Oil pulling - this ancient Ayurvedic dental hygiene technique

Last Saturday 6th of June 2020 at our NTOI conference I heard Pete Williams – M. Med. Sci, CSCS, IFM Certified Practitioner, talking about how maintaining good oral hygiene helps prevent the emergence of various health problems. This I believe includes periodontal disease, dental plaque, cavities, devitalization, but also cognitive decline and neuro-inflammation diseases we all so dread.

This conference talk brought me to write about a practice I came across and adopted back in 2011 when I discovered fasting for detoxification.  I have since made it part of my detox protocols, and I encourage each and every one of my clients to try it out during our Detox retreats.

It is called "oil pulling" and this Indian Ayurveda medicine practice, also known as "kavala" or "gundusha," has long been popular for healing the human body.  It is particularly recommended for individuals suffering from chronic dental disorders or significant disruption to their intestinal flora.

It was in 1990 that Ukrainian Dr. F. Karach, M.D. popularized the practice in the West, after he presented a paper before oncologists and bacteriologists belonging to the Academy of Science of the USSR.   In his paper, Dr. Karach said the oil pulling totally healed “headaches, bronchitis, toothaches, thrombosis, eczema, ulcers and diseases of stomach, intestines, heart, blood, kidney, liver, lungs,  women’s disease, as well as  diseases of nerves, paralysis, and encephalitis” Furthermore, he warned his audience that if these claims sounded exaggerated, they should try out the process for themselves. He was adamant that many illnesses and diseases could be prevented and potentially cured with this method. 

In May 2008, Indian researchers published a comparative study between the oil pulling technique and an antiseptic antibacterial agent often used in pharmaceutical mouthwashes: chlorhexidine. The objective was to analyse their effectiveness on a bacterium responsible for the appearance of cavities, streptococcus mutans(1). Saliva and plaque samples from two groups of students showed that the effect of oil pulling on bacteria growth lasted longer than that of chlorhexidine.

Unlike pharmaceutical mouthwashes which can prove to be allergenic and irritating to the oral mucosa over time, no intolerance to oil pulling has so far been recorded.

There are a few explanations about the benefits of oil pulling.  One is that since germs and bacteria are lipophilic (fat-loving) they are readily absorbed into the oil and can then be easily eliminated through spitting the oil out.  Another is that high lipid content of the oil will protect the teeth by leaving a thin oily film on them which will prevent sugars and pathogens, from clinging to the enamel thus reducing tooth decay.

It is also believed by Ayurveda medicine practitioners that oil pulling helps to massage the internal organs as all our internal organs are mapped out in our mouth.

Furthermore, by reducing the bacteria in the mouth, oil pulling reduces the bacteria that enters the bloodstream and the GI track. Because there has been a direct link between dental/gum infections and heart disease, the reduction of bacteria through oil pulling could be another measure to consider for protecting the heart.

The use of oil pulling should be carried out daily, preferably in the morning before food. Any oil can be used such as sunflower, coconut or sesame oils but they must be organic and first cold pressed.

The way to do mouth pulling properly consists of taking the equivalent of a tablespoon of oil in the morning on an empty stomach and rinsing the inside of the mouth for 20 to 30 minutes. The goal is to swish or circulate the oil by chewing or sucking it inside your mouth so that no area of the mouth and teeth are missed. The oil you spit out at the end of the exercise should have a creamy, white appearance. If the oil is still a little yellow, it means that the cleaning process did not last long enough. 

If the first time with the oil is particularly difficult when you are not used to it, you quickly get a taste for this practice that cleanses the mouth. You could add to your oils some drops of essential oils of oregano, peppermint, cloves or cinnamon which are all very antiseptic, and start with a few minutes at a time then build up to 20 to 30 minutes as you get used to the ritual.

It is hard to tell if Dr. Karach was exaggerating when presenting his findings.  We might never know as such a cheap easy to do practice might never be researched extensively.  All I can say is that many people I have come across over the years, either in person through detox retreats I attended, or through various written articles in health magazines, report to have found long term visible improvement in their pathologies such as fibromyalgia, rheumatism, acne or various chronic intestinal disorders. 

I, who often had bleeding gums when brushing my teeth or was prone to mouth ulcers from eating say strawberries, have clearly noticed an improvement, and that is enough for me to keep using this protocol.

Note:

• Use an old bottle or bushes outside your home to spit the oil out as if you put it down your sink, you might end up with blocked pipes as the oil hardens with cold water or cold weather.

• Although there aren't any known physical side effects from oil pulling, you might notice a sore jaw or headache at first from the rigorous motion of oil swishing.

• If you swallow the oil, it could cause an upset stomach or diarrhea.

I attach some other small-scale studies which draw positive conclusions about oil pulling. You might find them interesting to read.

Oil pulling reduces plaque and gingivitis – Effect of coconut oil in plaque related gingivitis and Effect of oil pulling on plaque induced gingivitis: a randomized, controlled, triple-blind study (summary)

Oil pulling can help reduce cavities – Effect of oil-pulling on dental caries causing bacteria

Oil pulling reduces harmful bacteria in the mouth – Effect of oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans count in plaque and saliva using Dentocult SM Strip mutans test: a randomized, controlled, triple-blind study.

Sesame and sunflower oils on their own do not fight mouth bacteria, but the action of oil pulling changes them (enzyme action and emulsification action) so that they can lift contaminants from teeth – Mechanism of oil-pulling therapy – in vitro study.

Oil pulling with coconut oil reduces mouth bacteria

Oil pulling may also be a good way to get EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids) into the body subligually (under the tongue) These EFAs enter the bloodstream, bypassing the gastric juices in your stomach. It is a fast and effective way to get some of the components of healthy oils (omega-3 and omega-9 acids, for example) straight into your blood. This explains why many skin conditions clear up with oil pulling.

 (1)  Oil pulling substantially reduced the level of bacteria responsible for tooth decay – strep mutans – (J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent 2008 Mar26(1):12-7.PMID:18408265)

If you enjoyed this article, you might enjoy these too!