Natural » Dental Care & Oral Hygiene » Oil pulling for health

General introduction, background and instructions how and when to do oil pulling

See Oil Pulling Therapy: Effective Natural Detoxification, Stimulation of Elimination, Self-Help Cure and Prevention of Many Diseases Incl. Cancer?.

Oil pulling for oral detox, fixing loose teeth and cavities, strengthening teeth, stopping sensitivity, tooth decay & abscesses, eliminating bleeding gums

Oil pulling has been credited with a number of astounding oral health benefits since the times of Ayurveda, the oldest holistic healing system we know of. In Ayurveda, oil pulling is called "KAVALA GRAHAM", and the Charaka Samhita sutra sthana chapter  states that “by oil pulling with til-taila (sesame oil), teeth are not affected with cavities and they become firm-rooted. Toothache and sensitivity to sour items will be healed and one will be able to chew the hardest items.”

According to oilpulling.org, Dr. Karach MD, the "author" of oil pulling, said: "The oil therapy heals tooth pain totally. Obvious results are re-fixing of loose teeth¹ [which no dentist is able to do] the stopping of bleeding gums and the whitening of teeth." Apparently, oil pulling also removes dental infections, stops further tooth decay, and reduces/eliminates sensitivity of teeth. Quote: "[Oil pulling] is analgesic in relieving pain, antibiotic in eliminating infection, anabolic in fixing loose teeth, reduces sensitivity of teeth like sensodant and also ensures oral hygiene. OP makes this possible by its influence on the nervous system, endocrine and immune systems towards a state of balance-is health-from an unbalanced state-ill health."

Other oral benefits reported include the cleaning of a tongue that had been coated with a white-yellowish film,  the healing of aphtous ulcers and a salivary gland infection, no more tartar forming, a growth in the parotid gland which developed after starting oil pulling (likely incipient beforehand) completely healed within six weeks in combination with an exclusively raw food diet.

Sample oil pulling dental benefits testimonials

"I have been oil pulling with sunflower oil for over three years on a regular basis and I am sold. It was upon the advice of my dentist that I tried it.  My gums have much improved, since starting the routine redness, swellling and infections are gone, some of my teeth have become firmly reimplanted in their sockets! Additionally I've practically gotten rid of all tartar. Also no more sore throats and apart from a bit of sniffles at one point, hardly any colds worth mentioning! But that's no wonder considering that all toxins and bacteria are bound to the oil and spat out." (translated from the German by © Healing Teeth Naturally)

"....super-clean feeling in my mouth after oil pulling."..."best and quickest remedy I have found for sensitive teeth is oil pulling with extra virgin olive oil"... "swishing with coconut oil² several times a week...my yellow canine teeth have whitened considerably (I have tried without success bleaching, baking soda and peroxide, etc.) [and] my sensitivity in my teeth has decreased dramatically."

"I have always had sensitive and really weak teeth [but after one month of oil pulling] no tingling feeling and just an overall healthy feel in my mouth", "oil pulling has ... reinforced ... loose molar", "At first, my breath stank but I stuck with it and [after six weeks of oil pulling] my breath is now fresh and my teeth are strong",  "I had a brown discolored tooth and after 2 pulls the brown is gone. [Previously] I have had my teeth cleaned many times by a dentist and still had that brown tooth...".

Last but not least, personally I find oil pulling helpful to dislodge stuck food particles from between my teeth (particularly those I wasn't even aware of and which vigorous water rinsing hadn't managed to budge!).

Scientific research into oil pulling's dental health benefits

1. Effect of oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans  count in plaque and saliva http://www.jisppd.com/article.asp?issn=0970-4388;year=2008;volume=26;issue=1;spage=12;epage=17;aulast=Asokan

Researchers S Asokan, J Rathan, MS Muthu, Prabhu V Rathna, P Emmadi, Raghuraman, and Chamundeswari at the Meenakshi Ammal Dental College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, studied the  "Effect of oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans  count in plaque and saliva using Dentocult SM Strip mutans test: A randomized, controlled, triple-blind study".
Particularly, the study aimed "to evaluate the effect of oil pulling with sesame oil on the count of Streptococcus mutans in plaque and saliva of children, using the Dentocult SM Strip mutans test, and to compare its efficacy with that of chlorhexidine mouthwash." (published in the Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry)

2. Effect of oil pulling on plaque-induced gingivitis: A randomized, controlled, triple-blind study http://www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2009;volume=20;issue=1;spage=47;epage=51;aulast=Asokan

Researchers Sharath Asokan, Pamela Emmadi and Raghuraman Chamundeswari of the Meenakshi Ammal Dental College, Chennai, India, studied the effect of oil pulling on plaque induced gingivitis (published in the Indian Journal of Dental Research, this is a similar or identical study to number 1 above).

