Oil pulling or oil swishing is a traditional Indian folk remedy that has been practised for many years where oil is "swished around" (kavala graha) or "held" (snigda gandoosha) in the mouth.
The technique of oil pulling involves sipping and sucking or "pulling between teeth" one tablespoon of oil in the oral cavity, such as coconut oil, sesame oil, or sunflower oil, for approximately 15-20 minutes then spitting it out. It is believed to "pull out" harmful microorganisms or toxins from the blood through a possible saponification and emulsification process involving the fatty lipids in the microorganism and toxins' membrane layer.
Individuals who often practice this non-scientifically proven remedy believe that it acts as a great at-home strategy for maintaining adequate oral hygiene. It is accepted by many users to be safe, affordable, and holistic with no negative side-effects. Furthermore, users who practice oil pulling believe that it contributes to a variety of medicinal benefits, such as an improvement in their oral health. These benefits include teeth that appear whiter and healthier alongside an increase in the health of the jaws, and gums, as well as a reduced risk for tooth decay, oral malodor, bleeding gums, dry throat, and cracked lips. In addition to its oral benefits, practitioners of oil pulling also claim that it is capable of improving overall systemic health, including an improvement in conditions such as headaches, migraines, diabetes mellitus, asthma, and acne.
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History
Oil pulling stems from traditional Ayurvedic medicine. The word Ayurveda was derived from a Sanskrit word, with "Ayur" meaning life, and Veda meaning knowledge. It connects the body, the mind, and spirit with nature. In traditional Ayurveda, gargling treatments like kavala graha and gandusha are used to rebalance various doshas. Ayurveda does not recommend general treatments blindly for everyone, but, rather, health is held to be very individualistic, and the dominant dosha in both the individual and nature determines health care, including dental health. As per Ayurvedic literature, sesame oil is one among many medicinal fluids recommended for daily preventive use, as well as seasonal use to reduce the feeling of dryness (vata dosha) in the oral cavity and to help reduce inflammation and a burning sensation in the mouth. In case of specific issues, Ayurvedic practitioners might also suggest other treatments such as coconut oil and sunflower oil or other herbalized oils after proper diagnosis of the specific ailment or dosha.
Historically, India has used oil pulling as a different approach in preserving oral health and it is now growing in popularity in the 21st century. It is considered the "world's oldest medical system" and emerged about 3000-5000 years ago. It is a practice that uses herbs, plants, and spices as natural medicine. Although it is controversial in the world of dentistry with there being limited resources to support its efficacy, it is said that it can be used as an adjunct therapy to conventional dental home care therapies in the reduction of bacterial load in the oral cavity. It's growing popularity is a result of the fact that it is cost-effective, easily accessible, and contains natural ingredients.
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Effectiveness
Due to its current hike in popularity, the claims made for the benefits of oil pulling are increasing, as there have been a handful of recent studies revealing credible claims on the effects of oil pulling with regards to the health of the oral cavity.
Daily practice of the oil pulling remedy has revealed a significant decrease in gingivitis, plaque bacteria, and the total colony count of microorganisms contained in the dental plaque of individuals with plaque-induced gingivitis. Furthermore, oil pulling in conjunction to daily brushing could have the potential to function as a routine oral hygiene measure, as it may be as potentially effective in reducing plaque-induced gingivitis as compared to using a 0.12% medicated chlorhexidine rinse alone. However, more research is needed to further conclude this, as it has been proven that there are no significant differences in plaque bacteria counts along with gingivitis between oil pulling and chlorhexidine rinses. Oil pulling, however, being a natural and holistic approach, has been said to remove plaque in the oral cavity without the side effects of staining that chlorhexidine rinses alone may cause.
Sesame oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil have an antibacterial role in suppressing disease-causing bacteria in the oral cavity. Coconut oil is said to have anti-cariogenic, antimicrobial, and virucidal properties. Decreasing the bacterial load in the oral cavity has the potential of affecting conditions such as dental cavities, gum disease, as well as bad breath.
Halitosis, also known as "bad breath", is a condition that is caused by various kinds of bacteria, such as Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia, and Tannerella forsythensis. These bacteria can be found in areas of the oral cavity that remain static, such as in periodontal pockets, in interproximal spaces between the gums and teeth, as well as on the dorsal surface of the tongue. Removal of these microbes using the oil pulling method can potentially reduce malodor in the oral cavity without any adverse side effects. The disadvantages of oil pulling may include the lengthy 15 to 20 minute oil pulling process, along with the possibility of the gag reflex being triggered.
In terms of its effectiveness in the removal of dental cavity-causing bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans, oil pulling with sesame oil reveals a statistically significant reduction in the total count of bacteria. Due to insufficient evidence oil pulling alone is not as effective as other methods in reducing an individual's cavity levels in the mouth. Similar to oil pulling, research has shown that probiotics also help to reduce the count of Streptococcus mutans in the oral cavity, suggesting that it may potentially have a positive impact in the prevention of dental cavities. Despite the contrary, flossing alone should never be discouraged, as it is the best method in preventing dental cavities with evidence revealing a strong association existing between both dental floss and cavity prevention.
Possible mechanisms of action
Any mechanism of action for the purported benefits of oil pulling is not clearly defined.
Current trends
Traditionally, sesame oil was used for oil pulling, but recent endorsements by celebrities has resulted in increasing popularity of coconut oil-based oil pulling in the Western world.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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