Mini Review

Oil Pulling for Better Oral Health-Myth or Reality?

Vinita A Boloor* and Rajesh R Hosadurga

Department of Periodontology, Yenepoya Dental College, India

Submission: February 10, 2017; Published: August 13, 2018

*Corresponding author: Vinita Boloor, Associate Professor, Department of Periodontology, Yenepoya Dental College, Mangalore, India, Tel: +919845114652; Email: drvinita@gmail.com

How to cite this article: Vinita A B, Rajesh R H. Oil Pulling for Better Oral Health-Myth or Reality?. J Complement Med Alt Healthcare. 2018; 6(4): 555693. DOI: 10.19080/JCMAH.2018.06.555693

Summary

Oil pulling or oil swishing, in alternative medicine, has been used to prevent decay, oral malodor, bleeding gums, and dryness of throat, and cracked lips and for strengthening teeth, gums, and jaws, for which various natural oils like refined sunflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, coconut oil and liquids like milk and water, gooseberry and mango extracts have been used.

Summary

In this era of holistic approach traditional methods of treatment are gaining importance. Traditional medicine lays emphasis on natural product usage and has few side effects. Oil pulling or oil swishing, in alternative medicine, has been used to prevent decay, oral malodor, bleeding gums, and dryness of throat, and cracked lips and for strengthening teeth, gums, and jaws. It is a simple rejuvenating treatment which when done routinely, enhances the senses, maintains clarity, brings a feeling of freshness and invigorates the mind. Various natural oils like refined sunflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, coconut oil and liquids like milk and water, gooseberry and mango extracts have been used for oil pulling.

Keywords: Traditional medicine; Oil pulling; Natural oils; Sunflower oil; Coconut oil; Sesame oil; Milk; Water

Introduction

In this era of holistic approach traditional methods of treatment are gaining importance. Traditional medicine lays emphasis on natural product usage and has few side effects [1]. Oil pulling or oil swishing, in alternative medicine, has been used to prevent decay, oral malodor, bleeding gums, and dryness of throat, and cracked lips and for strengthening teeth, gums, and jaws [2-5]. There are two types Gandusha and Kavalagraha. Gandusha involves filling the oral cavity completely with liquid medicine held for about three to five minutes and then released. In Kavalagraha, a comfortable amount of fluid is retained within the mouth for about three minutes and then gargled. It is a simple rejuvenating treatment which when done routinely, enhances the senses, maintains clarity, brings a feeling of freshness and invigorates the mind. Various natural oils like refined sunflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, coconut oil and liquids like milk and water, gooseberry and mango extracts have been used for oil pulling [6].

Procedure of oil pulling

It is better to perform it during early morning hours, on an empty stomach slowly in sitting position with chin up. A tablespoon of oil is taken in the mouth, sipped, sucked and pulled between the teeth for ten to fifteen minutes. The viscous oil turns thin and milky white. It is claimed that the swishing activates enzymes and draws toxins out of the blood. The oil should not be swallowed as it contains bacteria and toxins. Oil pulling therapy should be followed by tooth brushing and rinsing of the mouth with warm water or salt water. The procedure can be done for a maximum of three times in a day in case of acute diseases. It is contraindicated for children below the age of five years due to danger of aspiration and swallowing. It can be practiced even during pregnancy and menstruation. Unlike chlorhexidine no time gap is advised after oil pulling and rinsing [7, 8].

Mechanism of Action

The exact mechanism of oil pulling still remains unclear. It is assumed that swishing the oil in the mouth activates enzymes and pulls the toxins out of the blood [1,9]. Another proposed mechanism states that the viscosity of the oil may prevent bacterial adhesion and coaggregation. Moreover, recently an invitro study proposed that the effects of oil-pulling therapy showed clear indications of possible saponification and emulsification process which enhances its mechanical cleansing action [6]. Sesame oil is a vegetable fat which when reacted with salivary alkalis like bicarbonates causes saponification by acting as an emulsifying agent. This emulsification increases the surface area of oil and promotes better cleansing action [6].

Effects

Oil pulling, a biological healing method was found to cure a variety of symptoms without side effects. The simplicity of this healing system is that oil has a stimulating effect on body’s alimentary system. It was found to possibly heal individual cells, cell conglomerates such as lymph nodes and more complex tissues like internal organs simultaneously. This occurs because beneficial microflora throughout the body is provided with a healthy continuum that enables the usual pattern of human health to lean towards wellness than illness [10,11].

Systemic Diseases Treated

In total, oil pulling heals the whole body in perpetuity. It cures migraine, headaches, bronchitis, arterial thrombosis, chronic blood diseases like leukemia, arthritis, neurophysiologic paralysis, eczema, gastroenteritis, peritonitis, cardiac and renal diseases, meningitis and women’s hormonal disorders [10-15]..

Discussion

Ayurveda, a part of alternative medicine is gaining back its importance in various aspects of health, as it uses all natural products. Oil pulling is one such age old process which has innumerable systemic and dental health benefits. It has become a mystic cure for many systemic diseases like diabetes, migraine etc.

Several studies done on the efficacy of oil pulling in improving oral health including anti-caries effect, anti-halitosis effect using various oils like sesame oil, sunflower oil and coconut oil have shown that oil pulling is equally effective to chlorhexidine mouth rinses (Table 1). Hence the evidence suggests that oil pulling can be used as a useful adjunct in improving and maintaining oral health

Conclusion

Few short term studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of oil pulling on plaque, gingivitis and dental caries prevalence suggesting that it be used as an oral hygiene maintenance aid. Further research with long term studies is in need to explore the other effects of oil pulling therapy on overall health. Scientific validations of the ayurvedic dental health practices could justify their incorporation into modern dental practice. Overall, as is true for many folk remedies, oil pulling therapy has insufficient peer-reviewed scientific studies to support its use for oral conditions.

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge Dr.B.H.Sripathi Rao, Dr. Shashikanth Hegde, Dr. Rajesh K S. Dr Arun Kumar M S , staff and Department of Periodontology , Yenepoya University

References

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