Mini Review J Complement Med Alt Healthcare Volume 6 Issue 4 - August 2018 Copyright © All rights are reserved by Vinita Boloor DOI: 10.19080/JCMAH.2018.06.555693 Oil Pulling for Better Oral Health-Myth or Reality?

Vinita A Boloor* and Rajesh R Hosadurga Department of Periodontology, Yenepoya Dental College, India Submission: February 10, 2017; Published: August 13, 2018 *Corresponding author: Vinita Boloor, Associate Professor, Department of Periodontology, Yenepoya Dental College, Mangalore, India, Tel: +919845114652; Email:

Summary Oil pulling or oil swishing, in , has been used to prevent decay, oral malodor, bleeding gums, and dryness of throat, and

cracked lips and for strengthening teeth, gums, and jaws, for which various natural oils like refined sunflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, coconut oil andAbstract liquids like milk and water, gooseberry and mango extracts have been used. In this era of holistic approach traditional methods of treatment are gaining importance. lays emphasis on natural product usage and has few side effects. Oil pulling or oil swishing, in alternative medicine, has been used to prevent decay, oral malodor, bleeding gums, and dryness of throat, and cracked lips and for strengthening teeth, gums, and jaws. It is a simple rejuvenating treatment which when done

routinely, enhances the senses, maintains clarity, brings a feeling of freshness and invigorates the mind. Various natural oils like refined sunflower oil,Keywords: sesame oil, olive oil, coconut oil and liquids like milk and water, gooseberry and mango extracts have been used for oil pulling. Traditional medicine; Oil pulling; Natural oils; Sunflower oil; Coconut oil; Sesame oil; Milk; Water

Introduction swallowed as it contains bacteria and . Oil pulling therapy In this era of holistic approach traditional methods of should be followed by tooth brushing and rinsing of the mouth treatment are gaining importance. Traditional medicine lays with warm water or salt water. The procedure can be done for emphasis on natural product usage and has few side effects [1]. a maximum of three times in a day in case of acute diseases. It Oil pulling or oil swishing, in alternative medicine, has been used to prevent decay, oral malodor, bleeding gums, and dryness of to danger of aspiration and swallowing. It can be practiced even throat, and cracked lips and for strengthening teeth, gums, and is contraindicated for children below the age of five years due during pregnancy and menstruation. Unlike chlorhexidine no jaws [2-5]. There are two types Gandusha and Kavalagraha. time gap is advised after oil pulling and rinsing [7, 8].

Gandusha involves filling the oral cavity completely with liquid Mechanism of Action medicine held for about three to five minutes and then released. The exact mechanism of oil pulling still remains unclear. It the mouth for about three minutes and then gargled. It is a simple In Kavalagraha, a comfortable amount of fluid is retained within is assumed that swishing the oil in the mouth activates enzymes rejuvenating treatment which when done routinely, enhances and pulls the toxins out of the blood [1,9]. Another proposed the senses, maintains clarity, brings a feeling of freshness and mechanism states that the viscosity of the oil may prevent bacterial adhesion and coaggregation. Moreover, recently an invigorates the mind. Various natural oils like refined sunflower invitro study proposed that the effects of oil-pulling therapy water, gooseberry and mango extracts have been used for oil oil, sesame oil, olive oil, coconut oil and liquids like milk and pulling [6]. showed clear indications of possible saponification and Procedure of oil pulling action [6]. Sesame oil is a vegetable fat which when reacted emulsification process which enhances its mechanical cleansing It is better to perform it during early morning hours, on an empty stomach slowly in sitting position with chin up. A with salivary alkalis like bicarbonates causes saponification by surface area of oil and promotes better cleansing action [6]. tablespoon of oil is taken in the mouth, sipped, sucked and pulled acting as an emulsifying agent. This emulsification increases the Effects thin and milky white. It is claimed that the swishing activates between the teeth for ten to fifteen minutes. The viscous oil turns Oil pulling, a biological healing method was found to cure enzymes and draws toxins out of the blood. The oil should not be a variety of symptoms without side effects. The simplicity of

J Complement Med Alt Healthcare J 6(4): JCMAH.MS.ID.555693 (2018) 001 Journal of Complementary Medicine & Alternative Healthcare this healing system is that oil has a stimulating effect on body’s Discussion alimentary system. It was found to possibly heal individual cells, , a part of alternative medicine is gaining back its cell conglomerates such as lymph nodes and more complex importance in various aspects of health, as it uses all natural tissues like internal organs simultaneously. This occurs because products. Oil pulling is one such age old process which has healthy continuum that enables the usual pattern of human beneficial microflora throughout the body is provided with a a mystic cure for many systemic diseases like diabetes, migraine health to lean towards wellness than illness [10,11]. innumerable systemic and dental health benefits. It has become etc. Systemic Diseases Treated In total, oil pulling heals the whole body in perpetuity. It oral health including anti-caries effect, anti-halitosis effect using Several studies done on the efficacy of oil pulling in improving cures migraine, headaches, bronchitis, arterial thrombosis, chronic blood diseases like leukemia, arthritis, neurophysiologic various oils like sesame oil, sunflower oil and coconut oil have paralysis, eczema, gastroenteritis, peritonitis, cardiac and renal rinses (Table 1). Hence the evidence suggests that oil pulling can shown that oil pulling is equally effective to chlorhexidine mouth diseases, meningitis and women’s hormonal disorders [10-15]. be used as a useful adjunct in improving and maintaining oral health

