Oil Pulling - The Ayurvedic Mouthwash Ritual

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines oral health as the absence of conditions that impact the oral cavity, such as gum disease, tooth loss and decay, birth deformities such cleft lip and palate, cancer of the mouth and throat, oral ulcers, and persistent pain in the mouth and face. Dental caries is one of the most common forms of oral illnesses. Individuals with diabetes and heart issues had the greatest rates of periodontal disease compared to the overall population. Since dental health is a fundamental and vital aspect of overall health, everyone views it as being of the highest significance. Significant technological advancements have been made in the dental and medical fields in recent years. Despite this, basic patient care practices still highlight the importance of simple behavioral modification and prevention strategies at a larger public health level. Alternative or traditional medical treatments like Ayurveda have recently started to gain popularity because of its natural nature, affordability, few side effects, and improved patient compliance. Oil pulling, a traditional Ayurvedic treatment, was an ancient Indian method of preserving tooth health. Ayurveda uses a natural method with herbs and spices to find the root cause of any problem and cure it holistically. Ayurveda has been the go-to medical method for general health and wellness because people prefer natural remedies to chemical-based allopathic treatments. One method for maintaining tooth health could be oil pulling. Oil pulling is said to support gingival health and bleeding by reducing inflammation, alleviating dry mouth, throat, and chapped lips, whitening teeth, reducing bad odor, and improving oral hygiene. It involves gargling through oil and allowing it to pass between your teeth. Oil pulling is best done in the morning on an empty stomach. It is recommended that adults spit out one tablespoon (10 mL) of sesame oil after swishing it between their teeth for 15 to 20 minutes. The thick oil thins and turns milky white when the recommended period of time has passed after sucking and tugging the oil sip in the mouth. The term "oil pulling" is a traditional Ayurvedic treatment that entails using oil to cleanse the mouth. It is known as "Kavala Graha" or "Gandoosha Kriya" in the traditional "Charak Samhita and Sushruta Samhita." Then, despite the fact that his assertions were unsubstantiated, Dr. F. Karach popularized this procedure by confirming that it could treat a number of oral illnesses. It was claimed that oil-pulling therapy, an alternate method of plaque control, was superior than commercial mouthwashes that are readily available at home and had no unfavorable side effects. Furthermore, oil pulling has been shown to reduce plaque scores, alter gingival scores, alter the overall count of oral bacteria in gingivitis patients, and alter caries susceptibility from marked to minimal or moderate.

Mechanism Of Action

Although there are numerous options, the precise mechanism is unknown. One theory proposes a mechanism by which alkali hydrolyzes fat, resulting in saponification, also referred to as "soap making." As the oils used for oil pulling contain fat, the alkali hydrolysis process emulsifies the fat into bicarbonate ions, which are normally found in saliva. Soaps and other effective cleaning agents combine with the oil to improve its surface area and, consequently, its cleaning ability. ​Oil pulling is usually done using food oils such as sunflower, coconut, and sesame oil. Coconut oil is one edible oil that has a high saponification value. Hughes FJ and McNab RR found that coconut oil inhibits bacterial growth by 26 percent. The saponification process could be the reason of this. Moreover, saliva's sodium hydroxide and coconut oil's lauric acid mix to form sodium laurate, which has a cleansing effect and inhibits the formation of plaque. In the biofilm model made by oil pulling using several food oils, coconut oil shown a significant antibacterial activity against Candida albicans, Lactobacillus casei, and S. mutans in contrast to other edible oils. Another theory holds that the oil's viscosity stops plaque and germs from sticking to it. Furthermore, the third theory states that the antioxidants in the oil purify the body by preventing lipid peroxidation, which works similarly to antibiotics. As a result, microorganisms are eliminated and vitamin E's effects in the oral cavity are strengthened.

Oil Pulling Procedure

Swishing a teaspoon of oil around the mouth before breakfast and for around 20 minutes while the stomach is empty is known as "oil pulling." One teaspoon of oil is used for children older than five. The oil is "pulled" and pushed between each tooth by swishing it around the mouth. The heavy oil will become thinner and milky white at the end of this activity if the procedure is done correctly. This is followed by spitting it out, cleaning the mouth thoroughly with either tap water or warm, clean saline water, and brushing or cleaning the teeth with the fingers. If the jaw hurts, the procedure can be finished in five to ten minutes. It's not a good idea to spill oil into the sink since it could clog the pipes. It is better to spit the oil into a dustbin or into a paper towel.