Growing up, going to the dentist was a monthly occurrence, one of which I hated dearly. I remember hiding from my mother before appointments hoping we'd either make it in too late for them to take me or not make it all. Unfortunately, my mother was adept at finding my hiding places and stuffing me into car. Much to my dismay, we never missed an appointment.

It's not to say I had bad teeth in any way, I've only ever had one cavity my entire life, but I did have something called tooth ankylosis; a condition that is characterized by baby teeth with very long roots. I only ever had my two front teeth fall out on their own, the rest had to be extracted. On top of that, I had a narrow jaw, a cross bite, and very crooked teeth which led to long hours sitting in the orthodontist's chair.

As soon as I was old enough to make my own decisions and the braces had come off at last, I said goodbye to the dentist, hoping to never go back again. This last stretch has been seven years. Seven long years since I'd last stepped foot in a dental office, but I was determined to suck up my fears and get it over with.

Having strong teeth in general, I had zero cavities but did have tartar and weakened gums with pockets ranging from 3-5 in some places. The hygienist informed me that with regular cleanings, the pockets will close up and disappear along with good brushing and daily flossing. I had been lucky this time, but if those pockets continued to grow, I'd need more than just cleanings to heal the damage.

The thing is, I KNEW that brushing and flossing wouldn't be enough since I also have a few nutritional deficiencies due to a genetic mutation. So, what else could I do to help restore my oral health? Using gum healing essential oils along with something called oil pulling.

Oil Pulling with Gum Healing Essential Oils

Oil pulling is an ancient technique in Ayurvedic medicine where one uses raw sesame oil to help heal the gums, brighten teeth, and keep plaque and other bacteria to minimum. It's done by swishing a few tablespoons of the raw sesame oil in the mouth upon waking for 10-20 minutes.

It is said that the oil helps pull toxins from the body while strengthening and restoring oral health, including reducing gum pockets which is exactly what I need.

In order to boost its effectiveness, I decided to add a few drops of gum healing essential oils.

Some of the best gum restorative oils (along with their maximum dilutions) include:

• Clove - 0.5%
• Eucalyptus radiata - 20%
• Frankincense - 2%
• Helichrysum - 4%
• Melaleuca (tea tree) - 15%
• Myrrh - 1%
• Oregano - 1%
• Peppermint - 5%
• Thyme - 2%
• Wintergreen - 2%

These essential oils make excellent oral antiseptics, analgesics, and anti-inflammatories. The menthol found in peppermint, the methyl salicylate found in wintergreen, the thymol found in thyme, and the eucalyptol found in eucalyptus are recognized compounds that fight gingivitis and other gum diseases.

A Recipe for Oil Pulling with Gum Healing Essential Oils

Instead of sesame oil, I prefer to use coconut oil for oil pulling. It has a number of benefits all its own that help with healing weakened gums. Plus, it tastes better in my opinion. You can however, add the essential oils to any oil you like.

For a 30-day supply of essential oil infused coconut oil, you will need:

• 1 15oz jar of extra virgin coconut oil
• 90 drops of essential oil for a 1% dilution (I used 10 drops of clove, 20 drops of myrrh, 30 drops of peppermint, and 30 drops of frankincense)

Loving Preparation

1. Begin by placing the coconut oil jar in a hot water bath until the coconut oil can be easily stirred with a long utensil. Make sure that the utensil is clean before use.
2. Once the coconut oil is ready, add the essential oils and stir them in.
3. Cap the coconut oil jar closed and allow it to solidify (if you live in a warmer climate the coconut oil with stay liquidy which is fine)

To Use

Upon waking, swish one tablespoon of infused coconut oil in your mouth for 10-20 minutes. Once finished, spit the oil into a trash can.

Repeat every morning for strong healthy gums and teeth.

I love changing up the essential oils every time I finish a jar to keep things interesting. Since I started this routine a few weeks ago, my gums are already looking tighter and healthier in appearance. I'll be sure to update this post after my next cleaning visit in six months.

What have been your favorite essential oils for gum health? Please let me know in the comment s below!

You may also enjoy:

Monday Monthly Mission #2 - Oil Pulling
Oil Pulling - One Month Results