3. Effect of oil pulling therapy on dental caries (streptococcus mutans count in plaque and saliva) as well as plaque-induced gingivitis http://iadr.confex.com/iadr/2008Toronto/techprogram/abstract_105440.htm

Researchers A. Sharath, J. Jeevarathan, M.S. Muthu, V. Rathnaprabu, E. Pamela, R. Raghuraman and G.S. Chamundeswari at the Meenakshi Ammal Dental College & Hospital, Chennai, India, studied oil pulling with the objective of assessing "the efficacy of an Indian folk remedy, oil pulling therapy using Sesame oil (Idhayam oil) on oral health status". Randomized controlled triple blind clinical trials were performed evaluating the effect of oil pulling therapy on dental caries (streptococcus mutans count in plaque and saliva) as well as plaque-induced gingivitis.

4. Effect of oil-pulling on dental-caries-causing bacteria http://academicjournals.org/AJMR/PDF/Pdf2008/Mar/Anand et al.pdf

Researchers T. Durai Anand, C. Pothiraj, R. M. Gopinath and B. Kayalvizhi of the PG Department of Microbiology, V. H. N. S. N. College, Virudhunagar- 626 001, India, studied the "Effect of oil-pulling on dental caries causing bacteria".

"The effect of oil-pulling on the reduction of total count of bacteria was determined. There was a remarkable reduction in the total count of bacteria. The process of oil-pulling reduced the susceptibility of a host to dental caries. The in-vitro antibacterial activity of sesame oil against dental caries causing bacteria was determined. Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus were found to be moderately sensitive to the sesame oil."

5. Effect of Oil Pulling on Plaque & Gingivitis www.johcd.org/pdf/Effect_of_Oil_Pulling_on_Plaque_and_Gingivitis.pdf

Researchers HV Amith, Anil V Ankola, L Nagesh of the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, KLES Institute of Dental Sciences, Belgaum, Karnataka, India, studied the "Effect of Oil Pulling on Plaque and Gingivitis" (published in the Journal of Oral Health & Community Dentistry).

6. Effect of oil pulling on halitosis and microorganisms causing halitosis: A randomized controlled pilot trial
www.jisppd.com/article.asp?issn=0970-4388;year=2011;volume=29;issue=2;spage=90;epage=94;aulast=Asokan

Published in the Journal of the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry in 2011, this study compared the efficacy of oil pulling to that of chlorhexidine mouthwash. The researchers found that oil pulling therapy was equally effective as chlorhexidine for halitosis and the associated microorganisms. (A very impressive result considering the antimicrobial power of chlorhexidine.)

7. Mechanism of oil-pulling therapy - in vitro study
www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2011;volume=22;issue=1;spage=34;epage=37;aulast=Asokan

This study aimed to determine whether the claimed effects of oil-pulling therapy on oral health were just due to placebo.

8. Apparently, in an experiment conducted in 1992 at the Maharishi University of Management (then called Maharishi International University), in Fairfield, Iowa, students rinsing their mouths with sesame oil showed an 85% reduction in the bacteria which cause gingivitis after six weeks of twice daily rinsing.³

Oil pulling and dental pain: sample testimonials

Oil pulling and toothache: after initially successfully trying salt water, beet green/spinach leaf/blackstrap molasses, a man told me that he "switched to oil pulling and had gotten more permanent results with that for my toothache as far as pain".

A similar experience of first using salt water and then oil pulling with sesame oil which helped against toothache reads, "I have a tooth that the dentist did a root canal on and left it without a cap - result it got chipped and finally crumbled leaving a major hole. I did not feel anything for months since the pulp was dead but 2 days back I started feeling searing pain. So much so that I was ready to run to a dentist and beg that it be pulled off. Then I went to your site and read about salt water rinse. Tried it and on day 1- the pain completely disappeared. Second day however when I tried it again as my tooth hurt, it worked for a minute but the pain was back even stronger. I kept rinsing and the pain kept getting worse. I finally took some sesame oil in my mouth and started to oil pull. OMG OMG!!! The pain has been gone for 2 days now. Every time I drink something hot or cold - it starts again but I oil pull with sesame oil and it disappears. Hope this helps readers find relief from the toothache monster."

Another person wrote that "[within 3 days of] doing this [oil pulling] practice the pain [from a loose painful tooth] was eliminated completely" and the tooth solidly set.

Oil pulling has provided help with pain from braces: "I had my braces tightened this morning. My teeth were killing me all day, then when I got home, I took a dessert spoonful of 'cold pressed, unrefined sesame oil' and oil pulled. It really helped and now my teeth don't hurt as much, so if you know anyone who has braces, tell them!"

Oil pulling has afforded help with pain from temporo-mandibular joint (jaw joint) disease and fibromyalgia: "I did not think I would be able to do this for 15 minutes due to jaw pain but after 2 1/2 minutes my jaw pain left. The stiffness, pain and soreness in my body was gone before the 15 minutes was up. I have been suffering from fibromyalgia since 1991 and this is the only thing I have tried that gave me immediately relief."

Oil pulling effects:
testing your saliva with pH test strips

Your saliva's pH is very important for your dental health, see Demineralization/Remineralization).

To see what effect if any oil pulling has on my saliva pH, I have tested oil pulling by using pH test strips, measuring my saliva ph after getting up in the morning, after rinsing and cleaning my mouth with water and finally before and after oil pulling. After oil pulling, my saliva went from pH 8 to 7 to 8 again, i.e. became more acidic and then alkaline again.

