Tea Tree Oil in Toothpaste

Tea tree oil is an herb with many functions and has been used by Australian Aboriginal people for centuries. They used the leaves of the tree as an antifungal and antiseptic by crushing the leaves and making a pack.

It was considered essential by the Australian government for the first aid kit of armed forces during the Second World War. Once the war was over, there was an increased use of antibiotics which led to a decrease in the use tea tree oil's all over except in Australia. In 1960, it regained its popularity everywhere. Today, Melaleuca alternifolia is grown in many places including California.

The properties of the tea tree oil are present in its leaves. The oil is manufactured by the process of steam - distillation of the leaves. The main active substances in the oil are 1,8-cineole, terpinen-4-ol, p-cymene, gamma-terpinene and other turpenes. The aroma of the oil is that of a pleasant disinfectant.

Uses include:
• Antiseptic : It can be used to treat conditions like insect bites, burns, cuts, acne, bruises, infected wounds, boils, scabies, chillblains, lice, diaper rash, hives, prickly heat, and sunburn as it is an excellent natural antiseptic.

• Anti inflammatory : It has anti inflammatory properties and can be applied topically for sprains, bunions, arthritis, bursitis, gout, eczema, hemorrhoids and also carpal tunnel syndrome.

• Analgesic : It can be used for relief from pain

• Anti Fungal : It also has Anti Fungal function which can take care of athlete's foot, albicans, thrush, jock itch, ringworm, and onychomycosis (Infection of the nails).

• Preventive: Surgeons in hospitals in Australia treat patients with it before surgery to help those with chronic illnesses like chronic fatigue syndrome and give a boost to the suppressed immune system.

• Household cleaning: It is natural solvent which makes it an excellent biodegradable cleaning agent. It can be used as a deodorizer, for washing cotton diapers; or disinfectant and to treat houseplants for molds, parasitic infections and fungus.

Toothpaste and tea tree oil
The disinfectant and antiseptic properties of it makes it ideal for use in products for oral hygiene. Mouth washes and toothpastes containing tea tree oil have been proved to be effective against many oral problems. Some of these are, gum disease, halitosis (bad breath), and cancer sores.

Brushing your teeth with toothpaste which has tea tree oil as an ingredient or adding some to your usual toothpaste is recommended. This will help both teeth and gums. You can even add a couple of drops of the oil to the water to be used for gargling. A few drops of the tea tree oil applied on the sore area would bring down the inflammation.

The use of Tea tree oil has also been done to kill oral bacteria prior to dental surgery and to decrease the irritation in the mouth caused due to dental procedures. In patients who have oral candidiasis, which is a fungal infection of the throat and mouth, a mouth rinse containing tea tree oil may prove effective in reducing symptoms.