Oral health plays a big part in our overall health. But usual tooth care like brushing and flossing doesn’t always do it all. What else can we try for better oral health? The answer might be in an old method called “oil pulling.” We’ll dive into its roots, what it promises, its methods, safety, and what modern tooth care thinks of it.
Oil pulling is a time-tested Ayurvedic practice. Its effectiveness relates to seeing the body as a whole unit.
Ayurveda started in India over 3,000 years ago. It’s one of the world’s oldest total healing ways. Oral health matters a lot in Ayurveda, with many methods for it, including oil pulling.
Oil pulling is an Ayurveda-based method. It involves swishing about a spoonful of oil (usually sesame or coconut oil) in your mouth for 15-20 minutes. The idea is that the oil will “pull” the bad stuff out of your body.
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In Ayurveda, the main two types of oil pulling are Kavala Graha and Kavala Gandusha.
In Kavala Graha, you keep a comfy amount of oil in your mouth and then spit it out.
In Gandusha, you fill your mouth with oil, wait three to five minutes, and then spit.
Oil pulling with coconut oil has shown to be beneficial for oral health. People should not mistaken to consider this step as a substitute of oral hygiene practices like brushing, flossing and tongue cleaning.
Dr. Arpit Verma, MBBS, MD (Pharmacology)
Oil pulling might fight off bad mouth bacteria. A bacteria type named Streptococcus mutants, a main tooth decay cause has been seen to go down a lot after oil-pulling use.
Some studies say that oil pulling may help reduce plaque formation and thus lower the risks of gingivitis.
There’s some evidence that oil pulling, particularly with coconut oil, could inhibit plaque formation and improve oral health but it is surely not a substitute for brushing twice a day and flossing one to two times daily.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D. in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology
Oil pulling might whiten teeth, according to stories, but no firm data proves this yet.
By bringing down Streptococcus mutans levels, oil pulling might help keep away tooth decay.
Bad breath mainly comes from mouth bacteria gases. Oil pulling might lessen these bacteria and improve breath.
As some oils (like sesame) have anti-swell properties, oil pulling might lower gum swell from gingivitis.
Although many good things are linked to oil pulling, science doesn’t yet back them all up, such as detoxing the body or healing body diseases.
Let’s look at the potential pros of oil pulling in the table below:
| Potential Benefits | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Fighting Bacteria | Might combat harmful oral bacteria |
| Preventing Plaque | Might control plaque formation |
| Whitening Teeth | Reported by users, but lacks scientific proof |
| Preventing Tooth Decay | Could help by reducing harmful bacteria |
| Reducing Bad Breath | Might lessen bad-breath-causing bacteria |
| Promoting Gum Health | Might help reduce gum inflammation |
| Unproven Benefits | Many claimed but not scientifically proven |
It’s important to pick the right oil. Sesame oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil are thought to be best for oil pulling.
With a spoonful of oil, swish it in your mouth for 15-20 minutes, then spit it out.
At first, it feels weird. During it, the oil will mix with saliva and thin out. After, your mouth should feel fresh and moist.
Do oil pulling first thing in the morning before eating or drinking.
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While generally safe, oil pulling can cause nausea or an unsettled stomach, especially if you swallow the oil.
You shouldn’t try oil pulling if you’re allergic to any oils used for it. Also, people who just had mouth surgery or have active gum disease should ask their doctor before oil pulling.
Modern dentistry has mixed views on oil pulling. Although some evidence shows promise, the American Dental Association doesn’t recommend oil pulling due to the lack of quality research.
Clearly, oil pulling could boost overall oral health. But, it might not be for everyone, so it’s best to ask a healthcare professional first. Moreover, oil pulling should add to, not replace, tooth care habits.
In conclusion, it’s still not clear-cut on oil pulling. Consider it a support to, but not a swap for, regular oral care. You need check-ups, brushing, and flossing for the best oral health.
Some studies suggest it could help fight harmful bacteria and control plaque, but the American Dental Association doesn’t endorse oil pulling yet, citing a lack of solid scientific evidence.
While some dentists might discuss oil pulling, many, including the American Dental Association, are doubtful due to the absence of strong research backing various health claims.
After oil pulling is when you should brush your teeth to clear out any leftover oil or toxins from your mouth.
Sesame oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil work best for oil pulling. Some prefer coconut oil because it tastes better.
To round off, you should speak with your healthcare provider before deciding to include oil pulling in your daily routine. Until there’s more solid research, take all oil-pulling benefits and claims with a bit of scepticism.
Oral health is a key indicator of overall health, well-being and quality of life. To maintain oral health, it is important to have a healthy cycle of repair (also known as remineralisation) that acts upon demineralised teeth (teeth that have lost some minerals in the natural wear and tear). Demineralisation and remineralisation have a crucial impact on the strength of tooth enamel. The fight to keep teeth strong and healthy is determined by the ratio of demineralisation to remineralisation.
