I am astounded by the many benefits of essential oils! I wrote about one of my favorites, frankincense, which I’ve been using to improve my skin. It’s a miracle worker! I also use peppermint, lavender, lemon, and thieves oil regularly.
Have you heard of thieves oil? If not, listen up: This one is a MUST in your holistic toolkit, and I recently tried it to relieve some issues I’d been having with inflamed gums. It worked overnight. I was really surprised! (albeit pleasantly).
I am so impressed with the power of thieves oil. It’s a blend of several different oils. The story goes that Thieves oil was created based on research about four thieves in France who covered themselves with cloves, rosemary, and other aromatics while robbing plague victims to protect themselves from disease. It’s a blend of antiviral, antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-infectious essential oils: Clove, lemon, cinnamon, Eucalyptus, and rosemary. You can diffuse it to kill mold and bacteria; use it topically; AND use it to enhance the health of teeth and gums.
How to Use Thieves Oil for Oral Health
- Add a drop to your toothpaste for fresh breath and to kill bad bacteria. You can also use it to make your own homemade toothpaste!
- Rub several drops on gums twice daily to combat gingivitis. You can dilute with a carrier oil, like coconut oil, if it feels too “hot” upon application.
- Apply several drops to red, inflamed gums until swelling and pain subsides. I do this frequently, and it works so quickly.
- Gurgle a few drops in water at the first sign of sore throat or tickle. You can also apply a few drops (use a carrier oil like coconut oil) directly on the throat.
- Use 1-2 drops for mouth sores, or to speed healing of sores/cuts on roof of mouth. You may want to swish around with coconut oil or water so you’re not applying the oil directly to a cut.
- Soak dental floss in a few drops of Thieves and floss to kill bacteria. This works well to reduce swelling of inflamed gums too. I do NOT recommend using mouthwash like Listerine, which also kills the good bacteria in your mouth, too.
- Apply several drops orally once daily at night to fight cavities and for healthy teeth.
- I haven’t tried Thieves for toothaches, but others say it reduces pain if applied topically at site of toothache.
- Apply on cold sores and canker sores.
- Add a drop of Thieves to your coconut oil to use for oil pulling. Oil pulling is amazing for dental health, and Thieves will help pack an extra punch in pulling bacteria from the mouth.
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Mary Vance is a Certified Nutrition Consultant and author specializing in digestive health. She combines a science-based approach with natural therapies to rebalance the body. In addition to her 1:1 coaching, she offers courses to help you heal your gut and improve your health. Mary lives in San Francisco and Lake Tahoe in Northern California. Read more about her coaching practice here and her background here.
Thank you so much for this info. Funny thing, I was wondering last night if swishing thieves would help with inflammation after flossing. I use Young Living thieves for other applications, I will give this a try. Happy to be connected to your blog as well.
I love thieves oil but it should always be diluted to a 20:80 ratio (as should all but a couple) into some type of a carrier oil and should never be used topically or orally for children as eucalyptus oil is not safe.
Thieves oil doesn’t have to be diluted unless it causes too much heat for a person. (or in the case of children applied to bottoms of feet). Most oils are fine neat unless they’re too hot (oregano, for example), and that depends on the person.
I like the idea of Essential Oils but I was always told that they had to be diluted. It’s hard to believe this new information . I would be worried about using them neat. Why did people say that they had to be diluted ? I see that you mention heat , but the caution was always so firm before! Thank you
Depends on your preference/tolerance. I apply many neat, but some with a carrier oil.
Thanks for the information! What about the advice that essential oils should never be taken orally/internally?
Good question. You’ll see a lot of conflicting info on this. I believe using certain therapeutic grade oils in very small amounts internally is fine.
hi i was on biodential cream ad after a while it shows i had to much estrogen even fit c dr can’t figure it out i say with my research I’m not absorbbing cause of digestive issues what do u recommend
I ran across this searching for natural ways to deal with cavities. My son is 5 yrs old and has too many cavities already. Do you recommend oil pulling with coconut oil and thieves oil for him?
I haven’t researched this for children, so I’d recommend googling and your own research to make sure it’s OK.
