Manuka honey for gum disease?
Isn’t honey sweet, and shouldn’t you avoid sweet things in order to avoid teeth and gum problems? Well, forget everything you’ve been told and listen up!
Gum Disease is not nice. It can cause missing teeth, and an infection in your mouth can affect your entire body. But there may be a very sweet remedy – honey! Did you know that honey, the right kind, has been known to successfully treat gum disease? Have you ever heard of manuka honey for gum disease?
Take the case of my husband. He has always battled gum disease and must always be vigilant with his oral care. Guy’s got nice, strong teeth, but poor gums. Me, on the other hand, I have weak teeth, but very strong, healthy gums.
A few years ago during one of his check-ups, the dentist told him that he had to have oral surgery due to the infection of his gums – no fun. They scheduled him for a month later. I said, “Try the honey, honey!” He was reluctant, but the thought of needles and such in his mouth forced him to try my simple remedy.
Every day, twice a day, he massaged this gooey sweetness on his gums and diluted it and used it as a mouthwash. After about a week, his breath began to smell fresh and much healthier.
When he returned to his dentist, he asked them to re-examine the infection, hoping that the sweet application of honey might just save him some misery and pain. Well, to the dentist’s bewilderment, the infection had not only been arrested, but the gums were starting to heal!! He asked my husband what he did, and of course, my husband mentioned the honey. The dentist didn’t say much of anything, but the good part was that he only had to do minor work in his mouth. Oh, the benefits of honey!
Please note that not just any honey will do. The honey proven to work best for infections and gum disease is Active Manuka honey from New Zealand. This type of honey has antibacterial properties. It might cost more than other types of honey, but it is way less than gum surgery!
Have you ever used Manuka honey for gum disease? If so, what were the results? I’d love to hear from you!
What strength of manuka honey did you use for this? Amazing story, I too will be using manuka honey!
Hi Kim: I believe it was a 15+ strength. He hasn’t had any problems since and that was a few years ago. Hope you find it helpful for you too.
I have really bad periodontis gum disease can Manuka honey really help this I am so depressed at the moment about this I’ve lost 3 teeth and don’t really want to loose anymore please help me xx
Nicola: So sorry to hear about your gum and teeth issues. Please see my post about manuka honey questions for gums and teeth. It provides additional information that you will benefit from and can help you. I’ll be thinking of you and sending well wishes your way.
Bev
Nicola i dont personally see why you shouldnt/i cant see there is any harm in trying it, at the end of the day its honey, AND unless you have an allergy i cant see why it wouldnt work the same for you, there is somthing on “naturals” i came accross that mentions, bleeding gums on line, but im sorry i can lie, in the fact it didnt apply to me at the time, so i didnt remember to take note of where i saw it, anyway manuka honey will reduce swelling, and ease pain, and may even after prolonged use prevent and stop gum bleeding, i PERSONALLY used willow tincture along side manuka in my case as that is also a pain killer and i know it does me no harm and it has helped as a booster to the manuka, but by my saying this please do your own research first on that incase… again… of allergy you may have (you can a/ get it in holland and barrots, or b/ research making your own, on the provission you have access to the correct sort of willow tree, and are knowledgeable enough to do it yourself, option a/ may be best in an emergency! as it takes a minimum of 2 weeks before home mades are ready!!)
I think you’re wonderful sharing this useful info. I will add some of the things you generously shared with us ! ThankYou again !
Hello All,
I am 35 and my gums have started to recede.
To be honest I feel am going into a depression because whenever I look at my gums, I lose all interest in life.
I went to a couple of dentists. One says, all your gums will need to filled, I don’t know why because I don’t have cavities.
I went to another, she said scaling and some laser surgery.
I went to third, she said, oral health looks okay, but gums do not grow back.
Oh why why why, why do they not grow back?
I went through many web pages, came across this one.
Does the manuka honey massage actually pulls the gum line to its original position?
I am only worried about my lower gums.
