I noticed over the past few years that my teeth have become a little crooked. After a lot of investigation into different types of braces, I found a holistic dentist who works with a completely different system. It’s called the ALF device (an “Advanced Lightwire Functional” appliance). It’s a modern orthodontic device that treats the root cause of TMJ disorder, by correcting the misalignment of the upper and lower jaws. 

This tiny but strong wire wraps around a couple of my back teeth, and provides what looks and feels like a trampoline inside my mouth. I have one that sits behind my upper teeth, and one that sits behind my lower teeth (ie. an upper and lower trampoline).

Every bite I take puts a teensy bit of pressure on the wire, and that pressure nudges my teeth in the direction we want them to go, ie. outwards.

After 6 months of wear, my upper teeth have started to straighten and we’ve achieved a 3.5mm outward movement in my upper teeth. It was really exciting to see, and they look straighter too.

But it does more than this. The ALF device works in a similar way to cranial osteopathy, by gently and gradually realigning the cranial bones. This in turn repositions the jaw, dental arches and teeth, and supports posture, alignment of the vertebrae (especially the neck), and breathing. It can also help in some cases with snoring.

Apart from getting used to talking and eating with a thin wire in my mouth, the only other challenge I’ve had is that this device only gets taken out once every 4-6 weeks when I’m at the dentist. He strategically tightens it each visit, so it continues to put gentle pressure on my teeth to create the movement we’re after.

When the device is taken out, I take the opportunity to do a thorough floss of my teeth before it’s put back in again. But I noticed on this week’s visit that my gums were bleeding a little. I eat a healthy diet, so I know this is simply from not being able to floss regularly.

The answer to bleeding gums is a really simple one. It’s called oil pulling. This ancient practise is amazing for supporting healthy gums and teeth, and also for overall body health. 

If you’ve not yet experienced oil pulling, I can highly recommend it. 

Your 3 steps to better oral health

If you suffer from gingivitis (gum disease, characterised by bleeding of the gums), you are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, according to Dr. Louis Rose, University of Pennsylvania (1).

This is because the same bacterium that causes gum disease (Porphyromonas gingivalis) also contributes to inflammation of the arteries, which in turn leads to heart and vascular disease. And if you have excessive plaque build-up (which is basically bacterial buildup), you are also at higher risk of cancer, according to a Swedish study (2).

We say good health starts in the gut, but it can equally be said that it starts in the mouth!

In addition to using Young Living’s Thieves Whitening Toothpaste, there are 3 simple steps you can do each day to keep your teeth and gums sparkling. Let’s take a look at each of those steps, and why they are so important…

Step 1 – Oil pulling

This is an ancient Ayurvedic practice, which traditionally uses unrefined cold-pressed sesame seed oil. Nowadays many people (myself included) choose unrefined, virgin coconut oil instead. That’s because coconut oil contains mostly medium-chain fatty acids, of which 45-50% is lauric acid. 

Lauric acid has proven anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects (3). It kills bacteria, viruses, fungi and other harmful organisms.

It has also been shown to increase HDL, our good cholesterol, and to enhance the pancreas’ ability to secrete insulin.

Oil pulling is really simple to do. A tablespoon of coconut or sesame oil is swished in the mouth for 10 to 20 minutes, then spat out (not down the sink!).

This needs to be done first thing in the morning before you eat or drink anything, and before you clean your teeth. I like to do my oil pulling while I’m in the shower each morning – it’s a great way of multitasking! Oil pulling takes a little bit of getting used to, so you can always start with a smaller amount of oil, for a shorter period of time, and build up from there.

Handy Hint: Because coconut oil solidifies in cooler weather, you may need to sit it in a bowl of warm water to melt it.

The Science of Oil Pulling

The process of swishing coconut or sesame oil around your mouth attracts bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses that live in the various cavities in the mouth and the surrounding tissues and lymph. This is why you want to spit it out, not swallow it. Don’t spit it down your toilet either, or the oil may build-up over time.

The enzymes in your saliva help to “saponify” and emulsify the oil, binding all these nasties into the oil, and helping to clean your mouth and reduce the buildup of plaque.

