"It will help fight plaque and gingivitis." However, oil pulling isn't officially recommended by the American Dental Association, so it's always important to exercise caution and keep up with regular dental cleanings—oil pulling shouldn't replace your other daily oral care practices.
Dentist Concerns About Oil Pulling
Because sufficient evidence of the effectiveness of oil pulling is lacking, dental professionals recommend exercising caution when it comes to this practice. Although it isn't particularly harmful, some people may experience some side effects.
Dentist's verdict: Oil pulling with coconut oil can help with more mild forms of gingivitis when used in conjunction with flossing. This is (again) due to the lauric acid in coconut oil. It should not be seen as a way of treating more serious gum disease or as a replacement of flossing.
Reducing inflammation and improving gum health
Research suggests that coconut oil can reduce inflammation. In addition, according to a small 2015 study and another 2020 study , oil pulling with coconut oil can reduce plaque formation and help prevent plaque-induced gingivitis.
If you experience pain while oil-pulling, then you're probably swishing too hard or the amount of oil is too much. Oil-pulling should be comfortable so try to be calm and relaxed while doing it. Also, you don't have to swish for the whole 20 minutes.
You do not need to brush your teeth before oil pulling as the practice will remove food and bacteria from the mouth. However, it is important to brush afterwards to ensure that all of the toxins that are drawn out of the mouth are removed. If it feels weird, keep going.
What are the risks of Oil Pulling? The negative side effects of oil pulling including dry mouth, excessive thirst, muscular stiffness, exhaustion and loss of sensation or taste in the mouth.
Use coconut oil. While you can get the same bacteria-fighting benefits with sesame or sunflower oil, coconut oil has the added benefit of lauric acid, which is well-known for its anti-microbial agents, Emery says, making it more effective. Also, a recent study found that coconut oil may help prevent tooth decay.
Oil pulling generates antioxidants which damage the cell wall of microorganisms and kill them. These oils will attract the lipid layer of bacterial cell membranes, and cause it to stick or get attracted, and pulled to the oil. During oil pulling, the oil gets emulsified and surface area of the oil gets increased.
Obvious results are re-fixing of loose teeth, the stopping of bleeding gums and the whitening of teeth." As well oil pulling also removes dental infections, stops further tooth decay and reduces/eliminates sensitivity of teeth.
Scientific studies suggest that it takes at least about a month to see the results of oil pulling. And this will only happen when you have been doing oil pulling every day for that month. The results you will see are whiter teeth and healthier gums.
The American Dental Association does not recommend oil pulling due to a lack of “reliable studies” to show that it improves oral health or acts as a preventative measure for oral disease.
Ellie Phillips, DDS, often speaks favorably about oil pulling. However, she does caution against oil pulling for those with gum recession or sensitivity, as it may damage biofilm and pellicle proteins, which are critical for a healthy mouth. Thus, if you're using oil pulling for receding gums, do it only occasionally.
Some dentists believe oil pulling is a sham practice, whereas others believe it can prevent cavities and gum disease. The official stance of the American Dental Association (ADA) is that there isn't enough evidence to recommend oil pulling as a dental hygiene practice.
Should you do oil pulling before or after brushing? It is recommended to perform oil pulling before brushing your teeth and scraping your tongue. If you were to choose between oil pulling at night vs morning, it should always be done in the morning on an empty stomach.
To maximize results, try to oil pull at least a few times per week or up to three times per day. When you first start, you can swish for about five minutes and gradually increase the duration until you are at 20 minutes. Keep in mind that oil pulling doesn't replace traditional oral care.
Once you have finished pulling, spit the solution into the trash. Do not discard the oil in the sink or down the toilet because over time the oil may build up and clog the pipes. Do not drink anything before rinsing your mouth.
Oil pulling may remove bacteria, but it doesn't kill bacteria, and that's a big difference. If oil pulling is used alone, without regular brushing and flossing, then no, it is not an effective way to keep your mouth healthy. It will not heal existing decay.
Then, gargle the oil in the mouth for 5-10 minutes and let it out. Ideally, one should practise oil pulling on an empty belly, so brushing teeth or drinking water won't affect the process.
The best time to scrape your tongue is as part of your morning oral hygiene routine after you have done your oil pulling, which you should do firstly, as soon as you awake.
2. DO oil pull with an empty stomach, don't even drink water beforehand, first thing in the morning is the easiest. Pulling on an empty stomach triggers the release of the maximum amount of the enzyme-containing saliva. These enzymes remove toxins & bacteria out of the lymph fluids & bloods.
While oil pulling may be beneficial for reducing bacteria and preventing tooth decay or gum disease, it must be said that no amount of oil pulling can reverse cavities. A dental cavity, also known as carie, is a permanently damaged area of the enamel or dentin layer.