Dear Aves: Please take a look at my other posts which will give more details about gum disease here, and here.
I want to say that I am so sorry about your gums!! My husband had gum problems and he was able to get those gums strong again, so there is hope. And just as you indicated, some dentists will look in your mouth and have entirely different opinions. So don’t lose heart.
Thank .you Bev for you reply and advice.
Do I brush my teeth first then the .oil pulling and then massage honey into gums?
Do you recommend I use toothpaste or baking soda or salt? It’s my second day of using the honey and my gum where I had the last swelling has come up again overnight. It had gone after 7 days of antibiotis. The Manuka honey is 15. Sorry for all the questions . Thanks again. Kind regards. Pat.
No problem, Pat. Oil pull prior to brushing your teeth. Do it first thing in the morning.
There are many reasons why gum disease is rampant, but I believe the #1 reason is that people are using toothpaste. Get rid of your toothpaste if you want your gums to start to heal. That may sound strange, but hear me out.
Toothpaste, first of all, contain many harmful chemicals (including floride) and additives. Also, most commercial toothpaste contains some sort of glycerin. Glycerin coats the teeth and prevents them from “breathing” and absorbing minerals. It is better to do the following:
Brush your teeth with a simple solution of baking soda and water. You can even mix in a drop or two (and no more) of peppermint or clove essential oil for better flavor. At night put baking soda on your toothbrush and brush; before rinsing put about a teaspoon or two of apple cider vinegar in your mouth and you will have a foaming action in your mouth. This is excellent for your teeth and gums and it will even push out debris from your teeth that you missed with brushing. You don’t have to worry about this mixture being too acidic because when combined these two ingredients are very alkalizing and beneficial.
Secondly, if you’d like, you can brush with powdered, raw sea salt (such as celtic or some other natural, unprocessed salt) and water about once or twice a week. This salt contains essential minerals that your teeth loves. It will help to keep them strong and it is excellent for your gums.
Thirdly, tumeric powder is super amazing for teeth and gums. Just use it with a little water to brush your teeth. It won’t stain teeth; in fact, it makes mine sparkle!! It will stain almost anything else, such as cloth and even your toothbrush bristles. I use a separate toothbrush when I use tumeric.
And last but not least, after you brush you can take manuka honey (at least 10+) and massage your gums with it thoroughly, and then spit.
I am very passionate about using natural, inexpensive products for better health. If everyone used these methods, dentists would be out of business, and we both know they don’t want to be, so they usually don’t tell their patients about these simple, very effective remedies.
Please bear in mind that I am not a doctor or dentist; I’m just sharing what has worked for me and my family, plus a slew of other folks!
Please let me know how you are doing in a few weeks, okay?
“Bee” Healthy
Hi i had abscesses, and swelling of the gum, occur just before i found and followed your remedy, before i was using willow bark tincture, and oak bark mouth wash to control pain, as well as chewing on garlic and fresh sage leaf (carefully in order to slow release!!) for 1 week prior to seeing this post, whilst i controled the pain very affectively abscesses then decided to form and the swelling began three days before i came accross your post, and at that point had been booked in with a dentist, as i didnt believe anything else could work, they left me waiting three weeks for an appointment, so at this point i was days away from attemding, and i have to say after just 2 days on this treatment method the swelling went down the pain left, my only addition being continueation and use of willow bark tincture, anyway i wish to offer thanks to you for providing this information, as it has averted what “could have been a desaster”, as it is i delayed the dentists for a week to see what would happen (i am now considering perhaps longer should this method actually acheive more i.e. cavity healing, how long would be the question?), as i may need teeth removing bit late in the day to find this out for me in some ways but i could be wrong, my partner was also impressed, teeth whiter, and gums helthier after just 4 days, so i must say i am impressed with this method and MUST offer thanks to those sharing this information, as i believe a dentist would have tried to do other things that may yet not be needed.
