Coconut oil swishing

Yu Feng Lin & Fawziya Twam

Coconut oil swishing, also known as oil pulling, is a traditional Ayurvedic practice that involves swishing a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth for about 15-20 minutes and then spitting it out. Ayurveda uses a natural approach to herbs and spices, using holistic remedies to find the root cause of any problem and manage it holistically. Coconut oil is widely available and cost-effective, making it an attractive option for many people seeking to prevent common oral diseases through the practice of oil pulling. Coconut oil has 92% saturated medium-chain fatty acids, most of which are lauric acid, followed by other acids, such as capric acid, caprylic acid, etc., and its glycolipid component is sucrose monolaurate. It can oxidize sucrose on Streptococcus mutans, preventing its regeneration and reattachment of plaque, and has anti-caries properties. Proponents of coconut oil swishing claim various health benefits, but it's essential to evaluate these claims using evidence-based medicine principles.

There is limited scientific evidence to support many of the health claims associated with coconut oil swishing. However, some studies suggest that oil pulling with coconut oil may help reduce plaque and improve oral hygiene by reducing the levels of harmful bacteria in the mouth. However, these effects are generally modest and may not be superior to traditional oral hygiene practices like brushing and flossing. There is also limited evidence to suggest that coconut oil swishing may have a mild positive effect on gum health, including reducing gingivitis and plaque-induced gum inflammation. Some people claim that oil pulling with coconut oil can whiten teeth. While there's anecdotal evidence supporting this claim, there's no strong scientific evidence to confirm its effectiveness. Others suggest that it can detoxify the body, improve skin conditions, and even boost the immune system. However, there's no substantial scientific evidence to back up these claims.

The objective of one study was to assess the effectiveness of oil pulling with coconut oil in improving oral health and dental hygiene. To achieve this objective, the researchers conducted a review that included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of oil pulling with coconut oil on oral health and dental hygiene. Notably, no meta-analysis was performed due to variations in clinical heterogeneity and differences in data reporting across the included studies. The researchers conducted comprehensive searches across six electronic databases, including PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, AMED, CENTRAL, and CINAHL. Their efforts yielded 42 eligible studies, from which four RCTs involving a total of 182 participants were selected for analysis. These trials ranged in duration from 7 to 14 days.

The results of the selected studies indicated some significant findings. Oil pulling with coconut oil showed promise in reducing salivary bacterial colony counts (p = 0.03) and plaque index scores (p < 0.001). In addition, one of the studies demonstrated a significant difference in staining when compared to the use of Chlorhexidine (p = 0.0002). However, it's important to note that the available data was deemed insufficient for drawing conclusive findings. Furthermore, the quality of the included studies was mixed, and there was a high risk of bias in some cases.

A separate study aimed to compare the microbiological effects of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) pulling with Palm Oil (PO) pulling when used as adjunctive oral hygiene care. The study involved 36 volunteers with gingival inflammation who were randomly assigned to two groups: one starting with VCO (test) and the other with PO (control) in a crossover design. Oil pulling was performed for 28 days alongside their regular oral hygiene routines. After a 21-day wash-out period, the participants switched to the other oil type and repeated the protocol. Plaque samples were collected at different points, including baseline, after the first oil pulling period, after the washout, and after the second oil pulling period. The study measured various microbiological parameters, including total, aerobic, and anaerobic bacteria, as well as Mutans streptococci (MS) counts. The mean differences between VCO and PO were compared using paired t-tests.

The results showed that after 28 days of oil pulling, there was no significant difference in the number of total, aerobic, or anaerobic bacteria compared to baseline in both the PO and VCO groups. However, PO pulling demonstrated a significant reduction in MS count compared to baseline (P = 0.010), whereas VCO pulling did not show a significant reduction in MS count. Importantly, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean changes of any microbiological parameters between the two treatments.

The study found that VCO pulling did not demonstrate a statistically significant superior benefit in reducing plaque bacteria compared to PO pulling. However, PO pulling appeared to reduce Mutans streptococci (MS), which are associated with dental caries, significantly. The study concluded that further investigations are needed to better understand the potential oral health benefits of different oil pulling practices and their effects on specific types of oral bacteria.

While coconut oil is generally considered safe for oral use, there can be side effects such as nausea, upset stomach, and an unpleasant taste. Additionally, oil pulling should not be used as a substitute for regular dental care and oral hygiene practices recommended by dental professionals.

The limited evidence from these studies suggests that oil pulling with coconut oil may have a positive impact on oral health and dental hygiene. However, to establish a more robust understanding of its effectiveness, future clinical trials with rigorous designs and execution are needed. Given the universal availability of coconut oil, it holds potential as an adjunct to standard preventative oral health regimens.

