What is oil pulling and what is it for?

Dr. Roxane Katiya DMD

What is oil pulling?

Since the dawn of time, humans have invented different types of products for dental hygiene and dental pain. The Romans used urine mouthwashes containing ammonia to whiten teeth and pastes with ashes or crushed seashells with a fibrous vegetable stick to brush.

Historically, in Ayurvedic medical texts dating back 3000 to 5000 years (Susruta Samhita and Charaka Samhita) the traditional practice of Gandusha, an oil rinse to purify the mouth with the use of herbs is recommended. Neem sticks, mango leaves and Miswak sticks were used to clean the teeth with their abrasive fibers. Deemed without sufficient scientific evidence by the official dental authorities, the oil pulling technique is gaining more and more popularity among the public with an interest in natural health.

130 years ago, Dr. Lawrence and Lambert formulated a mouthwash based on 3 essential oils; thymol, eucalyptus and mint, all of which have antibacterial properties in the form of Listerine mouthwash inspired by British surgeon Dr. Lister's first operation in a disinfected environment. Recently criticized for its formulation with alcohol, one of the risk factors of oral cancer, many patients ask me if more natural alternatives exist to rinse their mouth. As a natural product enthusiast myself, here are the results of my research and clinical findings as well as the comments of my patients and hygienists regarding the natural dental hygiene routine.

For the dental hygiene routine, the technique described in the Ayurvedic texts consists of rinsing your mouth first thing in the morning, before eating with a teaspoon of cold pressed oil of your choice for 2-20 minutes and pass it between your teeth and spit it out into a tissue to avoid clogging the plumbing pipes. The oil should not be swallowed or aspirated because it contains thousands of bacteria, dead cells, viruses stagnating in our mouth all night long. According to the texts, it has detoxifying virtues. The research currently published demonstrates the anti-bacterial effect of this technique both for cavities and for the health of the gums. I practice this rinsing myself simply, sometimes with water, sometimes with oil, and I find the sensation in my mouth very pleasant. I follow up with a tongue scraper, the floss and a brushing of the teeth. The oil extraction technique does not replace the dentist, nor the daily hygiene habits of flossing, the use of the waterpik, the toothbrush and 2 visits with your dentist per year.

Currently, oil extraction has only a handful of literature articles in very small samples and therefore is not supported by the mainstream scientific community to substantiate its virtues but the values that have been studied to date are: its impact on plaque, decay, bad breath, dry mouth, gingivitis, ulcer relief in head and neck cancer patients. To prove its benefits to skeptics, larger research samples and more recognized and standardized randomized controlled studies are needed. But among oil pulling enthusiasts, the technique is very popular.

In my holistic lifestyle patients with gum problems, those who have been diligent with their dental care at the dentist and their hygiene routine at home, I have noticed clinically an improvement in their gum health and so have they.

Original Publication Citation

Bekeleski, G., McCombs, G., & Melvin, W. (2012). Oil pulling: An ancient practice for a modern time. Journal of International Oral

Health, 4(3), 1-10.