By John Salak –
Death is said to come from the mouth because it is a gateway for various bacteria that can lead to harmful diseases. Want proof? Periodontal disease—gum disease—can lead to diabetes and heart disease. There are lots of other dreadful links as well.
Brushing and flossing daily are good ways to foster oral health, but some people are opting for a slicker way to a clean and healthy mouth. They are relying on oil pulling, which involves taking about a tablespoon of kitchen oil like sunflower oil, coconut oil or sesame oil and swishing it in their mouths for five to twenty minutes before spitting it out.
The good news is that oil pulling will freshen a person’s mouth. The bad part is that a mouthful of oil is not a one-stop fix for achieving perfect oral health.
The practice may be new to many, but actually, the ritual is part of Ayurvedic medicine, a form of Indian medicine designed to relieve anxiety that dates back thousands of years. Today, it is seen as a natural remedy to eliminate bad breath, reduce gum disease, whiten teeth and eliminate blood toxins.
The perceived power of oil pulling’s benefits is mixed. There is no scientific evidence that supports claims it can whiten teeth or eliminate toxins in the blood. There is, however, some research that backs up the notion that oil pulling can reduce gum disease and eliminate bad breath.
Many mouth issues, for example, stem from a buildup of bacteria. One of the most common of these bacteria is Streptococcus Mutans or S.mutans. It often causes tooth decay, gum inflammation and plaque buildup. Oil pulling with coconut oil may help because it contains a large amount of lauric acid, which has antimicrobial properties. While more research on oil pulling is needed, a 2016 study found that using coconut oil in the practice significantly reduced the amount of S.mutans in the mouths of study participants.
Among other things, the study found that this resulted in less plague, gum inflammation and bacteria among its participants. Cutting down on bacteria also reduced the chances of gasses generated in the mouth, which helped prevent bad breath. The research concluded that using coconut oil during oil pulling was at a minimum a safe alternative to mouthwash.
The practice may have additional unsubstantiated benefits as well that are yet to be backed by research. Ultimately, however, the drawbacks appear to be limited, giving oil pulling a pass even among skeptical oral health care professionals.
“If a patient with excellent oral hygiene and healthy gums and teeth tells me they’re oil pulling, there’s no reason to stop doing it,” noted Dr. Matthew J Messina, an assistant professor and clinic director at Ohio State Upper Arlington Dentistry and a spokesperson for the American Dental Association.
Ultimately, oil pulling is not a magic bullet when it comes to oral health. It does not fix cavities or is considered a treatment for gum disease. But as part of a daily routine that includes brushing teeth daily, oil pulling just may provide a slick way to help maintain healthy oral hygiene.