Can thieves oil help with the oral spirochettes caused by lyme disease?
I had laryngitis so bad while on vacation my sister in law is a full believer in oils she just so happened to be with us. She asked can I try something for you I was skeptical but I went along she put one drop of thieves under my tongue yes it was hot but not unbearable with in a hour I had my voice. NO Joke I am now a user of oils. I like young living but I also like Rocky Mountain oils in price comprising.
Hi Mary,
I love you website its been a great source of help so thank you. Ive just purchased a pack of Thieves oil. It say avoid contact with mucous membranes and not for internal use. I am a little confused I brought it specifically to put on my inflamed gums ( i do have thieves toothpaste ) but wanted to double up to see how it goes. I am now thinking maybe Ill just put a drop in with my oil pulling. Do you do this yourself? I am feeling a little wary..
Thieves can run “hot” so the general rec is not to apply directly to mucous membranes. You can use 1-2 drops while oil pulling or gargle with 1-2 drops.
Any knowledge if this can be used to treat mouth ulcers and sores caused from cancer treatment?
Hi I’ve just wanted to say that recently I’ve been dealing with some starting tooth decay pain. This pain is enough to keep me awake at night. In fact it was so bad it forced me to take some ibuprofen for the last few nights and i hate doing that. Last night though i applied two drops of thieves to a qtip, rubbed it on my tooth where the decay was, and instant relief for the rest of the night. I was so astounded.
Hi Mary,
I have been using YL Essential Oils for a little over a year. I have bought Desk Reference books by Gary Young and others. It seems I have a hard time finding good usage info on each essential oil as well as you did with Thieves. I believe in researching and love to do it. The YL website doesn’t go in detail about all there is to know about each EO. Would you recommend how/what resources to use or websites to use to research for the more in detail uses of each EO. Questions about Reaching out to my upline person is best left alone. I am really desperate for some guidance.
What digestive issues do you offer help for?
Jenniifer, you can find info about my services on the coaching page: https://www.maryvancenc.com/coaching/
or feel free to drop me a line via the contact page and we can chat about coaching options.
Thank goodness I looked this up today I had a root canal and did not go well at all and today was a really bad day and could not take it any more and I rubbed thevies on my gum and finally after all day pain not knowing what do to and being so close to the holidays knew was not going to be able to get in to see a new dentist it work with in 2 minuets the pain was going away thank you essential oils you saved the day
I have developed facial shingles with ulcers in my mouth. At first I thought I had a cold sore so I sprayed it with Thieves spray. It gives instant relief and along with the doctors prescribed anti viral medication I think I have helped stop the spread of the rash. I am also using Thieves toothpaste and mouth wash.
It amazes me to see positive comments with regards to Thieves EO. I will surely try it too. Thank you
Using thieves right now for swollen gums and what I think might be an infection. I put 4 drops on a cotton swab and placed it against my sore tooth in my cheek. The pain relief is greatly unbelievable. Just sharing my experience so others know how to find lasting relief.
I have MMP, fortunately confined to blistering of the gums. I would like to know what essential oils could be added to coconut oil (for pulling) that will help calm the gum tissue and help with remission. I do not want to take any steroids or other biologic medicines unless natural solutions don’t work. At this time I am only brushing with baking soda and I stay away from spicy foods, cinnamon, alcohol, etc. so that helps. Any advice?
I have a pernament bridge and had to have a root canal last year and now it gas broke lose from one tooth and is loose and my gum stays red and swollen in the back .My dentist Saud I could try and keep it but I heed to know what oil I can use on my gums
whats the best way to make thieves mouthwash ? I would prefer water (or other) rather than oil as don’t really like oil pulling. Any suggestions for this please. thank you
I have had a sore under my tongue for 3 years. It started from coconut oil pulling. It has never hurt but now has recently started hurting. Is thieves mouth and toothpaste the same benefit as using the oil? I know thieves does tend to “burn” or be hot on my skin even with a carrier oil but I am willing to try. Would you recommend anything else to heal a sore under the tongue? Also how many days would you say it would take to see results? Thanks
LeMoyne, the only approved remedy for healing mouth sores that I know of is salt water gargles/soaking.