Looking for the best way to care for your teeth? Have you heard friends using olive oil and wonder if it actually works?
Today, we'll look at the top ways olive oil can be used to nurture a healthy mouth.
Plus, keep reading and we'll reveal our #1 way to use it most effectively!
5 Incredible Benefits of Olive Oil for Teeth
1. Olive Oil Provides Antioxidant Protection
Oxidative stress is one of the leading causes of tissue destruction in the body, including the tissue in your mouth. This destruction is usually caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), also known as free radicals.
Antioxidants are chiefly beneficial because they neutralize these ROS to less reactive forms, and olive oil is loaded with them.
This study assessed the antioxidant activity of olive oil’s total polyphenolic fraction, and what they found is quite impressive. Research revealed that olive oil has several biophenols that actively scavenge for free radicals inside the body.
Periodontal tissues are easily damaged by ROS, which can interfere with the integrity of teeth.
2. Olive Oil Whitens Teeth Naturally
No one wants discolored teeth. But those of us who are chemical savvy also don’t want to expose their mouths to the toxins found in whitening strips. Fortunately, olive oil for teeth whitening works pretty well.
It is a better alternative to over-the-counter products which are equally as good but are laden with harsh chemicals such as those that can damage your enamel or increase tooth sensitivity.
So, how do you use olive oil to whiten your teeth?
The procedure is simple:
You can apply it directly to your toothbrush and brush as usual. It will actively neutralize the chemicals in your teeth and remove stains that the average toothpaste can’t.
Olive oil is highly viscous. It is this viscosity that makes olive oil a better tooth whitener than the usual mouthwash because it binds to plaque and debris on your teeth and gently removes it to keep your teeth clean.
3. Olive Oil Provides Antibacterial Protection for Teeth
Have you ever wondered what cause plaque buildup? Do you know why irregular teeth cleaning results in bad breath?
Well, the answer is bacteria.
Several colonies of bacteria thrive in your oral cavity. These bacteria have metabolic processes that keep them alive and allows them to secrete their waste (aka end products of metabolism).
The only disadvantage is that they will get rid of their waste right where they live - your oral cavity.
This waste is very corrosive to teeth because it is chemical in nature and often very acidic.
Conveniently, olive oil has very potent antibacterial properties, which help keep your teeth healthy and clean.
The advantage? You eliminate the problem at the root level.
Some common toothpastes only remove the waste produced by bacteria, but olive oil removes the bacteria themselves, eliminating the buildup of waste that causes bad breath.
4. Olive Oil Reaches Where Toothbrushes Can’t
Olive oil is a highly viscous liquid. Since it is liquid in nature, it is able to penetrate through every nook and cranny in and around your teeth.
Your toothbrush may only clean the surfaces of your teeth, but it can’t efficiently clean between your teeth or inside gum pockets.
Olive oil, on the other hand, can clean every inch of your oral cavity.
This is made possible when you adopt the oil pulling method with olive oil, which we’ll discuss in a bit.
5. Olive Oil Helps Prevent Bone Loss
Have you ever heard how Mediterranean countries have lower incidences of osteoporosis?
Maybe you have, maybe you haven’t, but the reason is:
It is common practice in these countries to consume large amounts of olive oil in the diet.
Olive oil is associated with increased levels of biomarkers of bone formation as well as osteocalcin – the primary marker of bone formation.
Studies such as this one posted in the National Center for Biotechnology Information suggests evidence that the phenols contained in olive oil actively prevent the loss of bone mass.
They do so by modulating the capacity of osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) to proliferate.
The phenols also enhance rapid maturation of bone osteoblasts by increasing the activity of the enzyme, alkaline phosphatase – a key enzyme in bone formation.
Besides, olive oil actively regulates calcium ion deposits into the extracellular matrix. Calcium is the most essential ingredient for the formation of bones.
How to Oil Pull with Olive Oil
Oil pulling is a natural remedy for maintaining a health oral cavity and has been used for centuries in ayurvedic medicine.
It helps whiten your teeth and remove residue that accumulates between them.
Here’s how to do it:
- Take a considerable amount of olive oil, preferably one tablespoon, put it in your mouth, and swish in all directions for about 20 minutes (you may have to start at 5 minutes and work your way up to this amount).
- Take caution and swish the liquid slowly to reach all the surfaces of your teeth and gums. It’s best to do this in the morning before eating anything.
- After swishing for 20 minutes, spit the contents of your mouth into a trash can/container (not the sink!).
- Now rinse your mouth thoroughly and spit the contents again.
- You can then brush your teeth with your usual tools.
Be careful not to swallow the oil as it now contains bacteria!
The Problem with Using Just Olive Oil for Teeth
In hearing from friends and family, we’ve noticed a few problems with using olive oil alone that you should be aware of. For instance:
It tastes pretty bad.
Some people can’t just sustain swishing it in their mouth for 20 minutes at a time. The urge to spit it out always come before 20 minutes elapses.
Also:
You miss out on the benefits of other oils.
There are other oils for oral care like coconut oil, which are equally effective. Each oil has its own set of beneficial properties and ways it boosts oral health.
For the best effect, consider using a combination of oils, including essential oils, to promote a healthy mouth in multiple ways.
We offer a high potency combination for oil pulling called FRESH. Its base consists of both olive oil and coconut oil, along with oral health-promoting herbs such as fennel, peppermint, and clove.
It tastes delicious, making oil pulling with olive oil easier to achieve!
Whatever you decide to do, consider working olive oil into your oral care routine today.