Oral health is often overlooked when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, however our oral health plays a huge part in our bodies overall health and wellbeing.
A clean mouth is already filled with billions of bacteria, imagine the amount of bacteria living in our mouths when we don’t take proper care of our oral health? Poor oral health may lead to more serious oral and systemic health problems!
Essential oils are a great way to support good oral health because of their antibacterial and antifungal properties. Continue reading to learn how you can have a healthy mouth using essential oils.
Plaque and Bacteria
A major cause of decay, gingivitis and periodontitis is the presence of plaque and bacteria. The use of essential oils may be more effective than current treatments. Below are some ideas of how you can use essential oils to fight plaque and bacteria!
1. Antibacterial Mouthwash
In 1 Tbsp of water add 1-2 drops of OnGuard, 2 drops of Peppermint and 1 drop of Melaleuca. Swish around in your mouth like any other mouthwash solution then spit. Do not swallow, you do not want to ingest all the bacteria you just swished around in your mouth, you want to expel it out of your body. This solution will not dry out the tissues in your mouth like an alcohol based solution would.
2. On Guard Natural Whitening Toothpaste
This toothpaste is a fluoride free solution that deep cleans, reduces plaque and polishes teeth! On Guard’s blend of Wild Orange, Clove, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, and Rosemary essential oils have strong anti-microbial behaviour. The oils of Peppermint and Wintergreen, and the natural sweetener xylitol also have strong anti-microbial properties. Besides the amazing antibacterial properties this toothpaste provides, it also gives a unique cinnamon-mint flavour keeping your mouth feeling fresh and clean.
Top Essential Oils for Oral Health
1. Cinnamon
Powerful antifungal and antibacterial properties. Fights against tooth decay and gum disease.
2. Clove
Soothes nerves and relieves tooth pain. Prevents tooth decay.
3. Myrrh
Fights gum disease, infections and sores. Soothes gums. Strong antiseptic.
4. Peppermint
Effective in killing anaerobic bacteria that thrive in low oxygen environments like the mouth, which in turn can cause gum disease.
5. Spearmint
Similar to Peppermint properties. Also is a strong antiseptic and helps wounds heal more quickly. Soothing to gums.
6. Wintergreen
Protects nerves, soothes pain and fights against tooth decay.
Additional Tips
- Bacteria thrive in dry conditions! Stay hydrated so your mouth can flush out bacteria efficiently.
- Oil pulling using essential oils (use any listed above) is great for detoxifying the mouth of its bacterias and for restoring and maintaining good oral health.
- Stay away from acidic and sugary foods to protect your oral health
Important! If you are sick or detoxing
If you are sick or detoxing from from a disease, you may notice your mouth and throat feeling dryer than usual despite hydrating regularly. If you aren’t sick and your mouth is always dry you may not realize your body is constantly trying to get rid of toxins in the body. This is because your body is pushing out the sickness/disease and bad bacteria through any outlet it can. Detoxifying through the mouth is one of the main ways our bodies get rid of toxins and bacteria. That is why it is so very important to keep our mouths clean! Anytime we eat or drink, or just swallow, we are swallowing whatever bacteria is sitting in our mouths.
I highly recommend the first thing you do in the morning, especially if you are sick, before you drink any water rinse your mouth with the essential oils mouthwash solution mentioned above or brush your teeth with the Doterra On Guard toothpaste. This way you are flushing out the bacteria that has been growing in your mouth all night! You are much safer to drink water after doing this because you are swallowing so much less bacteria than you would be without cleaning your mouth first. This will help your body detoxify quicker.
In The End
You can see our oral health is about so much more than shiny white teeth and minty fresh breath. Our oral health contributes to our overall well being. As children we were always told to brush our teeth twice a day, but never given a solid reason why. Now you know the importance of maintaining a clean and healthy mouth! I hope you can see the big picture and overall health benefits of adding these tips and tricks into your daily routine!