Hello Ieuan: Wow – what a wonderful experience you shared. It’s amazing how something as simple as honey can be so powerful for healing. Thanks so much for sharing.
Bev
…in addition i have found a treatment that can work alongside manuka… using egg shells (crushed and ground down into a fine powder, research suggests DUCK egg shells are best apposed to chicken, due to a higher nutrient and calcium content, suppose i will find out) and the use of comfrey root – 1 square inch daily (if dried rehydrate! or use fresh, made into a mouthwash and spat out one done DO NOT INGEST, helps avoid problems!), although a this should only be done ONCE a day to avoid the comfrey root causing damage to the liver, and as its only advised to consume ONE egg shell (ground down, either with food or in a smoothie) per day, or too much egg shell nutrients can cause calorie levels to become too high and cause adverse effects High blood pressure etc (i suggest you do your own research first before trying a sarting point is this page “forget filling cavities:…”: https://www.naturalnews.com/029112_teeth_regeneration.html#)
this is reported to heal MOST cavities, ie it may not heal all, but i will let you know how that one goes! Alot has to do with diet as well, i leraned this fact from a chinese doctor, as brief and basic as i can make it: they dont pull teeth, they view most problems should be treated not just at the source of the pain (like westen medicine using pill for symptoms!) but they believe there is usually problems that lie within the body, just for e.g. circulation, and they will use accupuncture around the body following the nerves, or “flow of body energy” and prescribe mixed medicines over a five week period that follow the rules of the eliments of e.g. earth fire wind water earth sky and repeat as needed they use willow bark duck eggs amongst other things in their medicines and its ceturies old , but by god do they work! (but word of the wise one side effect of these medicines is a scruched face, as they taste horrible and you need a strong gag reflex, but as my grandmother used to say the worse somthing taste…the better it is for you…and you know what it took me many years to realise this to be the truth with some things…anyway)! So its worth a visit IF you can afford it, but for those that cant these holistic treatments are far better on the pocket, BUT DO YOUR RESEARCH AND LEARN TO DO THINGS PROPERLY whilst cheaper there IS ALOT TO LEARN AND ITS IMPORTANT TO DO SO SOME PLANTS in herbalism if wrongly used will cause harm if not used wisely sensibly and correctly (just thought id throw that in as some may be seeking for other treatments involving other things)…ITS YOUR LIFE YOU BODY BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY YOUR RESPONSIBILITY! anyway thanks for your time i will keep you updated (PLEASE NOTE: i am learning and sharing information from experience, and the information i provide is brief so be aware inacurracy is possible PLEASE RESEARCH WHAT I SAY FIRST BEFORE FOLLOWING ME PERSONALLY.) many thanks for your time and patience, ieuan.
Dear Ieuan: Thanks for your thorough information about healing cavities the natural way..fascinating stuff!! I agree that cavities can indeed heal and don’t necessarily need to be pulled. And please keep me updated on your healing journey because I’m learning so much from you.
Bev
I’ve recently been to the dentist after almost 2 yrs and chose an NHS one closer to home. My last dentist told me that I had the beginnings of gum disease and I needed a better regime for my teeth cleaning. ( I already use floss or interdental brush and have an electric toothbrush) So I upped the care and because I am now retired haven’t been for sometime due to finances. I had had a swollen gum on one side for a couple of months and decided as I couldn’t get rid of it with Corsodyl I’d better go. The new dentist took 2 x rays and then praised me for the excellent condition of my teeth! That was great but then he said I had bad gum disses and needed surgery from a peridontist. It was too bad for him to be able to do properly. He said it would probe rely be around £300/400 . I felt like crying. I have no savings. I’ve always worked and thought I’d be able to get this on the NHS. He said to go and get them to look anyway as it was free to have the first consultation. When I rang I was told that it was £150 for first consultation. I haven’t got that and it would take longer than the time it would for my teeth to drop out! I guess I’d get help if I was younger and jobless. I didn’t realise how wretched it can be to be an OAP. I had to retire early due to spinal stenosis and osteoporosis arthritis when I was 63. I was a palliative care nurse and thought I’d be able to work for many more years. I haven’t been able to get my glasses ( free eye test!) I have the prescription. Sorry I hate whingers but am so upset that I can’t get the help I need from NHS when I’ve paid in all those years. I am trying the Manuka honey which was a.present! Let’s see what happens.
