Can You Use Oil Pulling to Cure Gum Disease?

If you're looking for a natural treatment for gum disease, you may have come across oil pulling as an option. Based on Ayurvedic principles, oil pulling is generally used to remove toxins from your body. The practice is considered to be particularly good for your oral health, as pulling is focused in your mouth. How does oil pulling work on gum disease?

Oil Pulling and Inflammation

If you have gum disease, it's important to keep your teeth and gums as clean as possible to prevent further problems developing; however, this isn't always easy. If your gums are red, swollen or tender, you may find it painful to brush your teeth and gums correctly.

Oil pulling may help treat these symptoms by reducing inflammation, making it easier for you to get back on track with your regular cleaning routine. For example, coconut oil has anti-inflammatory properties that may reduce swelling and soothe inflammation.

Oil Pulling and Bacteria Removal

Gum disease is typically caused by oral bacteria such as plaque. If you have bacterial gum problems, oil pulling may be helpful initially because it can remove some of the bacteria from your mouth. Bacteria has a fatty layer on its exterior that sticks to the fats in the oil you pull. At the end of an oil pull, you don't just spit out oil but also spit out the bacteria that has stuck to the oil.

Oil Pulling and Plaque Formation

Oil pulling may also help reduce the amount of plaque that can form on your teeth and around your gums by changing the surface of your teeth to make it harder for plaque to stick. For example, coconut oil reacts with saliva to create a soapy substance that sits on your teeth. If your teeth are coated with this kind of substance, plaque may simply find it harder to get a foothold on your teeth and around your gums. This may reduce the amount of plaque that can form in your mouth.

Oil pulling may help you avoid gum disease by keeping your teeth and gums in a good condition; it may also help you manage the symptoms and future growth of existing gum disease. However, oil pulling may not be enough of a solution to fix the root cause of an existing gum problem, and there is no evidence that oil pulling is a complete cure for gum disease on its own. It's still important to see your dentist for treatment if you think you have gum problems.