Lemongrass essential oil is a great multipurpose oil that is extremely cost effective AND it happens to have quite a few applications when it comes to health, wellness and home aroma therapy use too. But that’s not what this is all about - we’re here today to talk about a study that was done on this oil and how it may have potent and uniquely beneficial (as opposed to traditional alcohol) antibacterial properties as a mouthwash.

When I thought about this, it made sense. I know lemongrass oil has superior antibacterial properties but quite frankly it’s POTENT. It’s a very powerfully scented oil and you really have to dilute it down when using it in skin and hair applications due to its potency and potential to irritate sensitive skin if you over do it. So I was naturally very curious to read about this application for this very inexpensive oil.

Is Lemongrass Oil Good for the Gums?

There are actually studies on lemongrass oil as a natural remedy for gum health and bad breath. Lemongrass has very powerful antimicrobial properties. This in and of itself means lemongrass oil can be helpful when it comes to gum health (and yes, bad breath too). It also has uniquely beneficial antifungal properties that have been studied to help with oral thrush and also to have applications for HIV patients. HIV patients can experience thrush, which is almost like a rash inside the mouth if you will, which is linked to candida (fungal) overgrowth. Related: Caprylic Acid for Candida and Rashes

One of the main reasons behind gum health issues and weakening of the gum tissue is the overgrowth of bacteria in pockets in the gums. This can be not only destructive to the structure and integrity of the gum tissue, but it also lends itself to bad breath. Anywhere you get an overgrowth of bacteria, there will surely be unpleasant odors to follow!

Making Your Own Lemongrass Mouthwash - Why?

You may wonder, why should you consider using this inexpensive herbal oil as part of your dental hygiene regimen? Well, not only does lemongrass have some very effective antibacterial and antifungal properties, it also has some other compelling properties. Lemongrass oil is rich in flavonoids and phenols. These are both antioxidants that can add free radical scavenging benefits to your hygienic routine.

Most mouthwashes contain sugary sweet flavorings and/or drying alcohol in order to freshen the breath and kill odor-causing bacteria. This can dry the mouth out, and really make for a mouth puckering experience. If you add some lemongrass to distilled water to make your own (all natural) mouthwash, it will be a potent taste, but may actually be a lot more pleasant than what you’re used to from the big brands most people use.

Lemongrass in Oil Pulling

If you’re really not into the whole mouthwash idea, you can also consider adding a few drops of lemongrass to an oil pulling routine. Oil pulling can be a bit time consuming, but at least you can do other things while waiting for the oil to do its work. Related: The Best Antibacterial Oils for Acne That Won't Dry Your Skin Out

What is Oil Pulling?

Oil pulling is pretty simple actually, and some people swear it has been the difference between faltering tooth and gum health and radiant dental and gum health. I’d encourage you to read a lot more about this simple yet effective process.

Suffice it to say, the oil pull process is just three steps. First, you put a small lump of solid coconut oil in your mouth and let it melt. Once it melts (this is where you can add a few drops of lemongrass oil if you’d like), you simply swish it all around and between the gums.

You will want to not just swish it around without making sure you keep “pulling” it through the gums time and time again. This ensures you are catching bacteria up in the oil. The whole idea is to get a very thorough cleansing of the gums and remove damaging bacteria from invading the delicate gum tissue through open pockets. Bacteria is extremely destructive to gum health.

The name of the game is to expel as much bacteria as possible. Once you have swished the oil around in your mouth for a while, do NOT swallow it. This is now something you want in your stomach. Remember, it is filled with bacteria! Make sure you spit it all out in the garage (not the drain, it can clog over time) and then rinse the mouth out with warm water, swishing all the leftover oil out of the mouth along with the water.

There have been people who say they’ve had total reversal of degenerative types of gum disease after practicing oil pulling for a while. Lemongrass oil for dental and gum health is well worth a look. It can really help boost overall dental health and ensure your gums will remain healthy well into your later-in-life years!