The Internet is riddled with miracle cures and solutions. Oil pulling is one such thing hyped by many online gurus, and even celebrities are big proponents of it. Therefore, many individuals practice oil pulling as a part of their dental routine. However, is there any scientific evidence to back this practice, or is it just another fad? Let’s discuss these important questions about oil pulling in this article.
What’s Oil Pulling?
Oil pulling is an ancient Indian technique quite similar to using mouthwash. However, in this ayurvedic practice, people don’t use chemicals but use oils instead. Pulling oil through your teeth will remove debris, plaque and dissolve bacteria in the oil. In this way, oil pulling is supposed to clean your mouth.
Several kinds of vegetable oils can be used for this practice, such as sesame oil or coconut oil. Nonetheless, coconut oil is the users’ favorite because of its pleasant taste.
How to Oil Pull: All you need is to swish around in your mouth a teaspoon of oil for 15 – 20 minutes. After giving the oil a nice swirl, spit it out. We recommend you spit out the oil on a piece of tissue or in the bin. This is because regularly spitting fat in the drain can clog the pipes over time.
Benefits Of Oil Pulling:
Now, let’s discuss some benefits of oil pulling according to research and scientific data.
Oil Pulling For Cavities:
S.mutans is a notorious bacteria found in saliva that lead to plaque buildup and tooth decay. A study comprising 60 individuals showed promising results. There was a significant drop in the concentration of S.mutans in saliva two weeks after practicing oil pulling. The control group was asked to do the same with distilled water.
Oil Pulling For Gum Diseases:
In a few studies, oil pulling was proven effective against gingivitis in adolescent boys with plaque-induced gingivitis. These studies showed that oil pulling was as effective as standard chlorhexidine mouthwash.
Oil Pulling For Bad Breath:
Bad breath is a common problem with several causes. However, a critical reason for bad breath is bacterial buildup that releases foul gases and odor. As we have discussed previously, oil pulling can stop some rampant bad bacteria in the mouth. Inevitably, this will affect the eminence of bad breath from one’s mouth.
That’s pretty much all the benefits, according to research. More well-structured research is needed to study the benefits of oil pulling further. Much online literature makes extensive claims on the benefits of oil pulling, such as whole-body detoxification. However, there are no studies to back the benefits of oil pulling outside oral hygiene.
Conclusion:
According to evidence so far, it’s not a bad idea to inculcate the habit of oil pulling in your dental care routine. However, it’s not an alternative to brushing, so brushing your teeth daily should be your top priority. Moreover, do give your dentist regular visits for scientifically backed advice for your dental problems. You can give Brookshire Smile Dental a visit or call us at 281-934-1010 for more inquiries.