I get asked all the time about the virtues of Oil Pulling. Does it work? Which is the best oil to use? Will it rid me of my cavities? I decided to do a bit of research.
Oil pulling is an ancient ayurvedic therapy which originated in the East thousands of years ago. It involves the swishing around of oil (sesame, coconut or sunflower) in the mouth for approx. 15-20 minutes, then spitting it out. If done correctly, the viscous oil will become milky white and thinner. It is important to note, the oil is not swallowed as it will contain bacteria and toxins. It is believed by many, to reduce the risk of tooth decay, bad breath, bleeding gums, dry throat, cracked lips and appears to make the teeth whiter.
How oil pulling actually works in unknown. It is thought that the oil is acted on by the salivary alkali in the mouth and saponification (“Soap making”) is initiated. Saponification is defined as a chemical reaction in which an ester is heated with an alkali. Emulsification is initiated and the oil is broken down into minute droplets and the surface area of the oil is increased. This allows the oils to attract the lipid layer of bacterial cell membranes, and causes it to stick and get “pulled” to the oil. The process of emulsification of oil begins upon 5 minutes of oil pulling. The oil will also coat the teeth and gingivae and inhibits bacterial coaggregation and plaque formation. Thus, plaque building bacteria responsible for dental caries, gingivitis, periodontitis and bad breath are reduced in number from the oral cavity.
Coconut oil has a high saponification index. It contains lauric acid (which has antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties) which can react with alkalis present in saliva to form sodium-laurate, a soap like substance which reduces plaque adhesion.
With its increase in popularity in recent times, there has been an influx of small studies on the effects of oil pulling. Although there is no hard evidence of the efficacy of oil pulling, an improvement in oral hygiene has been noticed after practicing the correct method of oil pulling for 2 weeks. So, though limited available research on the effect of oil pulling is available, I think it is safe to surmise that oil pulling shows promising benefits on the oral cavity. It can be performed as recommended, and safely used as an adjunct to maintain good oral hygiene and health along with routine tooth brushing and flossing with promising positive results.