Here are my sample results:

• saliva pH after getting up, measured under tongue: c. 6.4
• saliva pH after cleaning mouth with water, measured under tongue: c. 8
• saliva mixed with sunflower oil pH after c. 15 min. of oil pulling: c. 7
• saliva pH after cleaning mouth of oil via water rinsing: c. 8

Vegetable oils apparently are very weak acids so it is unlikely that the dramatic lowering of pH from 8 to 7 was due to my mixing my saliva with oil but rather can be explained by acid toxins or food residues being drawn during oil pulling from the mouth, from between the teeth etc.

Oil pulling and amalgam fillings

According to a German naturopath, people who carry amalgam fillings shouldn't do oil pulling since such a practice would draw even more noxious substances from the fillings into the mouth. I enquired with oilpulling.org asking them to comment but they had no data on this subject. 

Personally having no amalgam fillings I use oil pulling every day, and considering the potential benefits, I suggest you try including oil pulling in your dental routine as well. In case you should feel any initial aversion, it's worth trying to overcome it... (remember - you are worth it ;-).

Oil pulling and implants (and other dental work)

Apparently, oil pulling can help with the healing process after dental implant surgery. According to a comment by an experienced user found on the internet, oil pulling is safe to do even with a mouth full of various dental restorations - from fillings and crowns to root canals and dental implants. Considering that the more dental work one has had done, the more places exist for bacteria to hide (and the greater the chances of dental toxicity), gentle oil pulling could be helpful in keeping the mouth and jaw clean.⁵

On using olive oil for oil pulling

The late erudite father Thomas Häberle, an eminent but little known Swiss naturopath, used olive oil massages to great effect in a number of illnesses. He stressed that he reaped great successes using olive oil for diseases of the bones and head, writing that olive oil is able to penetrate even the hardest bones and  bring healing where it is needed. For this reason it seems ideal to use for oil pulling.

Father Thomas Häberle has left us three small but information-packed books on natural healing two of which have been translated into English, Helping & Healing and Counselling & Curing. Luckily, they are available (and inexpensively at that) via Abebooks.⁴

(Note: one person actually reported that swishing with olive oil straightened his teeth!)

Oil pulling and essential oils

I frequently add antibacterial essential oils such as peppermint, rosemary or tea tree oil to the oil I use for oil pulling, tastes great and likely does much good in terms of fighting harmful bacteria.

Oil pulling and dry mouth

If you suffer from dry mouth, in addition to hydrating yourself with water and if possible eliminating any root causes (such as certain medications), swirling oil in your mouth may help to eliminate this condition (compare Dry mouth [xerostomia]: on causes, remedies & treatments of inadequate natural production of saliva).

Important additional advice to maximise oil pulling's dental health benefits

Since the oil only "pulls" between teeth and on the gum surfaces, I would always combine it with tongue cleaning to most effectively remove the streptococcus mutans "caries bacteria" which also reside on the tongue (more at Cleaning your tongue).

Interestingly, you may not need to clean your tongue for long since health writer Erika Herbst observes in her book "Die Heilkunst von Morgen" that coated tongues typically yield to oil (or water) pulling over time.

Special tip

Oil pulling in addition to its purported or observed general healing benefits, basically is a particularly thorough way of rinsing one's mouth. Did you know that you can also rinse your mouth with (special) sugar and help heal cavities and gum disease? This at least is the experience of a number of people who have tried it and found it highly beneficial. For this different type of "pulling" shown to be highly effective against tooth decay and to heal periodontitis, see Rinsing mouth and brushing teeth with xylitol sugar.

Incidentally, one can also rinse with pure water and reap similar benefits! And if you use green tea or other herbs or substances with dental health benefits, you should do your teeth, gums and body an even greater favour (see the Dental Care & Oral Hygiene as well as Natural Remedies section for much herbal inspiration).

Footnotes

1 For a more complicated approach to fixing hopelessly "jiggly" teeth scheduled for extraction, see Saving loose teeth from extraction: Dr. Hulda Regehr Clark book excerpt.
2 Compare Another tooth-friendly oil? Virgin coconut oil.
3 The same university also saw the publication of a doctoral thesis involving sesame oil written by John William Salerno and titled "Selective growth inhibition of human colon adenocarcinoma and malignant melanoma cell lines by sesame oil in vitro."

4 Häberle’s books distill his experience as a naturopathic healer over several decades and are a real treasure trove of little known healing secrets (although widely read in the subject of natural healing, personally I had never come across most of what he shares). He also often used cabbage leaf packs but combined them with other simple measures to frequently reap spectacular successes. PS. If you buy Häberle’s books via the above Abebooks link, Healing Teeth Naturally will receive a small commission of 6.5% (at no extra cost to you) which goes to support its humanitarian work.
Incidentally, one source recommended avoiding olive oil for oil pulling saying its natural beta-carotene content might stain the teeth yellow if olive oil is frequently used. I don't know if this is a valid argument but the possible benefits seem to far outweigh this "risk".

5 For reasons of health, Healing Teeth Naturally strongly opposes most all dental work, see the detailed coverage of the various procedures under Conventional.

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