You can have good oral hygiene simply by swishing oil in your mouth for some time. This sounds like different method but it is very primitive. Many people swear by this treatment known as oil pulling. Oil pulling is not a new concept. It is an ancient Ayurvedic dental treatment that dates back to 3,000 years. It involves swishing a small amount of oil in the mouth for a minute, then spitting it out. It was considered best treatment to get rid of toxins. Basically, oil pulls out oral bacteria and other toxins that stick to the teeth or hide within your mouth.
How to oil pull?
It is very simple. Simply, get a tablespoon of any oil, put it in your mouth and start swishing for approximately 15-20 minutes. Commonly, sesame oil, sunflower oil and coconut oil are used as they have anti-inflammatory properties. Do it lightly not vigorously as you might hurt your jaws. Gently keep on swishing the oil around your mouth and move it through the gaps between your teeth. Avoid swallowing oil or else you are going to ingest toxins collected by the oil.
After 20 minutes, spit the oil in the trash can instead of sink because fat is going to clog up your pipes. Rinse your mouth with slight warm water and then brush your teeth like you normally do.
Benefits of oil pulling
There are many types of bacteria that can live in your mouth. There are some harmful bacteria that can cause bad breath, tooth decay, plaque and gum diseases. Just like mouthwash, oil pulling can help you get rid of such harmful bacteria. You can use either coconut or sesame for swishing, it helps to reduce oral bacteria. Reduction in the number of bacteria found in the mouth can help to promote oral hygiene and prevent some diseases.
Bad breath, also known as halitosis is a condition that affects an estimated 50% of the population. Some people have terribly bad breath which can be due to infection, poor oral hygiene, gum disease, dental cavities, tongue coating (yellow layer formed by bacteria trapped on the tongue, usually due to inflammation).
Its treatment involves removal of the bacteria, either through brushing or by using a mouthwash like chlorhexidine. It has been found that oil pulling is as effective as chlorhexidine in getting rid of bad breath. Although, there is still research going on, oil pulling can be used as a natural alternative to reduce bad breath.
Dental cavities are a common issue for both kids and adults. Poor oral hygiene and high sugar intake can cause tooth decay. After some time, it leads to the formation of holes in the teeth known as dental cavities.
Plaque can also cause cavities. Plaque forms a lining on teeth and is comprised of saliva, bacteria and food particles. This bacterium breaks down the food particles, forming an acid that destroys tooth enamel and causes tooth decay. Like said before, oil pulling can help to reduce these bacteria found in the mouth, preventing tooth decay and cavities.
The bacteria found in plaque causes gingivitis. It is a gum disease identifies by red, swollen gums that bleed even on slight contact. If you are suffering from gingivitis, oil pulling can help you.
by: Abeer Arshad
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