References:

Peng TR, Cheng HY, Wu TW, Ng BK. Effectiveness of Oil Pulling for Improving Oral Health: A Meta-Analysis. Healthcare (Basel). 2022;10(10):1991. Published 2022 Oct 11. doi:10.3390/healthcare10101991

Siripaiboonpong N, Matangkasombut O, Pengcharoen H, Boonchaiyapluk B, Rujiraprasert P, Srithanyarat SS. Microbiological Effects of Virgin Coconut Oil Pulling in Comparison with Palm Oil Pulling as an Adjunctive Oral Hygiene Care for Patients with Gingival Inflammation: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. J Indian Soc Periodontol. 2022;26(1):58-63. doi:10.4103/jisp.jisp_768_20

Woolley J, Gibbons T, Patel K, Sacco R. The effect of oil pulling with coconut oil to improve dental hygiene and oral health: A systematic review. Heliyon. 2020;6(8):e04789. Published 2020 Aug 27. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04789

Oil Pulling/ Oil Swishing

Oil pulling or “gundusha” is an ancient Ayurvedic dental technique to draw out toxins from your body. The method requires the user to swish oil such as sesame seed oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil (since coconut oil has a pleasant taste, I would recommend using this oil.) in their mouth for 20 minutes. The purpose of oil pulling is a natural alternative to mouth wash, it reduces bad breath by eliminating harmful material, prevents cavities, and seems to reduce inflammation and improve gum health.

According to a study 60 people were split into 3 groups; group A had rinsed with 10ml of coconut oil for 10 minutes while group B rinsed with 5ml chlorhexidine mouth wash for 1 minute. Group C, the control group, took 5ml of distilled water for 1 minute before brushing. Saliva samples were collected and cultured on 1st day and after 2 weeks from all subjects. Colonies were counted to compare the efficacy of coconut oil and Chlorhexidine with distilled water. There was a statistically significant reduction in S. mutans count was seen in both the coconut oil pulling and Chlorhexidine group.

Another study evaluated the effect of coconut oil swishing on plaque formation and plaque induced gingivitis. 60 boys and girls from ages 16 – 18 years with plaque induced gingivitis added oil pulling to their daily routine for 30 days. A statistically significant decrease in the plaque and gingival indices was noticed from day 7 and the scores continued to decrease during the period of study.

As someone who is generally interested in alternative medicine, I decided to try and see for myself how oil pulling would work for me. I chose to use Coconut oil since it seemed the most common, I also know that coconut oil contains vitamin E which is an antioxidant and has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties thanks to the lauric acid and monolaurin (this is the science behind how it must act as a natural mouthwash). Coconut oil also contains Vitamin A which is good for the immune system, and the vitamin D is good for strengthening the bones, including teeth. I decided to warm by oil up in the microwave to make more of a palatable texture, then I took a spoonful and swished in my mouth for 20 minutes. The oil grows as you continue to swish since it is pulling the saliva and toxins with it. After the 20 minutes I spit it in the garbage (since it is thick, I didn’t know if it would clog the drain), then I brushed my teeth. I did this process for a week so far. I started to get a headache after day 2 and through research, It must have been “detox” headaches because I stopped getting them after day 4. Even after just 7 days, I do notice my teeth getting slightly whiter.

Overall, more research needs to be conducted on how successful oil pulling is at preventing gum disease and cavities, however I do recommend it as an alternative to mouthwash if you can tolerate the texture and are someone who would rather use organic and natural products where possible.

References:

Kaushik M, Reddy P, Sharma R, Udameshi P, Mehra N, Marwaha A. The Effect of Coconut Oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans Count in Saliva in Comparison with Chlorhexidine Mouthwash. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2016;17(1):38-41. Published 2016 Jan 1. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1800

Peedikayil FC, Sreenivasan P, Narayanan A. Effect of coconut oil in plaque related gingivitis - A preliminary report. Niger Med J. 2015;56(2):143-147. doi:10.4103/0300-1652.153406

Natural medicines are becoming more popular in the United States, however, in some Asian and African countries, 80% of the population depends on traditional, natural medicines as a primary source of health care. Herbals are the most popular form of traditional medicine and many benefits have come along with using these traditional medicines even though the science and technology around health care are ever-growing and advanced.

Oil pulling is a procedure that involves swishing oil in the mouth for oral and systemic health benefits. This is claimed to cure over 30 systemic diseases ranging from headaches and migraines to diabetes and asthma. Oiling pulling can be done using sunflower or sesame oil. Oil pulling can be used to clean the oral cavity when pushing is contraindicated in a patient. Gandusha is a technique that involves filling the mouth completely with fluid so that gargling is impossible and held for 3-5 minutes and then released. Kavala Graha is when a comfortable amount of liquid is retained in the mouth and held for 3 minutes and then gargled. These techniques are used to reduce bad breath, dry face, dull senses, exhaustion, and loss of taste.

A study was done to evaluate the effect of sesame oil pulling on plaque-induced gingivitis when compared with the efficacy of chlorhexidine mouthwash. The oil pulling therapy shed a reduction in the plaque index, modified gingival scores, and the total colony count of aerobic microorganisms in the plaque of adolescents with plaque-induced gingivitis.

