Written By: Tania Tarafdar | Updated : January 10, 2017 6:45 PM IST
This ayurvedic technique is a detoxification therapy that involves swishing cold pressed virgin oil on an empty stomach early in the morning.
Many have been talking about oil pulling. It is the process of swishing, sesame, coconut or sunflower oil for around 20 minutes and then spitting it out. While many claim them it can prevent gum disease; we asked Dr Nikita Goyal if oil pulling has that huge a benefit for you.
It does not preclude gum disease: The plaque needs to be mechanically removed from the surface of your tooth by scraping which is why you need flossing and brushing. Squishing with oil for 20 minutes can reduce plaque by diluting the stickiness of the plaque, but the method of oil pulling is not enough to prevent any gum disease.
Using low-quality oils can be harmful: If you do not choose high-quality organic oil, oil pulling can be detrimental. A study performed by Harvard Medical School found that one in five Ayurvedic products sold in stores contained potentially dangerous levels of mercury, lead and arsenic [1].
The method does not whiten your teeth: Oil pulling for 20-25 minutes every day could remove some teeth staining, but unlike what you may have heard, oil pulling won t whiten your teeth. Find out here if natural remedies really work for teeth whitening.
It can be harmful to kids: Don t get your child to do oil pulling as if your child swallows the liquid and if the liquid gets down in the wrong tube, it can lead to lipoid pneumonia. The best thing you can do to help your kids have excellent dental health is to encourage them to do brushing and flossing every day.
It does not treat jaw pain: Many have claimed that oil pulling helps treat jaw pain but swishing with oil may give temporary relief but it does not address the cause of jaw pain.
It does not have any benefit for your health: There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that oil pulling helps with eczema, asthma and migraines but the method does none of that. You may want to try these home remedies for all your oral problems.
Reference:
[1] Saper RB, Kales SN, Paquin J, Burns MJ, Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Phillips RS. Heavy metal content of ayurvedic herbal medicine products. JAMA. 2004 Dec 15;292(23):2868-73. PubMed PMID: 15598918.
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