About Tea Tree Oil For Gum Disease

Gum disease or gingivitis is the second most bothersome ailment in the United States. If not properly treated, gum disease can lead to tooth decay and eventually the loss of a tooth. Tea tree oil is a natural antibiotic that can be used to treat and prevent gum disease. Please seek your doctor's or dentist's guidance before using this at home remedy.

History

Dr. James F. Balch, in his book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," says that gum disease is the second most common ailment for people in the United States. If you suffer from this, as almost 75 percent of Americans do at some point, you understand the painful gums, irritation and possible bleeding that are the result. Gum disease can also contribute to halitosis -- bad breath and eventually to the loss of a tooth.

Factors

Dr. Balch suggest that plaque is a cause for gum disease. You can alleviate this with regular visits to your dentist for teeth cleanings. Excess plaque causes the gums to swell, become infected and form pockets that trap more plaque. If you breath through your mouth you can also contribute to gum disease; and if your diet consists of mainly soft foods, your teeth and gums are not getting the proper stimulation and the gums become soft and more susceptible to bleeding.

Solutions

Regular teeth cleanings can avoid the build up of plaque. Also, eating a variety of foods of different colors and textures can help keep the gums strong. At home, the addition of tea tree oil rubbed onto the gums helps to alleviate gum disease. Tea tree oil should not be taken internally, so use caution not to swallow the oil.

Tea Tree Oil

This essential oil has been used as an antiseptic, an acne treatment, an antibacterial ingredient and also used is cosmetics. It comes from the paper bark tea tree. Tea tree oil is concentrated and should be used sparingly. It can also be dilluted in distilled water or a carrier oil such as almond oil. Tea tree oil can be purchased at health food stores and in some grocery stores.

Research

The "Australian Dental Journal" reports on how tea tree oil affects gum disease. Participants in the study used a tea tree oil gel twice daily and massaged it into their gums with a toothbrush. The results found a reduction in the gingivitis index and also a reduction in bleeding of the gums. Tea tree oil did not significantly reduce excess plaque.