Oil Pulling—An Ancient Practice with Modern Health Benefits

Oil pulling is a time-tested and scientifically researched remedy comparable in performance to Chlorhexidine mouthwash—without adverse effects.“Pseudoscience” or “quackery” are some of the words critics assign to oil pulling. While it should not replace the brushing of teeth, a growing number of scientists agree that this low-cost intervention to gum diseases and promoter of overall well-being has oral health benefits.Dating back 300 to 5000 years, oil pulling comes from the Indian medical tradition of Ayurveda.Advocates of oil pulling swear by its effectiveness. Books such as “Oil Pulling Therapy,” by Naturopathic doctor, Bruce Fife, have been filled with the technique’s praises, such as relief of  “asthma, diabetes, arthritis, migraine headaches, or any chronic illness.”There Is More to Oral HealthOil pulling is a fascinating topic when approaching it not only from the angle of oral health but understanding the many mechanisms taking place unnoticed in the mouth.More than 700 microorganisms call the mouth home—bacteria and fungi—good and bad. The mouth is also the gateway to the digestive system, where the first steps of digestion and assimilation of nutrients occur.Unfortunately, the homeostatic environment of the mouth is weak and easily disturbed by outside influences, such as the use of tobacco, environmental stimuli, or certain medications.The mouth is supposed to be moist. Dry mouth can lead to germ accumulation, bad breath, tooth decay, fungal infections, or gum disease. Salivary secretion is crucial to speech formation, gut microbiota, and is “essential for proper protection and functioning of the body as a whole,” states a Swedish review article published in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation.Related StoriesHence, oral health does not only affect the mouth.Oral Health’s Links to Other DiseasesThe interdependence of bodily systems is the premise for the relationship that oral health has to overall well-being. In return, compromised oral health can lead to several other diseases.Mental HealthA study published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology investigated the link between gum disease, depression, and anxiety. They did so by analyzing metadata, meaning information drawn from 40 outside studies.The results clearly showed a correlation between periodontal disease and emotional disorders. Twelve of the studies showed a significant association with anxiety. Eighteen studies indicated that patients with gum disease had increased depression.A 2022 review article published in Periodontology 2000 suggests that the oral microbiome is connected to the brain and relates to mental health disorders via four direct causal mechanisms, “microbial and metabolite escape, neuroinflammation, central nervous system signaling, and response to neurohormones.”This common denominator in all is inflammation.Oral pathogens enter the brain via the bloodstream and an impaired blood-brain barrier, causing stress and mental health disorders to the extent of Alzheimer’s, further confirming the oral-brain axis.PneumoniaOral hygiene was also the topic of a study that included 39 patients with pneumonia. Researchers found that lack of oral care was linked to an increase of obligate anaerobes (microorganisms that only grow or survive in environments without oxygen) in the lungs of these patients. Hence, oral health does not only affect the mouth.Diabetes and Cardiovascular DiseaseAs a chronic inflammatory disease, periodontitis (inflammation of the gums) is connected to an “increased myocardial infarction risk,” states a review published in the International Journal of Molecular Science.The review found correlations between periodontal disease and stroke, heart failure, endothelial dysfunction, peripheral artery disease, and diabetes, and urges dentists and clinicians to increase their awareness about these links and the need for increased oral hygiene.A Tool to Maintain Oral HygieneAfter establishing the importance of oral hygiene, the question is no longer only whether oil pulling treats gingivitis or replaces tooth brushing, but if the technique can be helpful to support the many mechanisms leading to a balanced oral milieu.A study published in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, says yes, and illustrates that oil pulling:Prevents dental carriesImproves oral hygieneDecreases oral microbial countInhibits adhesion of plaque and oral surfacesReduces gingivitis and halitosisStrengthens oral cavity muscles and jawsWhitens teethImproves general healthA 2022 study, published in the journal Healthcare concludes that oil-pulling with sesame or coconut oil can lower salivary bacterial colony count and enhance oral health. A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene found “a probable benefit of oil pulling in improving gingival health.”Cost-Effective Oral InterventionOil pulling is a low-cost way of increasing one’s oral hygiene, which in turn is said “to prevent teeth decay