Oral health is important as well as good oral hygiene. These good oral hygiene practices are extended beyond the use of good toothpaste and dental flossing. An important component of this includes OIL PULLING.

Oil Pulling – What the Hype is About?

Oil pulling, obviously the term isn’t new for us. The first of oil for better denta; health can date back to ancient times. This practice is a part of good oral hygiene protocols. The technique can be used daily and helps to keep our teeth healthy by making your oral cavity germ-free. 

The technique of oil pulling is as important as the use of any regular mouthwash. I remember my mother had a recurrent oral health problem and any of the mouthwash she used became ineffective after some time. Of course, we can blame microbial resistance for this. Then, after consulting with the best dentist in Lahore, she started doing oil pulling and that reduced her oral health problem to a greater extent.  

How is Oil Pulling Done?

Oil pulling isn’t a difficult thing to do. All you need is to swish, a lot of swishing. You keep oil in your mouth, typically an edible oil such as coconut oil. Then you swish this oil in your mouth for around 20 minutes and then spit it out. The procedure is known to pull out all the disease-causing germs in your mouth that can take a toll on your oral health. 

Why is OIl Pulling Good for Us? 

Here are some of the potential benefits if oil pulling you need to know about:

1- Killing bacteria

Bacteria are everywhere, even in places we don’t expect them. However, bacteria on your teeth is a common thing and of course a cause of many of your oral health problems. These bacteria can cause damage to your oral health in many ways. From releasing acids to decaying your teeth and affecting your gums, bacteria are bad for you. Oil pulling can reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth and keep many of your oral health problems at bay.

2- No more cavities

Bacteria in your mouth can be a cause of dental cavities. Cavities are the holes in your teeth that are formed as a result of tooth decay. Among many things that can cause tooth decay, bacteria in your mouth serve as an important reason. So, when you start doing oil pulling you are less likely to suffer from dental cavities.

3- Improved gum health

Next in the list of benefits of oil pulling comes the role of oil pulling towards better gum health. Gum diseases are painful and can be the worst to live with. However, using techniques like oil pulling can keep your gums healthy. This is possible because oil pulling eliminates the bacteria in your mouth alongside fighting inflammation. Thus, all of these can help with better gum health.

4- Get rid of bad breath

Bad breath can make you feel bad and embarrassed in the middle of any social gathering. Talk about yourself and how uncomfortable you become when someone with a bad breath comes close to you. Again our oral bacteria are responsible for this. Oil pulling can also be helpful here. When you do oil pulling daily, you are less likely to have oral bacteria that can cause bad breath.

Tips for Oil Pulling

Whenever doing oil pulling, here are some of the tips you need to consider. 

• You can start with gradual swishing. It is not necessary to start with 20 minutes in the beginning. 
• Be careful while swishing because accidental swallowing can cause harmful bacteria to get into your body.
• Try doing it earlier in the morning for better outcomes. 
• Do it peacefully and don’t move unnecessarily because you will either swallow the oil or spit it out. 
• You can start a few drops of essential oil to the edible oil for better results. 

Bottom Line!

Oil pulling is an ancient practice and has many potential benefits for your oral health. However, while doing oil pulling make sure you are aware of the right practices to keep your teeth healthy. Further, all these practices alone can’t guarantee good dental health, so make sure you visit your dentist regularly.