WELLBEING
9 Benefits of Neem for Teeth + Risks
Nikshep Myle │Updated: 12 March 2023
Introduction
Oral and dental problems bring lots of unwanted pain and are heavy on the pocket. Want a natural, affordable, and sustainable remedy to kiss goodbye to plaque, bad odor, and cavities? Say hi to neem.
Neem is among the most effective medicinal trees worldwide for oral hygiene. It’s easy to include in your routine, has impressive benefits to give you healthier teeth and gums, and is a chemical-free, herbal dental care option.
We’ve already covered the uses of neem for skin, and in this article, we’ll explore some benefits of neem for teeth and oral care and its potential risks. But before that, let’s start with what neem is.
What is Neem?
Neem (Azadirachta indica), or Indian lilac, is a potent medicinal tree native to India. It boasts impressive versatility because its leaves, seeds, bark, twigs, roots, fruits, and flowers offer health benefits.
Neem has been used in Ayurveda, an ancient medical system, for thousands of years and is called “nature’s pharmacy” because of its wide applications. From skin, hair, and dental disorders to reversible birth control and malaria, neem finds various uses in ayurvedic medicine.
It’s packed with antioxidants, anticancer effects, antibacterial properties, anti-inflammatory compounds, and more than 140 different compounds that are beneficial for the body as a whole. That’s why we feature neem in our list of best superfoods.
Benefits of Using Neem for Teeth and Oral Health
Neem helps reduce plaque buildup, bad breath, gum inflammation, and bleeding gums and kills harmful bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease. Its natural astringent properties also effectively remove surface stains from the teeth’s enamel.
Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of neem for dental and gum health.
1. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties
Neem has long been known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities, making it an excellent ingredient for natural dental care products. Not only does neem help to combat bad breath by killing bacteria in the mouth, but it also helps to reduce ulcers and inflammation caused by infections or injuries.
2. Teeth whitening
Neem’s astringent quality aids with soothing gums and teeth whitening, which is why people in Indian and African villages commonly rely on brushing with neem to avoid stained teeth and maintain oral health.
In this study on neem’s efficacy against gingivitis, the subjects had significantly whiter teeth after 21 days of using neem twice daily (images included in the link).
3. Eliminates bad odor
Neem is antibacterial and antimicrobial, making it suitable for getting rid of bad breath. And unlike chemical mouthwashes with side effects, neem is an entirely natural option with no side effects — perfect if you’re particular about what you’re subjecting your oral environment to.
4. Alkaline adjustment and protection from cariogenic foods
The body’s acid-alkaline balance is essential for optimal health, but when this balance’s disrupted, it leads to health issues.
When it comes to dental health, foods are classified based on their cariogenic potential or how likely they are to cause dental caries (tooth decay). The more acidic the substance, the higher its potential to bring down salivary pH levels and create an environment conducive to cavities.
pH is a scale from 0 to 14, with values under 7 indicating acidity and above 7 indicating alkalinity. Neem is slightly alkaline with a pH of 8.2 and is anti-cariogenic, so it protects your teeth from cariogenic and low-pH foods.
This study on the impact of neem on salivary pH levels found that chewing neem leaves after consuming chocolates (high cariogenic) rapidly and significantly reversed salivary acidity.
5. Improves enamel health
Neem has several antibacterial compounds, like nimbidin, azadirachtin, and limonene, that prevent dental plaque and tartar buildup. Plaque is a film of bacteria that forms over teeth if you don’t maintain oral hygiene, and the bacteria in plaque produce acids that erode the enamel and cause cavities.
By preventing plaque build-up and promoting salivary alkalinity, neem helps to improve your enamel health.
6. Prevents plaque
Researchers believe that using neem twigs has helped Indian and African villagers have healthy teeth despite lacking access to toothbrushes or modern oral care products.
According to this single-blind study conducted for two months among 30 subjects, there was hardly any difference between using neem twigs and toothbrushes. But in both cases, there was a considerable reduction in plaque and gingival inflammation.
Neem twigs are excellent if you’re seeking potent and environmentally sustainable oral care that ensures zero accumulation of plaque.
7. Gingivitis treatment
Neem’s antiseptic ingredients are quite effective for treating gingivitis and gum diseases.
A double-blind study with 45 subjects with plaque-induced gingivitis found that neem was as effective as Chlorhexidine, a prescription mouthwash, and had fewer side effects. The subjects rinsed their mouths twice daily with 15ml of neem mouthwash and experienced a huge reduction in plaque, gingivitis, and bleeding after three weeks of use.
Chlorhexidine’s side effects include altered taste (sometimes permanent), teeth staining, and tartar formation, making neem a more sustainable, cost-effective, and readily available option for periodontal diseases and gingival health.
8. Candida and dental caries treatment
This in vitro study (research in a test tube or petri dish) from 2017 examined how effective neem was against Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans.
Candida albicans is a type of fungus often found in people’s mouths in small quantities, an imbalance of which leads to infections. Dental caries is teeth decay caused primarily by bacteria like Streptococcus mutans.
The study found that neem leaf extract displayed great antimicrobial potency against Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans, along with having low toxicity, excellent shelf life, and no microbial resistance.
With major news outlets talking about us entering the dreaded post-antibiotic era and increased drug resistance, candida, too, has exhibited resistance to certain antifungal medications. That’s why neem is a reliable herbal alternative whose antifungal properties can help manage candida and caries.
9. Eco-friendly, cost-effective, easy-to-include, and has no adverse side-effects
As mentioned in some of the points above, neem is an effective, low-cost, plastic-free brushing solution. It’s sustainable for the environment and is an all-natural dental health solution for you that doesn’t have the adverse side effects of harsh chemical mouthwashes and toothpaste.
Lastly, neem is quite easy to incorporate into your dental health care routine.
Potential Risks of Using Neem for Teeth
You can use various parts of the neem tree for oral care, but you have to be cautious with how you use these parts.
Based on some of the studies we’ve linked to in this article, it’s safe to use neem twice daily for oral care. If you plan to use neem twigs, check out how to use neem safely so that you don’t injure yourself or use them ineffectively.
There shouldn’t be cause for concern as long as you’re not swallowing the neem products. But when it comes to the consumption of neem, there’s no standard dosage, so you have to consult a health professional and experiment with small quantities before increasing the dose.
Chewing neem leaves or consuming neem powder in small quantities is generally safe. But since there are cases of neem oil poisoning in adults, you should avoid using neem oil for teeth and gums unless it’s in mild concentration.
Note that pregnant women must avoid neem intake because it can cause miscarriage. Infants and children should also avoid consuming neem or neem oil because it can lead to poisoning and death.
Switch to Neem for Effective and Sustainable Oral Care
Neem is a “wonder herb” with versatile oral health benefits and effective cleansing properties. This herbal product’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties ensure harmful bacteria and ulcers don’t thrive in your mouth, while its astringent quality helps to clear out stains and whiten teeth.
Neem’s antimicrobial properties remove foul odors to give you fresh breath, and its alkaline and anti-cariogenic composition strengthens your enamel health and prevents acidic foods from wreaking havoc on your teeth. Along with plaque removal, neem’s robust antiseptic quality makes it an excellent remedy for gingivitis, candida, and dental caries.
Using neem for your oral care means lowering your carbon footprint, saving on expenses, and avoiding the adverse side effects of synthetic products. Keen on using neem and its active ingredients for cleaner teeth? We’ve covered that in detail in this article on how to use neem for teeth.
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