Interested in an Ancient Ayurvedic Dental Health Technique? Look no further than oil pulling, also known as "Kavala" or "Gundusha".
Dr. Bredesen, an internationally recognized expert in the mechanisms of neuro-degenerative diseases and the Chief Science Officer at Apollo Health, has dedicated his career to researching Alzheimer's disease and developing the **Bredesen Protocol**. His protocol is a personalized approach to predict and prevent cognitive decline through holistic lifestyle changes. As part of his protocol, Dr. Bredesen emphasize the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene. According to him, this not only helps prevent periodontal disease, dental plaque, cavities, devitalization, but also cognitive decline and neuro-inflammation diseases that we all so dread.
A conference I attended a couple of years ago with a speaker trained in the “Bredesen Protocol” inspired me to write about a unique approach to detoxification that I myself discovered back in 2011. This practice, called "oil pulling," has since become a fundamental part of my detox protocols. I even encourage my clients to give it a try during our detox retreats.
The Origins of Oil Pulling and Its Potential Health Benefits
Oil pulling, a popular Ayurveda medicine, the traditional medicine system from India, has been long known to heal the human body. It is especially beneficial for individuals dealing with chronic dental issues or significant disruption to their intestinal flora.
Although Oil pulling is a practice that has been around for centuries, it wasn't until 1990 that Ukrainian Dr. F. Karach, M.D. popularized it in the West. In a paper presented to oncologists and bacteriologists from the Academy of Science of the USSR, Dr. Karach claimed that oil pulling was effective in healing a variety of ailments, including headaches, bronchitis, toothaches, thrombosis, eczema, ulcers, and diseases affecting the heart, blood, kidney, liver, lungs, and women's health. He also suggested that it could prevent and potentially cure many illnesses and diseases. Dr. Karach encouraged skeptics to try the process for themselves to see its potential benefits.
A study titled "Effect of oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans count in plaque and saliva using Dentocult SM Strip mutans test: A randomized, controlled, triple-blind study" was published in the Indian Journal of Dental Research (May 2008). The research observed the impact of oil pulling (using coconut oil) and chlorhexidine mouthwash on the count of Streptococcus mutans (a bacterium that causes tooth decay) in 20 adolescent boys with plaque-induced gingivitis. Results indicated that oil pulling with coconut oil was an effective oral hygiene practice that reduced plaque-induced mild-moderate gingivitis alongside routine oral hygiene measures. The study concluded that coconut oil pulling may be a potential alternative to chlorhexidine mouthwash for long-term use. The count of Streptococcus mutans in plaque and saliva was significantly reduced by both oil pulling and chlorhexidine mouthwash after two weeks of intervention, with oil pulling having a longer-lasting effect than chlorhexidine.
However, Oil pulling is a safer alternative to pharmaceutical mouthwashes, as the latter can cause allergies and irritation to the oral mucosa over time. In contrast, no adverse reactions to oil pulling have been reported to date.
Oil pulling has been attributed to several advantages. For one, because germs and bacteria are lipophilic (fat-loving), they are easily absorbed into the oil and can be swiftly eliminated by spitting the oil out. Additionally, the oil's high lipid content leaves a thin, oily film on the teeth protecting them from sugars and pathogens that can cause tooth decay.
The Significance of the Mouth in Ayurvedic Medicine
By examining the tongue, Ayurvedic practitioners can diagnose imbalances and diseases in the body. They can also use oil pulling to stimulate and massage the internal organs through their reflex points on the tongue because in Ayurvedic medicine, the mouth is believed to be a reflection of the body's overall health. This system associates every part of the tongue with a different organ or system in the body. For instance, the tip of the tongue corresponds to the heart and lungs, the middle part pertains to the stomach and spleen, and the back part corresponds to the kidneys and bladder. Therefore, Ayurvedic practitioners advocate that oil pulling has a massaging effect on the internal organs since all of them are charted out in our mouth.
Oil pulling not only decreases bacteria in the mouth, but also reduces harmful bacteria that enters the bloodstream and GI tract. Given the established connection between dental and gum infections and heart disease, oil pulling can be a valuable precautionary step for safeguarding heart health.
How to do Mouth Pulling
To promote good oral health, it is recommended that oil pulling be performed daily, preferably in the morning before eating. Any type of organic oil, such as sunflower, coconut, or sesame oil, can be used as long as it is 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.
When performing the exercise, the oil you expel should have a smooth, white texture. In case it has a slight yellowish hue, it indicates that the cleaning process was not long enough.
Tips for Oil Pulling Beginners
If you're new to oil pulling, the first few times may be challenging, but you'll quickly get the hang of it. Oil pulling is an excellent practice to cleanse your mouth. To make it more enjoyable, try adding a few drops of essential oils like oregano, peppermint, cloves, or cinnamon, which are all great antiseptics. Start with a few minutes, then gradually build up to 20-30 minutes as you become more accustomed to the ritual.
Dr. Karach's Claims and the Limitations of Research
It's difficult to determine if Dr. Karach's findings were exaggerated without extensive research, which may be unlikely due to the low cost and simplicity of the practice. However, from personal experience and anecdotal evidence from others through detox retreats or health magazines, it seems that oil pulling has resulted in long-term visible improvements in conditions such as fibromyalgia, rheumatism, acne, and chronic intestinal disorders.
As someone who used to experience bleeding gums while brushing and regularly developed mouth ulcers from eating strawberries, I have noticed a significant improvement since implementing this protocol. This alone is enough to keep me committed to its use.
Here are some considerations when practicing oil pulling:
Use an old bottle or bushes outside your home to dispose of the pulled oil, as the oil that is poured down the sink can solidify and cause blockages in your pipes particularly during the winter months.
While there are no known physical side effects, the swishing motion may cause a sore jaw or headache at first.
Swallowing the oil could lead to an upset stomach or diarrhea.
Recap of this blog
Oil pulling is a traditional practice of swishing oil in your mouth for oral hygiene and health benefits. I have searched the web for research papers on this topic and found some results that you might find interesting. Here are some of the main points from the papers:
Oil pulling can reduce the population of bacteria in saliva and support oral hygiene. It can also help prevent plaque, gingivitis, bad breath and tooth decay¹²³⁴⁵.
Oil pulling can have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and analgesic effects. It can also improve the immune system and the lipid profile²³.
Oil pulling can be a safe alternative to chlorhexidine mouthwash, which is a common antiseptic agent used in dentistry. Chlorhexidine can have side effects such as staining of teeth, altered taste and allergic reactions¹⁴.
Oil pulling can be done with different types of oils, such as coconut oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, palm oil and rice bran oil. Coconut oil is preferred by many people because it has a pleasant taste and contains lauric acid, which has antimicrobial properties¹²³⁵.
Oil pulling is based on the principles of Ayurveda, a traditional medicine system from India. Ayurveda believes that oil pulling can detoxify the body and balance the doshas (the three energies that govern the body). Oil pulling can also stimulate and massage the internal organs through their reflex points on the tongue²³.
If you want to read more about oil pulling and its benefits, you can click on the links below to access the full papers.
Resources:
[1](https://www.nature.com/articles/sj.bdj.2018.281.pdf)
[2](https://www.academia.edu/34041799/Oil_Pulling_and_Oral_Health_A_Review)
[3](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359604791_Oil_Pulling_A_Review/fulltext/637ffcfdc2cb154d29226406/Oil-Pulling-A-Review.pdf)
[4](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323757)
[5](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-benefits-of-oil-pulling)
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