oil pulling: the RESEARCH behind it

we’ve all seen these glorious posts and rave reviews about oil pulling, yes?

you know those really huge claims that pretty much say this one act 20 minutes a day cures all sorts of things? like halitosis, allergies, hormone imbalances, acne, psoriasis, etc…

my question has always been “where is the RESEARCH?” you can show me all the blogs in the world, but i’m gonna need some facts.

let’s look at this whole oil pulling craze and see if the benefits reach beyond having a healthier mouth!

what IS oil pulling?

• oil pulling stems from Ayurvedic oral care. it’s first mentioned in the Charaka Samhita, which is a key text of Indian traditional medicine.
• it’s done by swishing a spoonful of oil around your mouth for about 20 minutes. it’s done first thing in the morning, every day, as a part of an oral health routine.
• the oils that can be used are sesame and coconut oil as the 2 main contenders, with sunflower and olive also usable.
• it does NOT replace brushing your teeth!

what are the claims?

• oil pulling is widely touted as an all-natural way to promote overall oral health, whiten teeth, ward off gingivitis, fight plaque build-up, and help with teeth sensitivity.
• other claims:
• • whiter teeth
  • healthier gums
  • clearer skin
  • prevent halitosis
  • prevent gingivitis
  • alleviate allergies
  • increase energy
  • decrease headaches
  • help with arthritis
  • decrease inflammation
  • improve the lymphatic system
  • help with asthma
  • balance hormones
  • regulate menstrual cycles and improve PMS symptoms
  • clear sinuses
  • ward off infections
  • improve liver function

where is the research?

from the articles i’ve seen, oil pulling is just a PART of improving health (like reducing strep mutagens after 2 weeks... which i’m skeptical of because your body will be fighting it off in that time regardless… and let’s also be polite and say there’s some heavy researcher bias in that study).

the following sources show that oil pulling is JUST AS effective as using a healthy mouth rinse – source 1 & source 2
and here is a direct quote from source 2- “Oil pulling therapy has been equally effective like chlorhexidine [mouthwash] on halitosis and organisms.”

additionally, the following article indicates that oil pulling is effective when used in combination with a salt water rinse – source

and then you have studies like this that say “results from the present study could be scientific evidence to demonstrate that oil-pulling therapy  with some edible oils could probably be used as a  preventive home therapy to maintain oral hygiene.” uhhh… so you’re telling me that your study MIGHT conclude that oil pulling MIGHT help oral hygiene? haha, okay…

and then there’s this article that says:

so far the research doesn’t show that it’s oil pulling that improves health.
that’s what i needed to know.

*no, i’m not saying it doesn’t improve your oral health. i’m very aware that it does! …keep reading…

bottom line:

not really.. meaning — oil pulling works in a way… but not how it’s being touted. let’s check it out:

does it DETOX you? NO. that part is a huge load of crap. we have these really cool organs called livers and kidneys that do that for us. pretty neat!

so how does it work? oil pulling works by helping to support a healthy oral environment. it’s just another way to clean your mouth. it’s a small part of an overall routine. that’s it! with a cleaner, healthier mouth, your body can focus on other things. it’s a complete domino effect. oil pulling isn’t magic! your body is magic. simple.

so what does this mean? you can certainly see oral improvements. absolutely. but what you won’t see is a liver detox.

Dr. Sanda Moldovan, a periodontist in Beverly Hills and a certified nutritionist with a Masters in oral biology, that teaches at UCLA’s dental school, had to say this about oil pulling improving health:

“When we improve oral health, we improve so many other things in the body. People with bad oral hygiene have higher incidence for cardiovascular issues such as heart attack and strokes, and a higher incidence for pneumonia. Men with periodontal disease have a greater risk of erectile dysfunction. Even with diabetes, improved oral health can help control problems in diabetic patients. Also, pregnant women with gum disease have lower birth-weight babies. Yes — everything is connected.” (source)

in other words, it’s not the fact that you’re oil pulling that’s the only thing at play. oil pulling (as with proper flossing, proper brushing, and mouth rinses as needed), can be a PART of a healthy oral care routine, that in turn helps you be a healthier person overall.

 

Let’s be clear. i am not discounting the oral benefits you can see from adding oil pulling to part of your oral care routine! i’m very aware those benefits are real. if you’re seeing benefits, and your health care professional supports it, keep at it! what i AM asserting is that oil pulling is Not magic. it does not detox you. it does not cure bodily ailments completely on its own. but rather, by oil pulling, you’re making your mouth healthier, which in turn makes your body healthier. the research indicates that using a healthy mouth rinse is JUST AS effective as oil pulling!

“but i’m seeing whitened teeth and healthier gums and less cavities!”

correct! you’ve improved your oral health care routine. of course you will see those benefits, barring you’re not allergic to or sensitive to the oils you choose to use.

that’s because you’re swishing a naturally anti-bacterial oil in your mouth that’s full of awesome things that support a healthy oral environment. and while you’re swishing, you’re also dislodging food particles that would have otherwise been stuck. that combined with the antibac action your mouth is gettin can be attributed to your improved mouth. bottom line, you can put some coconut oil in your mouth when you brush your teeth and floss properly, and get the same whitening/antibac effects.

you can also use a healthy mouth rinse to do the same things 🙂

if you can’t swish oil around in your mouth for 20 minutes, don’t worry! i personally can’t stand swishing oil around in my mouth for that long. i get gaggy.

you can still obtain a healthier mouth by doing the following:

• brush your teeth properly, with an all-natural toothpaste (diy too!)
• floss properly
• use healthy mouth rinses. no alcohols, no dyes, no SLS, etc.
• use natural teeth whiteners
• use a tongue scraper
• eat real food (we’re lookin at you, veggies!)
• swish the “oil pulling replacement” mouth rinse! (post coming soon!)

do i personally recommend oil pulling?

please make your own educated decisions with the help of your health care professional. lots of people have had great results by oil pulling, ranging from whitened teeth to lessened tooth sensitivity.

but i can tell you, you won’t find me swishing oil anytime soon 🙂 i’d rather brush properly, floss properly, use mouth rinses as needed, and eat real food. i’ll skip the gagging… because that’s what happens to me personally. i’m aware LOTS of people enjoy oil pulling. GO FOR IT! ❤

to reiterate my point: there’s absolutely no harm in doing it, if you so choose. you might experience tooth sensitivity, but that’s about the extent of the negative things you’d experience. it’s just another aspect of oral care. if you choose to oil pull, don’t expect some magical bodily cure. but you CAN expect improved oral health if done properly AND in conjunction with other proper oral care. (yes, that means whiter teeth (with coconut oil), less tooth sensitivity (by having a healthier mouth in general), lessen bad breath (coconut oil is antibac), and less cavities (CO is antibac).  just also be aware that you can also achieve those by using any other healthy mouth wash 🙂 )

in the meantime, let’s agree to stop saying oil pulling detoxes you and cures allergies and lessens your PMS symptoms. okay? okay.

we CAN say it promotes a healthier oral environment when used in conjunction with proper brushing/flossing. if you’re seeing decreased tooth sensitivity, whiter teeth, etc., keep doing it! it’s the fact that your mouth is healthier that’s making everything better. no reason to stop!

what do you guys think??

do we have any success stories? any failed attempts?

**FOR THOSE OF YOU WITH DENTAL FILLINGS – (me, too!) it has been reported that oil pulling does loosen up fillings. please talk to your dentist first if this applies to you!