Dear Pat: So sorry about your problems with your teeth and finances. How frustrating. One practice that has worked for us is oil pulling. It is easy to do and inexpensive (just need a bottle of oil). In addition to the honey, the oil pulling works wonders. If your gum disease is bad, you may even try adding tea tree, clove or oil of oregano (a few drops) to the oil and you will have a powerful helper. If you are unfamiliar, try Googling it. Manuka honey has worked very well for my husband. You are flossing and using an electric toothbrush, so you are ahead of the curve. And if you can, seek a second opinion. It’s not uncommon for one dentist to say you have perio and another dentist will say your gums are okay.
Hope this helps!!
Dear pat,
My heart goes out to you ! I am terribly sorry for your situation. For my dental care I use baby brushes that are soft and a mix of clove oil with Manuka honey . One or two drop of each is enough. You can even brush your tounge gently to get rid off the bacteria…since you are sensitive be gentle brushing … I personally don’t like electric brushes , too abrasive for my taste. Some rinse after brushing like myself , and some people suggest not to. I guess it is a personal preference . Use waxed floss , it glides easier. I hope this would be of help to you. All the best and God bless.
i have bleeding gums how should i apply the honey
Dear Yasu: After brushing your teeth, take some honey on your fingers and just massage your gums with it. You can spit, but you don’t need to rinse. I’m sorry for your problem with your gums. To help further, please read and also Also, please google “oil pulling”. It is one of the most popular remedies for teeth and gum health.
I wish you well!
Is the honey ok to leave on the gums and teeth, or do you rinse after a period of time? I’m struggling with receding gums and thin enamel and can’t take a chance on hurting my teeth any more than they are already. I have the manuka honey and I’m desperate for it to do it’s magic.
Hi Brenda. After applying the honey on the gum and teeth, you can spit, but you don’t need to rinse. I’m sorry for your problem with your gums. To help further, please read , and . Also, please google “oil pulling”. It is one of the most popular remedies for teeth and gum health.
I wish you well!
Does this work for gingivitis
Hi Phillip: Gingivitis is much easier to cure than periodontal disease. Please read my post and , and .
Hope this helps!
I have gum disease an bad breath been like this for a while do you think it’s too late for trying to cure this
Hi Phillip: Sorry about your gum disease, and no it is not too late to get a healthy mouth again. Please read my additional article . Let me know your results!!
Hi there thank you for the information, after some time from making this post I wanted to know how your husbands gums are now. Have they fully healed and has he no more gum and bleeding issues?
I too have for the last 10 years been suffering from gum disease and I have started to do what you stated to do for a couple of days now, only I’m using organic honey not exactly the specific brand you said to, but will if I see no improvements. Just wanted to know how’s it going now. Thanks a lot appreciate it.
Dear Messi: During the last visit to the dentist (about 8 months ago), he had absolutely no signs of gum disease. We were very happy. In addition to the honey, he makes sure he doesn’t use regular toothpaste but uses baking soda, sea salt and other natural products to help his teeth and gums. See my other articles and
how often can you rub manuka honey on your gums. I have a gum infection. thank you
Hi Julie: Please see my other post about how to care for the gums, what to brush with, etc., on the page – Best Natural Cure For Gum Disease. It mentions Dr. Mercola’s findings too.
Hope this helps, and thanks for your question, Julie 🙂
How do you use mankua honey as a mouthwash???
Dear Josh: To make a manuka honey mouthwash, just dilute it with water. You can also add just a bit of apple cider vinegar to this wash for an excellent, potent mouthwash.
Hope this helps!
Bev