Oral health is thought to be a mirror of one’s overall physical health. So it makes sense to be particular about looking after oral hygiene and health. Among the many ancient Ayurvedic therapies that are now being rediscovered is oil pulling for dental and oral hygiene. Though it sounds like some sort of new and strange sport, it is actually an oral health therapy that has been around for ages. It requires no specific apparatus and uses nothing but good old coconut oil. It is both beneficial and simple. So, what is oil pulling and what are the benefits?
Oil pulling, Kavala or Gandusha
The AYUSH Ministry website describes oil pulling as one of the processes described for the Dincharya (daily routine) in Ayurveda. It is known as Kavala-Gandusha in the old texts. Kavala means gargling and Gandusha means holding fluid inside the mouth. This therapy requires a person to take about a tablespoon or coconut oil into the mouth and then swish this around for up to 15 minutes. The idea is to derive curative as well as preventive benefits from this.
Oil pulling is thought to neutralise harmful bacteria in the mouth and prevent tooth decay and gum problems as well as bad breath. This therapy is thought to reduce pain, inflammation and resolve bleeding gums. Since this is an oil-based therapy, it also helps to soothe throat dryness, cracked lips and so on.
Kavala is the process of using a small amount of oil to swish around in the mouth for a short while before spitting it out. On the other hand Gandusha requires a larger quantity of oil or medicated water to be filled into the mouth. This is then kept there until the person experiences excessive salivation or until the eyes and/or nose starts to water.
How does oil pulling work?
Studies into this therapy have found it to have certain benefits. The natural antimicrobial properties of coconut oil are thought to reduce harmful bacteria in the mouth: by dissolving and ‘pulling’ out the bacteria. Doing this for ten minutes a day was seen to reduce certain bacteria according to this study. In one other study it was found that oil pulling was as effective as a standard mouth wash.
Oil pulling is also seen to reduce bad breath in a safe and natural way (bad breath is thought to affect about 50% of the population). This therapy could also be helpful in preventing cavities when done regularly, because of the way that it promotes overall oral hygiene. Since it also controls plaque buildup, this could result in whiter teeth after about a week of doing this regularly.
While individual results may vary and intractable problems may require medical intervention, oil pulling seems to be a simple and natural way to maintain good oral and dental health. Since it uses nothing except coconut oil, which is a natural product found in most homes, you can easily try it out. There are no side effects either. I only wonder — why is this therapy not better known and more widely practiced?