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It is said that this method whitens teeth, makes breath from the mouth fresher and overall leads to a massive improvement in oral hygiene.
Personally I have been doing it for 10 days and am more than satisfied with the result.
What is oil pulling and how does it work?
It is an Indian folk medicine that has existed here for thousands of years. It is based on rinsing the mouth with oil.
Usually one tablespoon of oil is used for 15 to 20 minutes and then spat out. The main benefit is that this activity reduces the amount of harmful bacteria in the mouth.
There are thousands of types of oral bacteria – some are friendly, others harmful.
Harmful bacteria in the mouth create a so‑called biofilm on the teeth. In other words, a certain coating that they adhere to.
Mild plaque is not harmful, but if there is too much of it the situation gets out of control. Then problems follow such as:
- bad breath
- yellowing of the teeth
- gum inflammation
- periodontitis
- dental cavities
The way the oil works is very simple — when you rinse your mouth with it, bacteria get trapped in the oil. You then remove them by spitting the oil out.
After each rinse you thus get rid of a large number not only of bacteria, but also of plaque.
Which oil to use?
I personally use coconut oil. Indians used other types of oils, for example sesame or sunflower. Essentially, any oil should work.
However, coconut oil has many additional benefits.
Lauric acid, which is found in it, has antibiotic effects — it kills bacteria, viruses and fungi. Besides, coconut oil tastes better compared to others.
But let’s now look at what a few studies say about oil pulling…
Reducing harmful bacteria in the mouth
Streptococcus mutans is the main bacterium responsible for plaque and tooth decay.
In a 2008 study, 20 boys using sesame oil achieved a reduction in the number of this bacterium in the mouth after just 2 weeks.
The result was somewhat weaker than mouthwash with chlorhexidine, but it was cheaper and, most importantly, much more pleasant.
Gum inflammation and periodontitis
Gum inflammation occurs when the immune system begins attacking the overgrown bacteria on the gums.
Another study compared oil pulling with mouthwash and found that both methods are equally effective against gum inflammation.
With oil, however, unlike mouthwash, there is no risk of chemical burning of the gums.
Improving bad breath
Bad breath is often (though not always) caused by substances and gases produced by bacteria in the mouth.
It is therefore logical that when you remove part of the bacteria, you also reduce the unpleasant odor.
In a third study of 20 adolescents, oil pulling led to a significant reduction in all measures of oral malodor.
How to do oil pulling?
Oil pulling is extremely simple; just follow these 3 steps:
- Put approximately 1 tablespoon of oil into your mouth.
- Swish the oil in your mouth for 15 to 20 minutes.
- At the end, spit it out and brush your teeth as usual.
If you use coconut oil, you may need to warm and melt it a little in your mouth at first, since it solidifies at room temperatures below 23 degrees.
