Oil Pulling: An Age-Old Ayurvedic Practice
Originating thousands of years ago in India, oil pulling or Kavala Gandoosha is a traditional Ayurvedic treatment in which you swish a tablespoon of oil in the mouth for several minutes before spitting it out. Medical literature supports the long-held Ayurvedic belief that oil pulling has numerous oral health benefits. As discussed in a previous blog, the link between oral health and physical health is significant, suggesting that oil pulling may be beneficial to one’s overall wellness.
Guide to Oil Pulling
Traditionally oil pulling is done in the early morning morning on an empty stomach, when a tablespoon of oil (typically sesame oil) is swished and”pulled” between the teeth for 5-20 minutes (Shanbhag, 2017). After that time, the oil is spit out and the mouth is rinsed with warm water - it is also suggested to brush one’s teeth afterward (Shanbhag, 2017). While sesame oil is typically used for it’s antifungal properties, cold-pressed coconut or sunflower oil also work well for oil pulling. A study of 60 adolescents who performed oil swishing with coconut oil for 30 days found that oil swishing resulted in a statistically significant decrease in plaque formation and plaque induced gingivitis ( Peedikayil et al., 2015). A similar study of subjects who conducted oil pulling with sesame oil over 40 days observed a 20% reduction in oral bacteria count (Durai et al., 2008).
To learn more about the practice and treatments of Ayurveda, schedule a visit with Dr. Ashok Bhandari.
References:
Durai Anand, T., Pothiraj, C., R.M. Gopinath, & Kayalvizhi, B. (2008). Effect of oil-pulling on dental caries causing bacteria. African Journal of Microbiology Research, 2. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.5897/AJMR.9000257
Peedikayil, F., Sreenivasan, P., & Narayanan, A. (2015). Effect of coconut oil in plaque related gingivitis - A preliminary report. Nigerian Medical Journal, 56(2). https://doi.org/10.4103/0300-1652.153406
Shanbhag, V. K. (2017). Oil pulling for maintaining oral hygiene – A Review. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.05.004