease and tooth decay are largely preventable. A major component of oral health is proper brushing and flossing your teeth.
But another more crucial component is a healthy diet and supplements. So if you are interested in improving your oral health, then consider adding – essential oils or specifically eucalyptus oil to your daily routine.
Learn more about Bleeding Gums Treatment here.
Precaution – Don’t Take Eucalyptus Oil by Mouth
It is true that eucalyptus oil has many benefits, but the undiluted form can be highly toxic if you take it by mouth. Just 2-3 milliliters can be enough to trigger drowsiness, dizziness and loss of muscle control.
Taking five milliliters or more can lead to the nervous system shutdown and even coma. Most of these symptoms show up between 30 minutes to 4 hours after exposure to the oil in more quantity. A small number of people have reported being affected by epileptic-like seizures within a few minutes of inhaling eucalyptus oil. So you need to be extra cautious while using it.
