Coconut oil pulling, also known as oil pulling, originates from traditional Indian Ayurveda medicine. Every morning, the practitioner holds a spoonful of coconut oil in his mouth for about 10 - 20 minutes and then spits it off, believing that it can "tear" the toxin out of the mouth, making teeth whiter, breathe fresh and prevent tooth decay. But is this method really as effective as rumored?
What are the benefits of coconut oil for teeth?
Coconut oil contains lauric acid, a fat that has been shown to have mild antibacterial properties. Some small studies show that oil pulling can reduce the amount of Streptococcus mutans bacteria, a bacteria related to tooth decay.
Coconut oil mouth Grinder can help reduce plaque and improve breathing in some people, especially when combined with good oral hygiene, says Dr Mark Burhenne, a dentist at AsktheDentist.com (USA). However, he also emphasized that this benefit is at a supportive level, not a therapeutic one.
In fact, the feeling of clean mouth after oil pulling partly comes from the oil flow smoothing the tooth surface, carrying away food residue and bacteria. This explains why many people feel brighter teeth, even though the enamel color has not changed at all.
No medicine to replace toothpaste
The worrying thing is that many people believe that just rinsing their mouths with coconut oil is enough, thereby neglecting to brush, apply toothpaste or have regular check-ups. Major dental associations do not recommend oil pulling as a method of proper oral care.
According to Dr. Burhenne, there is no strong scientific evidence that oil pulling can prevent tooth decay or periodontal disease more effectively than fluoride toothpaste. fluoride is still considered the "golden standard" in preventing tooth decay, something that coconut oil cannot replace.
In addition, expressing your mouth in oil for a long time can cause discomfort and nausea in some people. For people with a history of digestive disorders or weak jaw joints, this method is even less suitable.
How should you use it properly?
If you want to try oil pulling, experts recommend that you should only consider this as a supplementary measure. Brush your mouth with coconut oil up to a few times a week, do not swallow the oil after brushing, and absolutely do not replace brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
Oral care, after all, there is no way out. Traditional methods only promote their value when placed in the right place, under the light of modern science and standard oral hygiene habits.
