Oil pulling-Is it beneficial to your oral health?
I am always looking for natural products and remedies to add to my practice. I get questions all the time about different products and practices. I do my best to keep up;) I have researched oil pulling and have many clients who do it and swear by the results. Many people are trying to stay healthy and dedicated to keeping their habits as natural as possible. At Embrace Dental Hygiene I incorporate many natural products to help meet the needs and preferences of my clients. I match the care to the client. I am big believer in the benefits of essential oils, aromatherapy and other natural remedies. Oil pulling is something that consistently comes up when we talk about natural oral health practices. But is it for you? That depends on what you are attempting to accomplish.

What is it?

What is oil pulling? Well its an old Ayurvedic practice revisited. Using an edible oil (usually coconut, sesame,or olive) and vigorously swishing with it for 2-20 minutes. Read a little more here. Adding an essential oil that has healing or antibacterial properties is something else to consider. Just ensure you are choosing a good quality oil and using a small amount.

The bottom line.

Well here’s the facts from the view of a dental hygienist on this practice. Any vigorous swishing with liquid of any kind is going to have some efficacy in disruption of biofilm. Biofilm is the soft deposit that accumulates on the teeth minutes after brushing. The bacteria wants quiet and stillness in order to do its dirty work. Our job to prevent disease is to keep things moving around with our oral hygiene habits ie. brushing, flossing, rinsing even chewing vigorously has some cleansing benefits. But the harder deposits like calculus, stain, and plaque will be unaffected by this process. The only way to remove this accumulation is mechanical debridement or teeth cleaning.

Will it reduce inflammation?

Absolutely! With regular consistent practice I believe oil pulling will improve the condition of the gums and reduce the amount of bacteria in the oral cavity. And this in turn has a positive effect on your overall health. Inflammation in the mouth is linked to a plethora of systemic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, cancer etc.

Will it heal cavities?

Cavities are demineralization of the enamel on the teeth. Enamel is a mineral and early demineralization or decay is reversible with replacement of the minerals that have been lost and elimination of the cause. The damage is sometimes still visible even though the process has been arrested. Once decay has progressed beyond a certain point it can not be reversed. It requires repair or a filling. No amount of swishing or cleaning will reverse a large cavity. They key is to catch it before this point. Enter regular professional preventative care.

Consistently practicing anything is likely going to have an effect. But will it be what you want? Dependent upon what type of oil you choose and coconut oil has proven antibacterial properties there will be benefits. Work with your practitioner to determine if the benefits justify the effort. It may not be a visible difference it may just be in how you feel about your mouth. See Antibacterial effects of coconut oil. Adding an essential oil that has healing or antibacterial properties is something else to consider. Just ensure you are choosing a good quality oil and using a small amount.

Use Caution

As with any other practice use caution if oil pulling is something you would like to try. There have been reports of adverse reactions to this practice such as severe stomach upset and diarrhea when used incorrectly. Visit the ADA website and read their study on this practice. Other essential oil rinses that contain thymol, eucalyptol, and menthol do in fact have proven benefit with regular use twice daily for 30 seconds. Conventional rinses may also contain preservatives, alcohol,  and coloring agents which may be something you want to avoid.

Want more info Contact me!  519-736-1100 Jennifer Mayhew, RDH

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