Oil Pulling is an ancient Indian practice that claims to whiten your teeth, freshen your breath and improve oral health. It involves swishing a tablespoon of oil in your mouth to kill harmful bacterias. This article explores all oil pulling benefits, how you do it and its side effects.
Procedure Of Oil Pulling
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Oil pulling is an ayurvedic treatment known as gundusha that is practised in India for thousands of years as a remedy for better oral health. You can use any oil for it but most people would prefer coconut oil for a better taste.
To clean your teeth by oil pulling, take a tablespoon of coconut oil and put it into your mouth. Then swish it around in your mouth for 15- 20 minutes. Use a teaspoon of oil in the case of children more than five years old.
Always prefer to do oil pulling with an empty stomach, early in the morning.
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4 Health Benefits Of Oil Pulling
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1. Kill harmful bacteria in Mouth
Approximately there are 700 types of bacteria in our mouth. Many among them are harmful and cause problems like tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath. Studies say that oil pulling could remove the harmful bacteria in your mouth.
2. Help In Reduce Bad Breath
Bad Breath is caused by the bacteria that gets trapped in your mouth. As a result, they cause diseases such as gum infection, poor oral hygiene and tongue coating.
Oil pulling helps in getting rid of those bacterias as well as bad breathing. Research says that it is as effective as chlorhexidine ( an antiseptic used to prevent infection during surgery.)
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3. Prevent Cavities
Eating too much sugar gives rise to bad bacterias in our mouths. These bacterias make layers on our teeth causing holes in our teeth, commonly known as cavities.
Oil pulling removes those layers and also benefits you in teeth whitening.
4. Reduce Inflammation and Improve Gum Health
These harmful bacterias weaken gums and make them bleed easily. Some people may get Gingivities as well which is a major gum disease that causes red swollen gums. Oil pulling prevents these kinds of problems and makes the roots of gum stronger and bacteria-free.
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Side Effects Of Oil Pulling
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The method is not known for physical side effects. However, you can notice mild effects such as a headache or sore jaw initially. But you also have to be very careful while practising this. Because if you swallow the oil during the process, it can cause an upset stomach or diarrhoea.
Oil pulling doesn’t replace brushing and flossing which means you have to follow this remedy as an alternate method. Also, always practise gundusha after consulting with your dentist.