Demineralisation occurs when the pH balance in the mouth is low and there are not enough mineral ions to maintain the tooth’s mineral content. Typically, when one consumes sugary foods, the plaque bacteria break down carbohydrates and produce lactic acid that dissolves the enamel crystals, also known as hydroxyapatite, in our teeth, weakening them and leaving us prone to dental problems such as white spots, cavities, pain etc.
What is teeth nourishment?
But here’s the silver lining – our body has a natural process of repairing teeth that are called remineralisation. This is like teeth nourishment in which the calcium and phosphate minerals from your saliva get deposited back onto the surface of teeth enamel. To maintain the strength of your teeth and keep off dental illness, this teeth nourishment process helps replenish these lost minerals to some extent. The minerals combine to create the hydroxyapatite compound, which serves as the foundation and strength of your teeth.
Now, what if I told you that there is a way to maintain a healthy ratio of wear and tear and repair in our mouths? Arginine is an amino acid that, when introduced in the oral hygiene routine, helps maintain the pH balance in the mouth and counters the very production of plaque bacteria. It, in fact, supports the growth of healthy bacteria (prebiotic-like action) in our mouth, which can help to neutralise harmful acid-producing bacteria and promote a healthier environment for teeth.
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The amino acid arginine can be considered an essential component of the teeth nourishment process. Arginine is a naturally occurring substance that is safe to use and interacts well with other organic components like fluoride and natural calcium, making it the perfect ingredient for toothpaste. Clinical trials have shown that the addition of arginine to toothpaste enhances its cavity-fighting potential.
Arginine can be a game changer for oral health. It is a perfect ingredient for oral hygiene products due to its natural properties, compatibility with other natural ingredients and antibacterial properties. It’s an easy and simple nourishment that can improve overall oral health, reduce the risk of cavities and ensure strong and healthy teeth for years to come. Routine dental checkups and good oral hygiene maintenance are important to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
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Disclaimer: The information included on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.
Our teeth are cutting tools, helping us break down food that is needed for the nourishment of the body. But have you heard about nourishing your teeth? Sure, brushing regularly with toothpaste containing fluoride helps to strengthen our teeth enamel, which, as some of us know, is the hardest substance in our body. Fluoride helps to maintain the mineral balance of our tooth surface (read: enamel), a very important function, given the daily abuse we put our teeth to.
Growing up, we’ve often heard the saying, ‘eat healthy, to keep your teeth and gums strong,’ and what this implies is when we eat healthy fruits and vegetables, we are naturally creating a positive microbiome within our mouths. Alas, if all of us were as disciplined. Dental caries and/or tooth decay is the most prevalent, non-communicable disease worldwide, affecting 60-90% of children and an estimated 2 billion people across the globe. It involves the loss of tooth mineral because of acids produced primarily by eating sugary foods, leading to weakening enamel and gradually full-blown decayed enamel that result in cavities.
Controlling the intake of sugary foods should solve the problem but ask any mother of a child in the age group 4-16, and she will tell you what a herculean task that is. In fact, it is because global data shows how caries continue to be a daunting challenge, despite the successful introduction of fluoride, that the development and validation of a new technology based upon 1.5% arginine started being discussed within the scientific community nearly a decade ago.
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Arginine is an amino acid that helps the body build protein. When introduced in oral hygiene, it creates an alkaline (read: a conducive) environment that stops the very production of bad germs, in effect attacking the root cause of dental caries. It must be noted that fluoride does little to influence this area, i.e. the production of harmful bacteria in dental plaque. If fluoride were the cement that makes the house strong, then arginine is the waterproofing you do to your walls to ensure the rain slides off and leaves no moisture.
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To be fair, our body is the most powerful tool – as and when the mineral content of our teeth starts to erode, (a process called demineralisation), our teeth have a natural defence mechanism called remineralisation. This involves the deposition of minerals from the saliva back onto the enamel surface, strengthening and repairing any damage that has occurred. The cycle of demineralization-remineralization is a natural, continuous, and dynamic one that occurs in the mouth. So, then why disturb the natural ecology? Simply because widespread clinical trials are increasingly showing how arginine is a powerful, modulating agent in this whole process. Because of its metabolic activity to promote good bacteria, thereby changing the pH balance within our mouths, its use in fueling mineral gain and calcium deposition (read: nourishment) is key to building stronger teeth.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Dentistry found that arginine-containing toothpaste reduced the number of cavities in children by 50% compared to regular fluoride toothpaste. Another clinical study conducted among adult male and female subjects in New Delhi showed that a toothpaste containing arginine, calcium carbonate, and fluoride provides greater efficacy in reducing dentin hypersensitivity when compared to regular toothpaste.
The potential of arginine-based oral intervention cannot be denied, and oral care formulations containing arginine for the prevention and management of dental caries along with fluoride are the new building blocks of strong teeth for our future generations.
Also Read: Unmasking The Truth: How Effective Is Oil Pulling For Teeth?
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Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
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References
NIH: The impact of an alkasite restorative material: An in vitro study
NIH: The combined antimicrobial effect of arginine and fluoride combined toothpaste
NIH: Comparison of clinical efficacy on dentin hypersensitivity
