Cinnamon Oil for Cavities

Dental cavities arise when harmful bacteria in your mouth dissolve the surface or interior of a tooth. Historically, people used cinnamon, as well as other essential oils, as a part of cavity treatment protocols. Cinnamon's antibacterial qualities might help fight harmful mouth bacteria, however cinnamon oil is not a substitute for dental care. If you have a toothache, suspect you have a cavity or are due for a regular checkup, see your dentist.

History

Historically, dentists used cinnamon oil to make cavity treatments tastier, according to Edward C. Kirk, dentist, writing in the second volume of the "Dental Practitioner," an 1884 guide to dentistry. Kirk describes clearing out any loose areas of decay in cavities, and recommends packing the cavity with a paste made of morphine, carbolic acid and clove or cinnamon oil. Modern dentistry, of course, makes this use of cinnamon oil obsolete.

Research

Cinnamon oil demonstrates antimicrobial effects in modern studies. A 2010 clinical trial published in the journal "Food and Chemical Toxicology" by Mehmet Unlu and colleagues from the faculty of medicine at Cumhuriyet University in Sivas, Turkey, demonstrated that cinnamon bark oil effectively destroyed 21 different types of bacteria in the laboratory. Rinsing with diluted cinnamon oil after you brush your teeth, or using a toothpaste that includes cinnamon essential oil as an ingredient, might help you kill harmful bacteria and prevent cavities.

Concerns

Cinnamon oil can cause irritation and inflammation of the mucus tissues in the mouth, according to Dr. B. Sivapathasundharam, head of the department of oral and maxillofacial pathology at Meenakshi Ammal Dental College and Hospital in Tamilnadu, India, and co-author of "Shafer's Textbook of Oral Pathology." If you plan to use cinnamon oil, always dilute it first. If you suffer from any inflammation in your mouth, discontinue using cinnamon oil and the symptoms should disappear within 24 hours.

Distinctions

For temporary pain relief, choose cinnamon leaf oil rather than cinnamon bark oil. While cinnamon bark might help with inflammation and infection, only cinnamon leaf oil has the ability to dull pain, according to Martha Libster, psychiatric clinical nurse specialist, health care historian and founder of Golden Apple Healing Arts, in her book "Delmar's Integrative Herb Guide for Nurses." Like cinnamon bark oil, cinnamon leaf oil has antiseptic qualities.

Try This

For a homemade mouthwash with a distinctive flavor, mix 3/4 of a cup of distilled water with 1 tbsp. of vodka and one drop each of essential oils of cloves, myrrh and cinnamon, advises Dorie Byers, registered nurse, herbalist and author of "Natural Beauty Basics: Create Your Own Cosmetics and Body Care Products." Use a tablespoon of the mixture to rinse your mouth after you brush your teeth. This mouthwash will stay fresh for five or six weeks if you store it in your bathroom.