The health of the mouth affects also that of the whole body. We take care of it by brushing every day more times a day the teeth, by doing mouthwashes with disinfectant and using the dental floss. But, as always, also in this case nature is able to offer a valid help, even in the most delicate cases such that of school children. Indeed, according to a recent study published in the journal European archives of pediatric dentistry by an Indian team (Kamath et al, May 2019) both aloe vera and tea tree oil have proven to be beneficial for the oral hygiene.
In particular, the scientists have studied the habits and the health conditions of 150 children aged between 8 and 14. The children have been divided into four groups, the first group was asked to do mouthwashes with aloe vera gel, the second with chlorhexidine that is a chemical disinfectant used for the hygiene of the mouth, the third with tea tree oil and the fourth with a placebo. After 4 weeks the scientists analyzed the levels of dental plaques, evaluated the presence of gingivitis and of the bacterium Streptococcus mutans, one of the main causes of teeth decay. Well, both aloe vera and tea tree oil have been proved to be useful remedies, with an effect comparable with that of the chemical disinfect, to reduce the dental plaques, the gingivitis and the presence of the bacterium. In addition to this, the improvement in the oral hygiene has been maintained also in the following 2 weeks without mouthwashes.
For this reason, mouthwashes with a tablespoon of aloe vera gel, pure or with the addition of a drop of tea tree oil, are beneficial for the oral hygiene, also in children. A drop of tea tree can be added also to the toothpaste. Important, however, is not to swallow these remedies.