Table 1: Showing studies conducted on the efficacy of oil pulling. Sl. No Oil used Authors Objectives of the Study Results Conclusion Effect of oil pulling with sesame oil on the count of Streptococcus mutans in Effective & preventive 1 Sesame oil Asokan S, et al. [12] the count of Streptococcus adjunct in oral health the Dentocult SM Strip mutans test, Significant reduction in plaque and saliva of children, using maintenance. chlorhexidine mutans in plaque and to compare its efficacy with that of Evaluate the effect of oil pulling with sesame oil on halitosis and chlorhexidine on halitosis Useful adjunct in oral 2 Sesame oil Asokan S, et al. [12] the microorganisms that could be andEqually organisms, effective associated like health maintenance. responsible for it and to compare its with halitosis.

Effect of oil-pulling on the reduction Reduction in the total count efficacy with chlorhexidine mouthwash. The process of oil- of total count of bacteria. The in-vitro of bacteria. Streptococcus T Durai Anand, et pulling had reduced 3 Sesame oil antibacterial activity of sesame oil mutans and Lactobacillus al. [13] the susceptibility of a against dental caries causing bacteria acidophilus were moderately host to dental caries was determined. sensitive.

No adverse reactions to any 4 Amith, et al. [14] Assessed the effect of sunflower oil hard and soft tissues of the and gingivitis at 45 monitored its safety on oral soft and Low levels of plaque pulling on Plaque and Gingivitis and oral cavity. days Sunflower oil hard tissues.

models, VCO showed In acute inflammatory Possess anti- Intahphuak S, et al. effects. Inhibitory effect 5 Coconut oil antipyretic effects of Virgin coconut oil [15] moderate anti-inflammatory analgesic, and The anti-inflammatory,(VCO) were assessed. analgesic, and Moderate analgesic effect antipyreticinflammatory, properties onand chronic antipyretic inflammation. effect in yeast-induced hyperthermia

Conclusion Acknowledgements The authors gratefully acknowledge Dr.B.H.Sripathi Rao, Dr. Shashikanth Hegde, Dr. Rajesh K S. Dr Arun Kumar M S , staff and Few short term studies have demonstrated the beneficial prevalence suggesting that it be used as an oral hygiene Department of Periodontology , Yenepoya University. effects of oil pulling on plaque, gingivitis and dental caries maintenance aid. Further research with long term studies is in need to explore the other effects of oil pulling therapy on overall References 1. Namiki M (1995) The chemistry and physiological functions of sesame. Food Rev Int 11: 281-329. practices could justify their incorporation into modern dental health. Scientific validations of the ayurvedic dental health practice. Overall, as is true for many folk remedies, oil pulling 2. http://www.maharishi-european-sidhaland.org/ 3. http://www.oilpulling.com support its use for oral conditions. therapy has insufficient peer-reviewed scientific studies to

How to cite this article: Vinita A B, Rajesh R H. Oil Pulling for Better Oral Health-Myth or Reality?. J Complement Med Alt Healthcare. 2018; 6(4): 555693. 002 DOI: 10.19080/JCMAH.2018.06.555693 Journal of Complementary Medicine & Alternative Healthcare

4. http://www.indiaids.org/alt_ther/ayurveda.asp#a4.com 12. Asokan S, Rathan J, Muthu MS, Rathna PV, Emmadi, et al. (2008) Effect

5. http://www.ayurvediccure/mouthcare.html Dentocult SM Strip mutans test: a randomized, controlled, triple-blind of oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans count in plaque and saliva using 6. Asokan S (2008) Oil pulling therapy. Indian J Dent Res 19(2):169. study. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent 26(1): 12-7. 7. Dingari LC (2000) The Shalakya Tantra II.1st ed. Hyderabad: Smt D 13. Durai Anand T, Pothiraj C, Gopinath RM, Kayalvizhi B (2008) Effect Kamala Publishers 2000: 233-57. of oil-pulling on dental caries causing bacteria. African Journal of Microbiology Research 2: 63-66. 8. http://www.oilpulling.com/index.htm 14. 9. http://www.healthstores/sesameoil.com and gingivitis. J Oral Health Comm Dent 1(1): 12-18. Amith HV, Anil V Ankola, Nagesh L (2007) Effect of oil pulling on plaque 10. http://www.ayurvediccure.com/mouthcare.html. 15. analgesic, and antipyretic activities of virgin coconut oil. Pharm Biol 11. Ram KS (2002) Agnivesa’s Charakasamhita (Sutra Sthana). Varanasi: 48(2):Intahphuak 151–157. S, Khonsung P, Panthong A (2010) Anti-inflammatory,

Chowkhamba Sanakrit Series office 1: 99-100.

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How to cite this article: Vinita A B, Rajesh R H. Oil Pulling for Better Oral Health-Myth or Reality?. J Complement Med Alt Healthcare. 2018; 6(4): 555693. 003 DOI: 10.19080/JCMAH.2018.06.555693