LIME TREE LEAF FOR ORAL HYGIENE by Natturly

Lime tree (Citrus aurantifolia) leaf helps keep your teeth and gums healthy. One of the most prominent oral benefits of lime leaf is that it triggers the production of saliva in your mouth just by smelling the gently crushed leaves. The saliva helps dissolve any food particles in your mouth as well as aids in digestion.

It is packed with vitamin C and for this reason, helps prevent the deficiency in this nutrient that can lead to tooth decay, pyorrhea as well as scurvy. Scurvy and pyorrhea can have similar noticeable effects on the teeth and gums. Some of the symptoms of pyorrhea include inflammation of the gums and teeth sockets and may cause loose teeth. Scurvy can cause poor oral health, cracked lips and corners of the mouth, ulcers in the mouth or on the tongue, along with bleeding, swollen, or even spongy gums.



Lime leaf is available in powder and capsule form or as an essential oil. It can be purchased as whole leaves online or you may be able to obtain them from Thai or other Asian supermarkets. You may also consider growing a lime tree from seed to get a fresh supply of lime leaves by planting seeds from a Key lime or the Kaffir lime often used in Thai cuisine. 

When purchasing lime leaf essential oil, look for regular lime leaf essential oil or for an added aromatic and medicinal effect, get Kaffir lime leaf oil (Citrus hystrix) for Kaffir lime leaves health benefits.

If you cannot find limes with seeds in your grocery store and you really want to obtain lime leave by growing them yourself, you can also order  Kaffir lime seeds or regular lime seeds online. 

Just one lime tree can provide the average family with it oral hygiene benefits. The Kaffir lime tree may be the best option for you to choose if buying the plant or growing from seed because it produces about double the amount lime leaves compared to other lime trees. This is important to consider if you will be using lime leaves you grow yourself on a regular basis, to ensure you have an adequate supply.

To use lime leaf as an herbal remedy for good oral hygiene and to prevent scurvy you can use several methods:

·         Try rubbing fresh lime leaf on your teeth and gums for an easy daily regime.

·         You can take lime leaves internally by taking capsules as recommended on the bottle.

·         Crush ten (10) young leaves into a powder and consuming three times per day.

·         Chewing lime leaves helps cleanse the teeth as well as prevents nausea, upset stomach and vomiting.

·         Alternatively, you can make lime leaf tea by bringing water to a boil, then pour the hot water over 4-6 leaves and let steep. Sweeten with raw cane sugar to taste or enjoy the natural taste of lime leaf tea as is.

·         Lime leaf essential oil is another great way to add this herb to your dental hygiene routine. Dilute a few drops of lime tree leaf essential oil into carrier oil or sea salt to make a natural herbal tooth cleanser.

There are no known or reported side effects associated with using lime leaf oil. However, it has been stated that Kaffir lime leaves used in excess can cause too much acidity.