What is Oil Pulling?
Specific oils act as a type of mouthwash that you place in your mouth for an extended time. This cleansing mechanism removes toxins and improves your oral and overall health. Oil pulling is an ancient remedy from India and South Asia dating back 3,000 years ago. This is not a recent fad from yoga retreats in Bel Air. The traditional holistic medicinal practice is called Ayurveda and often contains either sesame or coconut oils to name a few.
Oil Pulling Claims
The benefit claims are as lengthy as any Apple terms & conditions contracts.
Dental assumed cures are multiple: eliminates bad breath, loosens plaque, removes bad bacteria and oral thrush, fights gingivitis, combats dry mouth, stimulates saliva flow, whitens teeth, and improves oral health. It also claims to be just as effective as prescription mouthwash though the results take twice as long as the prescription would.
Systemically it claims to cure or control 30 diseases including headaches, migraine, asthma and diabetes mellitus, improves overall health and causes cheerfulness…no claims of being the fountain of youth.
How to Oil Pull
Before breakfast and ideally in the mornings, swish 1 spoonful of the designated oil in your mouth. Beginners should aim for 3-5 minutes and work their way up to 10-20 minutes. The 2 techniques are to swish or hold the oil in your mouth—there are theorized benefits between those two but not much. Do not spit into the sink since this can ultimately clog. You may rinse with salt water and brush afterwards to remove residual oils. Benefits from oil pulling usually occur between Day 7-40.
Who Could Oil Pull
Anyone really. Many of our thrush and dry mouth patients who are running out of treatment options could consider oil pulling as another means of addressing their concern.
Those that should not oil pull are: 1) anyone younger than 6 and 2) anyone that will stop brushing and flossing and use oil pulling as a replacement.
What the Science Says
There have been inadequate scientific studies that validate oil pulling reduces cavities, whitens teeth, detoxifies your blood, or improves your mouth or overall health. At this time the ADA and the Ayurveda texts encourage oil pulling be used as an adjunct and not replacement to your brushing with fluoride toothpaste 2x/day, flossing daily, and snacking less.
Conclusion
Most science articles and even the Ayurveda texts agree more research needs to be done to validate any oil pulling claims, and that oil pulling should never replace brushing and flossing. Oil pulling may have wonderful benefits but since the science is lacking to validate this practice, Dr Nelson highly recommends just sticking with what we know works to care for your mouth. We neither recommend nor discourage oil pulling, but can have its benefits if done properly.
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