How Oil Pulling Functions.
Even moderate gum disease symptoms are common in American adults, yet beautiful teeth are more important to them than gingivitis. In the United States, yearly spending on over-the-counter teeth whitening solutions exceeds $1.4 billion (not including the cost of using professionals to do the task).
What if you could whiten your teeth while also eliminating germs that cause illness and cavities? We’d all join up, even you. The idea behind oil pulling, which involves washing your mouth with oil, is to get whiter teeth, a healthier mouth, and a better body.
Oil pulling is not new, despite what is popular online; it has been used in Ayurvedic treatment for centuries. Ayurveda, in contrast to the Western medicine that most of us are used to, takes a more holistic approach to mending the body, customizing treatments for your body type and constitution, and typically emphasizing illness prevention.
In India, it has been practiced for at least 3,000 years and perhaps closer to 5,000. As a result, traditional Indian medicine, often known as TIM, is among the oldest medical systems used by humans throughout history.
In Ayurvedic medicine, using oils on and in the body is a common practice; oils are used as part of a daily ritual called dinacharya (as a part of daily morning massage, as well as a remedy for sore joints or irritated skin).
The fact that old Ayurvedic teachings recommend swishing or keeping oil in your mouth to avoid oral health issues including foul breath (halitosis), cavities, and gum disease is thus not surprising. These techniques are known as Kavala Graha and Gandusha (gingivitis).
While Gandhi and Kavala Graha are very different, they are thinking of gargling techniques rather than pulling. Gandusha entails putting oil in your mouth and keeping it there for three minutes before spitting it out. In Kavala Graha, the oil must be swished about for three minutes before being gargled and spat.
You may still do oil pulling today without gargling, but you’ll need more ingredients from your pantry than from the dental care section.
Oil Pulling Methodology
Only a spoonful of oil and 20 minutes of your time are needed for oil pulling. The goal is to “draw” or suck the oil between your teeth while you rinse. Spit the remaining oil into a cup or the garbage (don’t spit it into the sink unless you want to explain to a plumber how your pipes became stuck), then rinse. Now, look at those brilliant white teeth.
The oil you choose should be vegetable-based; sesame and coconut oils in particular have been shown to offer health advantages, maybe including benefits for your mouth. However, if olive or sunflower oil (for example) is more delectable, it won’t do any damage.
There is no strict guideline as to how much oil you should use, so start with the suggested tablespoon and cut down if the mouthfeel is an issue (or your gag reflex). It may take a few attempts before getting acclimated to how the oil feels, according to some adopters of the technique. According to some studies, tugging for 10 minutes as opposed to the usual 20 might still have positive effects.
Oil pulling may be compared to mouthwash (except replace the minty-fresh liquid with a tablespoon of oil).
The procedure is said to be antibacterial and removes plaque and food particles from the interior of your mouth in addition to being thought to be a therapy for around 30 systemic disorders.
And there may be some truth to that; periodontal disease and poor dental health have been connected to overall bad health, which may have an impact on your body’s capacity to fight off infections and inflammatory conditions.
Patients who have more harmful bacteria in their mouths are more likely to have atherosclerosis, a neck artery stiffening, detected [source: Griffin]. And other health conditions are also impacted. Several malignancies and the number of teeth you’ve lost are related, according to a small number of studies:
According to the American Academy of Periodontology, males who have gum disease had a 30% higher risk of blood malignancies, a 49% higher risk of kidney cancer, and a 54% higher risk of pancreatic cancer.
Additionally, those who have lost between six and fifteen teeth have a twofold increased chance of developing esophageal cancer.
Utilization of Oil Pulling
According to research, oil pulling may really be a useful strategy for preserving a bright smile.
According to research, oil pulling may really be a useful strategy for preserving a bright smile.
The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects that have been seen for thousands of years are supported by some fascinating, though early, findings.
According to studies on the technique, oil pulling may be nearly as efficient as chlorhexidine mouthwash for preventing bad breath, plaque, receding gums, and gum disease, as well as the bacterium that causes cavities, Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans).
Let’s consider it in context. Gum disease is treated using chlorhexidine mouthwash, a chemical rinse with high-grade antibacterial and antiseptic properties. Compared to an over-the-counter breath freshener, it is more potent. Similar effects are seen when sesame oil is swished about; however, unlike chlorhexidine mouthwash, which has been linked to discoloration, sesame oil used in oil pulling may whiten teeth.
Because this polyunsaturated fat has some notable health-beneficial properties, such as magnesium (for lowering blood pressure and glucose levels, as well as for good respiratory health), zinc and copper for bone health, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, sesame oil (unrefined, and not toasted) is most commonly used in oil pulling.
A few studies have also shown promise for the antibacterial effects of coconut oil, which is solid at room temperature.
In tiny research done at Loma Linda University, individuals who gargled with sesame oil or coconut oil had five times less harmful germs in their mouths than those who gargled solely with water. These participants’ lips had two times less germs.
In addition, coconut oil contains a lot of lauric acids, an antibacterial substance.
While there is no evidence to support the claim made by some oil-pulling proponents that plaque in your mouth will dissolve in fat, other theories contend that bacteria will adhere to the oil-saliva combination that forms in your mouth.
Saliva does more than merely keep your mouth wet; it may be drawn to the oil. It’s antibacterial, which means it kills oral bacteria; it’s also abundant in salivary proteins, which prevent cavities; and minerals, which support dental enamel .
It seems that adding oil to the mouth reduces the number of germs there, but it’s crucial to emphasize that there are few studies to support the science behind the anecdotal data. It will need ongoing study with a larger audience to demonstrate any potential advantages of oil pulling.
As long as you continue your normal brushing and flossing routines (and don’t ingest the oil), there is no harm in swishing with sesame or coconut oil in the meantime.
a lot more details
Note from the Author: Oil Pulling Mechanism
Any effort to lessen the number of germs on your teeth isn’t always a bad thing, right? Each tooth in your mouth has between 1,000 and 100,000 bacteria living on it, and that’s with a clean mouth. But if you do decide to attempt oil pulling, remember to continue cleaning and flossing your teeth every day as usual.