The lipids in the oil also help to pull toxins, mucous and bacteria from the mouth, sinuses and lymphatic system.

A triple-blind study (4) found a significant reduction in the levels of Streptococcus mutans (the bacteria responsible for tooth decay) in both the plaque and the saliva after 1 to 2 weeks of oil pulling for 10 minutes each day.

A 2007 study found that people who did 8 to 10 minutes each morning of oil pulling using 10 to 15ml of refined sunflower oil showed a significant reduction in their levels of plaque and gingivitis (5).

In yet another study (6), oil pulling was found to be equally effective to chlorhexidine mouthwash in reducing bad breath and the organisms that cause bad breath. Because it offers such a thorough cleanse to your mouth, oil pulling also helps strengthen gums and remineralise your teeth!

Other scientific studies have shown that oil pulling using coconut oil could be effective in decreasing plaque formation and plaque-induced gingivitis (7).

Certified Thanyapura nutritionist Marcela Soto Prats explains that, “Bacteria and germs in our mouth are continuously producing toxins that can cause inflammation and infection if not controlled…..[Oil pulling] is an effective way to kill all these harmful germs and bacteria in your mouth. In this way, it aids the detox process and prevents toxins from entering your body…..It reduces the risk of more toxins and inflammation in your body, especially in your digestive tract.”

Essential oils can be added to the coconut or sesame oil to create a burst of flavour. Start with 1 of essential oil drop and build up to taste. 

I love to add 3 drops of Oregano oil into my coconut oil when I’m oil pulling, although Peppermint oil is another great alternative.

Regulations on using essential oils as flavouring agents vary region to region, so if you live in the UK/Europe, you’d use Young Living’s Oregano Plus or Peppermint Plus oil, and in the US you’d use Oregano Vitality or Peppermint Vitality oil. In the US you could even use Thieves Vitality oil.

Why Oregano Oil?

Every essential oil evokes both a physical and an emotional response within our body.

Oregano is an oil for emotional release. Its strong aroma helps us release unhealthy attachments, and the need to be right. It also helps us to release negative thinking, and to relax into the flow of life.

This biblical oil was known to the Greeks as “Joy of the Mountains” because of its

powerful ability to banish negativity and inspire strength and optimism.

In fact, newlyweds in Greece were crowned with dried oregano in order to bless their marriage.

Step 2 – Floss with a Waterpik®

Ever heard of a Waterpik? It’s a way of flossing your teeth with water instead of using string dental floss. There are other brands of water flossers on the market, but this is one of the best-known ones. I love the massaging effect it has on my gums, especially when I use warm water in the Waterpik.

As with dental floss, the Waterpik has been clinically proven to reduce gingivitis and improve gum health. It cleans off the excess plaque that can make your teeth yellow, but unlike many whitening treatments, it does this without causing tooth sensitivity. 

It also helps remove the plaque and bacteria that live below the gumline and cause bad breath, and is more

than twice as effective as dental floss when it comes to cleaning implants.

But I’ve found an even better way of using it. 

I add ½ teaspoon of Thieves Mouthwash and 200ml water into the water dispenser of my water flosser. Not only am I getting the benefits of the water massaging my gums, I’m also keeping my breath fresh and my mouth super healthy thanks to Thieves Mouthwash.

Why add Thieves Mouthwash to your water flosser? 

As with all of their products, Young Living has used a combination of powerful natural ingredients and therapeutic-grade essential oils to create their Thieves Fresh Essence Plus Mouthwash.

It contains NO alcohol, artificial flavours, synthetic dyes or sweeteners. Instead, it’s sweetened with stevia, a natural plant extract.

Its first 3 listed ingredients are water, colloidal silver, and Peppermint oil, but it also contains Spearmint and Vetiver Oil, in addition to the Thieves oil blend. 

Colloidal Silver is based on an ancient recipe, and it’s exactly what we need to be using every day in our modern world!

If you don’t know what it does, make sure you google it.

This is so much better for our health than using a commercial mouthwash (which are typically alcohol-based).

Many people turn to mouthwash to create fresh breath, but the alcohol erodes the protective mucous and saliva in our mouth, allowing plaque to build up more easily, which actually creates bad breath. It’s a vicious cycle.

