Teething - Should You Consider Essential Oils?

It is amazing what advice you can find on the internet. I am all for DIY solutions to home improvement problems, but for essential oil advice, or any medical advice for that matter.... Why put your health and safety in the hands of an unqualified stranger? Anyone and everyone can make essential oil recommendations these days, and they do. Please be careful and do your own research. Especially when using these highly concentrated, potent, natural oils on anyone, including small children.

Essential oils for teething keeps popping up on my radar. Please don't put oils in your mouth, or that of your baby. I did a google search for essential oils and teething, the sheer number of results were incredible. The advice, ASTONISHING. Here are 2 examples I randomly chose. Please NEVER follow either. Both photos have been cropped to remove the names of who made them, it is not my intention to embarrass anyone.

If you have ever applied clove or thieves to your adult gums (I highly do not recommend this), you already know that it burns like crazy. Even heavily diluted. Think about baby gums, think about the strongest thing that has ever been given them. Milk. Can you imagine the pain and agony you could inflict by applying these essential oils to such a young, already inflamed mouth?! I shudder to even think about it. I just had dental surgery and and acquaintance told me to apply a drop to my surgical sites, it will kill bacteria and help the area heal. I politely declined. No, clove essential oil will never be applied in mine or the mouths of my family.

According to the book, Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Edition by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, clove bud essential oil should not be used on children under 2 years of age. Also, it has a maximum dermal limit of 0.5% which is 4.5 drops of essential oil in 1 ounce of carrier oil. Cinnamon, which is an ingredient in thieves oil has a 0.07% maximum dermal limit. That is 1 drop in 50 ml of carrier oil.

So, let's break this down. The above recipe states to dilute to 1:5, which is 1/5, or one drop of essential oil per 4 drops of carrier oil. Let's say that there are 200 drops in 10ml. 200 divided by 5 is 40. The recipe above states you should add 40 drops of essential oil to a 10 ml bottle and fill the rest with carrier oil. That is a 20% dilution which is far too high for a baby, especially with these hot oils.

Please do not take the advice of a well meaning friend, or acquaintance in a Facebook group. Do you own research and NEVER, EVER, apply essential oils in the mouth of your baby. Consult with a qualified aromatherapist, FIRST.

Wetting 1/2 of a clean wash cloth and placing it in the freezer until the wet side is frozen is an excellent way to help calm those swollen gums. Also, an amber necklace may help as well. If you have any questions, please send me an email at melissa@sweetwillowspirit.com. If you would like to order pure essential oils, click HERE. Have a wonderful day!

Love and light, Melissa

Caution: The material on this page is not meant to take the place of diagnosis and treatment by a qualified medical practitioner. Since the actual use of this product by others is beyond our control, no expressed or implied guarantee as to the effects of their use can be given nor liability taken. Use at your own discretion. Any application of the recommendations is at the user’s risk. Sweet Willow Spirit, LLC disclaims any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of this information and assumes no responsibility for any actions taken. This should not be used in place of traditional therapies but solely as a complementary means for bringing well-being. The FDA has not evaluated the statements on this website. No claims are made as to any medicinal value of any oil or healing modality.