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practice of oil pulling when used in
conjunction with ongoing brushing,
flossing, and dental visits. While
writing this article, I tried it for
myself, using coconut oil and readily
admit that my mouth felt clean and
refreshed, plus the oil had soothed
my winter-chapped lips. If you do
decide to give oil pulling a try, do
so as a supplement to your regular
dental routine, and be sure to discuss
with your dentist.
Oil Pulling for Oral Health
The thought of swishing oil around
your mouth for up to twenty minutes may not sound appealing, but
Ayurvedic practitioners have been
advocating it for several thousand
years. According to the Journal of
Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine,
oil pulling “is claimed to cure about
30 systemic diseases ranging from
headache, migraine to diabetes and
asthma. Oil pulling has been used
extensively as a traditional Indian folk
remedy for many years to prevent
decay, oral malodor, bleeding gums,
dryness of throat, cracked lips and
for strengthening teeth, gums and
the jaw.” But what on earth is it and is
there any science behind it?
Oil pulling is simply using a tablespoon of oil as a form of mouth rinse.
According to Ayurvedic medicine,
which originated in India, the oil can
pull germs and bacteria from your
gums and teeth. When you spit out
the oil, you remove this bacteria and
plaque, thereby reducing the chance
of gingivitis and other oral health
problems. Many report whiter teeth,
fresher breath, and healthier gums.
Some who do this on a regular basis
even claim that it has reduced sinus
problems and helped lessen arthritic
pain.
So if you decide to give oil pulling
a try, how do you do it? Traditionally,
sesame or sunflower oils are used,
although many people now use unrefined coconut oil for its antimicrobial
properties. Put a tablespoon of the oil
in your mouth and swish it around
for 10 to 20 minutes, making sure to
get it into all the nooks and crannies.
Apparently, you do not want to gargle
with it since that would be carrying
the toxic bacteria to your throat. You
can do this while you are in the shower. After, spit out the oil (into the
bin rather than into a drain or toilet
which can clog), and brush your teeth
as usual. Do not swallow the oil.
But is there any real science to
back this up beyond the admittedly
impressive anecdotal evidence? Very
little research has been done, (some
argue because there is little profit
potential), but there are a few studies
from India. One triple-blind study
looked at the effects of oil pulling
on plaque-induced gingivitis in 20
adolescent boys, and compared the
efficacy of the method with using a
chlorhexidine mouthwash. The findings, reported in a 2009 issue of the
Indian Journal of Dental Research,
showed a statistically significant
reduction in plaque and gingivitis
when oil pulling or chlorhexidine
were used. Researchers concluded
that oil pulling was as effective as a
chlorhexidine mouthwash in reducing plaque-based gingivitis. Another
study by the same researchers,
whose results were included in a
2011 Journal of the Indian Society
of Pedodontics and Preventive
Dentistry, showed that oil pulling
was as effective as chlorhexidine
mouthwash in treating and preventing halitosis.
So bottom line? A discussion
among dental hygienists in RDH
Magazine (www.rdhmag.com) again
recounted some promising results
in patients who had adopted the
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By Fiona Young-Brown
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