Re: tea tree oil any good?

On Sat, 29 Oct 2005 15:50:51 +0200, "Hans" <dont@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

>Hello
>
>I have irritated gums and minor bleading
>
>My local health supplements shop advised me to use a couple of drops in
>water of "tea tree oil" to rinse my mounth after brushing.
>
>It should clean my teeth without irritating the gums. My teeth do look
>cleaner and i have less gum irritation since i use it.
>
>The thing that is worring me is that it might be acidic and may destroy
>enamel since ur teeth are vulnerable just after brushing.
>
>ingredients:melaleuca alternifolia
>
I'm not a dentist, so take this with a grain of salt, but since none
of the dentists have answered your question, here, check out this link
below.

The problem with doctors - and it seems, dentists as well - is that
they are not taught much in the way of nutrition or herbs. Too bad
because many herbal and nutritional supplements are worthwhile, as in
the green tea and xylitol thread above, for example. There is a lot of
research showing xylitol is a great sugar substitute, and that green
tea is good for your teeth and gums, but dentists won't tell you
that. Perhaps because the almighty ADA has not given its proper
blessing to it, and they won't or haven't done their own research into
such things.

For many years nutritionists have been saying what the Chinese have
known for thousands of years, that green tea is good for you in many
ways, but everyone ignores it or even makes fun of it, until finally
some scientist verfies it. Just like how nutritionists have said
brocolli helps prevent cancer; yet the FDA fought this claim tooth and
nail, yet now it is allowed.

I'm all for verification, double-blind experiments and all: science!;
but I'm against people being closed minded about anecdotal evidence
that has been known for thousands of years, and making light of it as
if it has no value. As for tea tree oil, you can find a lot of
scientific basis for its value. Here is one article; you can find many
more by doing a google on "tea tree oil" or "tea tree oil for gums":

http://abc.net.au/science/news/health/HealthRepublish_1193238.htm

Sorry if I sound like I'm putting dentists down, I'm not; it's just
that it bothers me when people poo-poo ideas they know nothing about,
and that is often the case with herbs and supplements.

On the other hand, I do agree that idiots in health food stores can
say some stupid stuff and one should take their advice with a huge
grain of salt.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Fruity breath.
    ... I used to do ironing many many years ago for a man who said he had "insulin ... dependant" diabetes. ... (before dentists started wearing masks). ... tea and he declined. ...
    (alt.support.diabetes)
  • Re: Fruity breath.
    ... I used to do ironing many many years ago for a man who said he had "insulin ... dependant" diabetes. ... (before dentists started wearing masks). ... tea and he declined. ...
    (alt.support.diabetes)