Oil pulling has its roots in the system of Ayurvedic medicine native to the region of India [1]. Oil pulling has enjoyed a long history of folk employment for strengthening the teeth and gums, preventing tooth decay, and treating oral malodor and dry mouth [2]. The practice consists of swilling an edible oil such as sesame, sunflower, olive, or coconut oil for roughly 15 minutes, after which the spent oil is spit out. It is recommended that oil pulling be performed in the morning on an empty stomach, and then followed by gentle brushing of the teeth.
Sesame oil is chosen most commonly in the traditional use, and this oil possesses three antioxidant lignans (sesamin, sesamolin, and sesaminol) which augment the action of vitamin E (also found in sesame oil) [3]. Sesame oil can exert notable antibacterial action against such bacterial species as Salmonella typhi, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans has been labeled as the chief pathogen in dental caries) [4] [5] [6]. Coconut oil similarly possesses both antibacterial and antifungal (including Candida species) capacity [7]. Oil pulling has been demonstrated to reduce plaque-induced gingivitis partly through inhibiting bacterial adhesion and the aggregation of dental plaque, and partly via an emulsification and saponification (soap making) of the used oil's fat [8] [9]. Oil pulling has also been shown to effectively reduce halitosis and the contributing gram-negative bacteria which produce 'volatile sulfur compounds' [10]. Furthermore, a decrease in dental cavity susceptibility can be another benefit of oil pulling [11]. Lastly, there is some evidence that oil pulling with sesame oil can subtly help whiten teeth [12]. It should be noted that oil pulling with sesame oil can also reduce the population of normally friendly bacterial species in the mouth like Lactobacillus acidophilus, and that proper oral health depends upon the maintenance of a somewhat diverse oral microbiota, and not the complete eradication of all mouth bacteria (this is one reason why you don't want to use conventional mouthwashes like Listerine®) [13]. In accordance with the teachings of Ayurvedic texts, the relationship between oral and systemic health is undeniable as numerous reports have elucidated the associations between oral hygiene and cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic (such as type 2 diabetes) disease [14]. From poor oral health, increases in cytokines and other inflammatory mediators, bacterial infiltration of systemic circulation, and/or cross-reactivity between bacterial heat-shock proteins and self heat-shock proteins (fostering autoimmune attacks) may contribute to the increase in disease risk [15]. While still considered to be adjunctive to flossing and brushing, oil pulling remains an evidence-based practice for the home care of dental health and the prevention of periodontal disease [16]. References:
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AuthorDenton Coleman is an Exercise Physiologist and Medical Researcher. Archives
October 2023
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