Oil pulling may lower your risk of developing some illnesses and lessen the bad germs in your mouth. However, there is no proof that it whitens teeth or extracts toxins from the blood.
An age-old Indian folk cure called oil pulling is said to significantly enhance oral health, whiten teeth, soothes dry skin, fixes heart issues, fixes digestive issues, improves acne, and refresh breath.
What is oil pulling and how does it work?
Swishing oil around the lips like mouthwash is known as “oil pulling.” Indian folk medicine has been using it for thousands of years. Oil pulling’s primary advantage is that it lowers the quantity of dangerous germs in the mouth.
Your mouth is home to hundreds of different kinds of germs. Some are amiable, but many are not. Plaque is a thin layer of biofilm that is formed on your teeth by oral bacteria.
Plaque on your teeth is quite common, but if it becomes excessive, it can lead to a number of issues, such as: gum inflammation such as gingivitis, cavities, gum disease, and foul breath.
The process of oil pulling is straightforward: the germs are whisked away and disintegrate in the liquid oil when you swish the oil around your mouth.
Although practically any oil should work for oil pulling, extra-virgin coconut oil is a popular option because of its delicious flavor. Additionally, it has a good fatty acid profile with high levels of lauric acid, an antibacterial substance.
How to do oil pulling?
To give oil pulling a try:
- Put 15 milliliters (1 tablespoon) of oil in your mouth.
- For fifteen to twenty minutes, swish the oil around your mouth.
- Brush your teeth after spitting out the oil.
- Spitting the oil onto a piece of paper and discarding it is the best option because it could eventually clog your pipes.
Excessive force is not required. Relax a little if oil pulling makes your facial muscles hurt. Next time, try using less oil and swiping it around with less power.
Before cleaning your teeth, some people advise oil pulling on an empty stomach. Many people do it in the morning while taking a bath or shower.
Benefits
It could get rid of dangerous bacteria
Oil pulling’s primary claim is to remove oral bacteria by pulling them out. Although there will always be some bacteria in your mouth, oil pulling may help reduce the amount of dangerous bacteria.
Your mouth is home to hundreds of different kinds of bacteria, both good and bad. You frequently experience tooth decay, gum disease, and foul breath when dangerous bacteria proliferate as a result of poor brushing habits or a high sugar intake.
It might lessen inflammation of the gums
Gingivitis, a condition where your gums get inflamed and bleed, can also be brought on by bacteria that remain in plaque. By reducing the microorganisms that might cause gum disease, oil pulling may help lessen the inflammation linked to gum disease.
It could stop tooth decay
Using coconut oil for oil pulling can help lessen oral bacteria that are frequently the cause of tooth decay. Because bacteria buildup causes dental damage, oil pulling may help lower your risk of cavities.
Could enhance general health
Some ayurveda practitioners assert that oil pulling helps with ailments like headaches, diabetes, and asthma in addition to dental health.
Indeed, maintaining a healthy tongue is essential to general health and wellbeing. Gum and tooth issues may be the first sign of heart disease and stroke, among other health issues.
Side effects – Is It safe to use?
The idea that oil pulling helps whiten teeth is one that is frequently made. There are currently no studies that support this advantage.
Additionally, some people think that oil pulling is a detoxification method that removes poisons from the blood. This notion is unsupported by any evidence.
Lastly, there is no scientific proof that this treatment is effective for digestive conditions or any other conditions other than oral health issues.
Conclusion
To promote the health of your teeth and gums, you can do oil pulling by swishing edible oil in your mouth and then spitting it out. The method, which has its roots in ancient Indian traditional medicine known as Ayurveda, usually uses coconut, sesame, or sunflower oil.
Oil pulling proponents assert that the procedure can “pull” dangerous bacteria out of your mouth for a more radiant smile. There is, however, little proof that oil pulling might enhance dental health.
Due to a lack of clinical proof, the American Dental Association does not promote oil pulling. However, it shouldn’t cause any harm if a patient thinks it’s helping and keeps up their regular dental care regimen.