Oiling pulling can prevent surgery and the use of medication to treat chronic illnesses. There is also evidence that oil pulling can cure several chronic illnesses. Amazingly, a local technique can provide total body effects. Ayurveda, a traditional medicine system in India, advises oil gargling to purify the entire body because each section of the tongue is connected to different organs of the body including kidneys, lungs, liver, heart, small intestines, stomach, and spine.

The oils used for pulling are 30 straight-chain fatty acids that contain antibacterial and antifungal properties that contain 8 gram negative and 12 gram positive coverage. This is especially helpful because it kills bacteria that is the main cause of gingivitis and plaque build up that can lead to cavities in the teeth.

Many benefits are associated with oil pulling. If done as directed, it can disinfect the mouth of harmful bacteria, reduce the presence of bad breath, help to prevent cavities, reduce inflammation, and improve overall gum health. The best way to see results is to switch about a tablespoon of oil around your mouth for 15-20 minutes, spit used oil into a trash can (to avoid clogging sinks and toilets and repeat a few times a week.

References:

Kabara JJ, Swieczkowski DM, Conley AJ, Truant JP. Fatty acids and derivatives as antimicrobial agents. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1972;2(1):23-28. doi:10.1128/aac.2.1.23

Link R. 6 Benefits of Oil Pulling — Plus How to Do It. Health Line. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-benefits-of-oil-pulling#TOC_TITLE_HDR_4. Published July 1, 2017. Accessed January 13, 2021.

Singh A, Purohit B. Tooth brushing, oil pulling and tissue regeneration: A review of holistic approaches to oral health. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2011;2(2):64-68. doi:10.4103/0975-9476.82525

Hi Dr. Cesiro, I have decided to write a small summary on the origin of this CAM therapy from the link you have provided.

Dental deformities such as oral cavities, plaque, and infections were managed with coconut oil in accent India. Oil pulling is also known as Kaval Gandush, and is claimed to help cure about 30 different systemic diseases.

Ayurveda recommends chewing sticks in the morning after every meal to prevent diseases. These chewing sticks would come from different fresh stems of plants. Neem is a famous herbal chewing stick. A study that took place analyzing about 2000 children in Mumbai for dental caries found that ones using neem datum found to have less dental caries. In southern India, mango leaf is another thing that is widely used for cleaning teeth.

Oil pulling is in CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) and provides both oral and systemic health benefits. Since hard brushing is not recommended when a mouth ulcer happens, oil pulling can be used as an alternative. It can also provide benefits to bad breath, dry face, exhaustion, loss of taste, impaired vision, and sore throat.

5 benefits of Coconut oil swishing is the following:

1. can kill harmful bacteria in your mouth

2. could help reduce bad bread

3. it may help prevent cavities

4. seems to reduce inflammation and improve gum health

5. cheap and easy add to your routine

Coconut oil vs mouthwash

Another study was done with 60 people, split into 3 groups:

Group A: rinse with 10 ml coconut oil for 10 mins

Group B: rinse with 5 ml Chlorhexidine mouthwash for 1 minute

Group C: 5 ml distilled water for 1 minute in the morning before brushing

The results showed that there was a reduction in the bacteria Streptococcus mutans count in both coconut oil AND the chlorhexidine group

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-benefits-of-oil-pulling#section1

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27084861

Hello Ruchira, Thank you for your information about the Ayurvedic dental technique of "oil pulling," also known as "kavala" or "gundusha." Here is another article that may be of interest: Tooth brushing, oil pulling and tissue regeneration: A review of holistic approaches to oral health

Coconut oil swishing- what exactly is it?

“Oil pulling” or “oil swishing” is a method where people rinse or swish oil in their mouth. Some common oils used for this are sesame oil, sunflower oil and coconut oil. Coconut oil contains lauric acid which have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. Your body breaks down lauric acid and it can kill bacteria, fungi and viruses in your body. Lauric acid is more effective at killing these pathogens than any other saturated fatty acid. Lauric acid is especially good at killing oral bacteria called Streptococcus mutans that leads to tooth decay. I have researched a couple studies to see the effect of coconut oil swishing, where you would use coconut oil as a substitution to mouthwash.

Effect of coconut oil in plaque related gingivitis

60 boys and girls ages 16-18 with plaque induced gingivitis were included in the study and were told to use oil pulling in their daily hygiene routine.

This trial excluded patients who used systemic or topical antibiotics and had a history of dental treatment in the past month. Basically the study wanted to compare the baseline and post intervention. Plaque index was measured at baseline, days 1, 7, 15 and 30. Day 1: mean gingival index was 0.91 and plaque index was 1.19. Day 30: mean gingival index was 0.401 and plaque index was 0.385. Index is calculated by dividing the number of plaque containing surfaces by the total number of available surfaces. The result of this study showed that there was decrease in plaque index for patients.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC444260/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4382606/