I spoke last week with Jezebel on the topic of oil pulling. Here are my thoughts in more detail.

When I first mentioned “oil pulling” to my friend from Texas — she yawned and said, “Yes, Dr. Sanda, I know all about the oil field. I grew up with roughnecks and wildcatters, remember?” I laughed and explained to her that in my periodontal and health and wellness practices it has an entirely different meaning, but could quite possibly have been around as long as  ‘Texas tea’.

Oil Pulling is certainly enjoying a hype equivalent to an ‘oil boom,’ for being the end-all cure all for a number of diseases and oral health issues with it’s amazing detox benefits.

Its origins are in India. Information on it can be found in the early text of Ayurvedic medicine, Charaka Samhita — but its medicinal properties are spreading like wildfire on websites and popular television shows such as Dr. Oz.

When we improve oral health, we improve so many other things in the body. People with bad oral hygiene have higher incidence for cardiovascular issues such as heart attack and strokes, and a higher incidence for pneumonia. Men with periodontal disease have a greater risk of erectile dysfunction. Even with diabetes, improved oral health can help control problems in diabetic patients. Also, pregnant women with gum disease have lower birth-weight babies.  Everything is connected.

Oil pulling (or oil gargling) is a process which takes about 20 minutes to do. I often wonder who has that kind of time? You take a tablespoon of any unrefined oil, such as sesame,  coconut or sunflower, in your mouth, swish it around — long enough to make sure to coat your teeth and gums.  The bacteria and toxins are literally ‘pulled’ from your mouth. You see the process — as the oil goes from a clear to a white, milky substance, which removes plaque like a soap.

We don’t have any evidence to show that it is a good treatment for gum disease. And it makes sense that it wouldn’t.  Mouthwash is not a good treatment for periodontal disease either.  Neither the oil or the mouthwash get under the gum more than a millimeter or two.  I hate to be a spoil-sport, but oil pulling can’t heal cavities either, however, since it does reduce cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth, it can slow or halt ones that are already developing.  What we’ve really just discovered is an old way to clean your mouth more thoroughly than you probably are now. And it probably seems really appealing as a new and improved thing to do, instead of just getting in there with toothbrush and floss.

When there is a healthier mouth, there is less inflammation in the body, and across the board — everything can heal better, the skin is better, you’re in a better mood, you have more energy.  Gum disease is a chronic infection in the mouth that your body is constantly trying to fight the bacteria  from entering your body. That is stressful for us. That chronic infection in the mouth, once it improves because we have better oral hygiene, we feel better and look better.”

Oil pulling is not a substitute for brushing and flossing altogether, as many are claiming. I recommend using an oral irrigator, with the Waterpik brand being an excellent one— as the ideal cleaner for getting between teeth and preventing inflammation. I see with my patients using oil-pulling, there is still inflammation between the teeth, so flossing and oral irrigation are a must!

In my opinion brushing for two minutes twice a day and water flossing daily for 60 seconds is much, much better than oil pulling.

The mouth is the gateway to your overall health, so take good care of it!

In great health,
Dr. Sanda

Interested in reading more? Check out Dr. Sanda’s interview with Jezebel. Interested in discussing your health one on one? Contact Dr. Sanda Moldovan to schedule a consultation.