There’s a new beauty/health trend that’s taking over and we’re here to get the facts on what oil pulling is, and what benefits it has.
Health on Female First
‘Oil pulling’, or the ancient Ayurvedic practice of swishing pure oils around your mouth, is the latest in a line of beauty trends; with the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow enthusing about the oral health benefits.
You basically swish and press oil around your mouth – for 20 minutes – in a bid to remove nasties from your throat, gums and teeth.
The process of oil pulling involves the use of pure oils as agents. The longer the oil is pushed, pulled and sucked through the teeth the more microbes are picked up. It can take up to twenty minutes and has to be done until the oil becomes a white and viscous liquid.
Elouise Bauskis, NutriCentre Nutritional Therapist & Naturopath, says: “Oil pulling removes disease-causing microorganisms and toxins in the mouth that cause bad health. These microorganisms contain fatty membranes that are attracted to the oil you’re “pulling or swilling”. As you “pull” the oil around your teeth and gums, bacteria hiding within the crevices in the gums and in the pores and tubules within the teeth are sucked out of their hiding places into the oil mix, which is spat out after ideally 20 minutes of oil pulling.”
Oil pulling is said to help with:
Bad breath
Reduces and prevents plaque build up
Stops bleeding gums
Soothes sensitive teeth
Lowers inflammation
Detoxifies
Reduces allergies, chest congestion and even stomach issues
The mouth is not only a breeding ground for bacteria, it is the gateway to the body. The typical adult mouth may contain as many as 1,000 different types of bacteria as part of the human flora and oral microbiology. Those who care for their teeth and have an effective oral health routine have approximately 1,000 to 100,000 bacteria living on each tooth surface; however, those with a more lax attitude to oral health may have between 100 million to a billion bacteria on each tooth surface.
Whilst some studies suggest that oil pulling may reduce oral plaque, bad breath, staining and gum problems; scientific evidence is lacking to support any systemic benefits of this ancient practice.
Dr Uchenna Okoye, celebrity cosmetic dentist from www.londonsmiling.com comments on oil pulling: “There is no scientific evidence at all to support this craze on 'oil pulling'.
“It doesn’t do any harm assuming you spit out all the oil and if the aim is to remove bacteria then an electric toothbrush a trillion times more effective."
The teeth, gums and tongue are likely to benefit from the swishing of a clean liquid around the mouth, but the benefits of pulling oil do not outweigh the benefits of rinsing with an alcohol-free anti-bacterial mouthwash.
Although oil pulling could be for some a calming and relaxing supplementary therapy, it should not replace good habits of brushing, flossing and regular dental visits; instead, it should be done alongside a comprehensive and effective oral care regime.
Tagged in Dental Health Oral health