In a study published in the Australian Dental Journal, scientists conclude that using alcohol-based mouthwash increases the risk of developing oral cancer (8). They went on to say that “it’s inadvisable for oral healthcare professionals to recommend the long-term use of alcohol-containing mouthwashes.”

Alcohol isn’t the only culprit in commercial mouthwashes. They typically also contain:

• Acidic stabilizing agents, which weaken tooth enamel and make them more susceptible to decay
• Artificial food dyes, some of which have been liked to cancer 
• Peroxide – an alternative to bleach
• Fluoride – you’ll find heaps of info online about this, and the growing concerns about the use of fluoride in our water and its effect on fertility, thyroid, brain health, the nervous system and much more
• Cetylpyridinium chloride – which is shown in animal studies to be highly toxic when inhaled, and moderately toxic when used orally
• Chlorhexidine – a synthetic antiseptic (give me a natural one any day!)

Thank goodness we have such an effective non-alcohol based mouthwash as Thieves Mouthwash! 

Thieves Mouthwash is potent and tastes great. If you are not using it in a Waterpik, simply take a capful into your mouth and rinse and gargle for 30 to 60 seconds. It packs quite a punch! If you find it too strong, simply dilute 50/50 with water. Voila!

You can even use it as an out and about breath freshener. Fill a 10-15ml spray bottle with Thieves Mouthwash, and add 1 to 2 drops of Spearmint or Peppermint oil! Voila!

Step 3: Use Thieves Dental Floss

If you are not using a Waterpik and don’t have an orthodontic device in your mouth which prevents using dental floss, make sure you are using a healthy string floss at least a few times a week. You definitely don’t want to be using commercial floss!!!!

Most commercial dental floss contains petroleum-based dyes, artificial sweeteners, and is coated with Teflon, so it slides between your teeth easier.

Young Living’s dental floss is all natural, and uses bees wax and soy wax, and is soaked in Thieves oil.

It’s the healthiest way to floss, and a “must have” for the handbag or briefcase for those times you find yourself with a stubborn piece of food caught between your teeth!

References

1. Oral Care for Patients with Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke by Rose LF, Mealey BL, Walter C, Brian LM. Journal of the American Dental Association. 2002;133(1):37S-44S.
2. The association of dental plaque with cancer mortality in Sweden. A longitudinal study by Söder B, Yakob M, Meurman J, Andersson L, Söder P. BMJ Open 2012 ;2(3).
3. Antimicrobial property of lauric acid against Propionibacterium acnes: its therapeutic potential for inflammatory acne vulgaris by Nakatsuji T, Kao MC, Fang JY, Zouboulis CC, Zhang L, Gallo RL, Huang CM. J Invest Dermatol. 2009 Oct;129(10):2480-8. doi: 10.1038/jid.2009.93. Epub 2009 Apr 23. PMID: 19387482; PMCID: PMC2772209.
4. Effect of oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans count in plaque and saliva using Dentocult SM Strip mutans test: a randomized, controlled, triple-blind study by Asokan S, Rathan J, Muthu MS, Rathna PV, Emmadi P; Raghuraman; Chamundeswari. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2008 Mar;26(1):12-7. doi: 10.4103/0970-4388.40315. PMID: 18408265.
5. Effect of Oil Pulling on Plaque and Gingivitis by Nagesh L, Amith H. J Oral Health Comm Dent 2007; 1 (1):12-18.
6. Effect of oil pulling on halitosis and microorganisms causing halitosis: a randomized controlled pilot trial by Asokan S, Kumar RS, Emmadi P, Raghuraman R, Sivakumar N. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2011 Apr-Jun;29(2):90-4. doi: 10.4103/0970-4388.84678. PMID: 21911944.
7. The effect of oil pulling with coconut oil to improve dental hygiene and oral health: A systematic review by Woolley, Julian et al. Heliyon, Volume 6, Issue 8, e04789.
8. The role of alcohol in oral carcinogenesis with particular reference to alcohol-containing mouthwashes by McCullough, M., & Farah, C. (2008). Australian Dental Journal, 53(4), 302-305. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1834-7819.2008.00070.x.

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