oil pulling for oral health, champion dental specialist, texas

Does Oil Pulling for Oral Health Actually Work?

It May Not Be as Beneficial as You Might Think

oil pulling for oral health, champion dental specialist, texas

Everyone loves nice-looking teeth and no one wants gum disease that knows anything about it. Shortcuts are always being sought, and people will quickly flock to products or methods that sound like it will work to obtain these goals. Of course, new methods such as oil pulling are sought because you can do it at home and – let’s face it – dentists are not cheap!

 

The Coconut Oil Pulling Procedure

Coconut oil for teeth has been on the scene for a while now and using it for oil pulling is a continuing craze. People have been using this technique for centuries. It comes from an old Indian (Ayurvedic) folk remedy and it is claimed that it will pull out some of the toxins in your body, as well as destroy some of the bacteria in your mouth. 

Oil pulling is a technique that involves putting a tablespoon of coconut oil (or sesame oil) in your mouth and then swishing it around for about 20 minutes. Because 20 minutes is usually too long to start with, go for just five minutes and then add a couple of minutes each time after that. After swishing it around, spit it out in the trash can because it will solidify in your pipes and can clog them. It has a melting point of 75 degrees F, which is about room temperature. Afterwards, you will want to rinse your mouth out two or three times with water, then brush your teeth.

 

The Claims of Oil Pulling

As you read over the claimed coconut oil pulling benefits, you will discover that there are many. They will vary from site to site, but you may find the following claims:

  • It helps with teeth whitening
  • It will reduce inflammation
  • It is good for treating gum disease
  • It helps prevent tooth decay
  • It strengthens your gums and jaw. 

 

The Reality of Oil Pulling

In spite of the many claims of oil pulling, often given by famous people, there really is not any proof that it works. The primary reason is that very little research has actually been done on it. This means that there is no proof that it will actually help prevent cavities, whiten your teeth, or detoxify your mouth or body. 

Because there is no official proof of its ability to improve your oral health, the American Dental Association does not recommend it for this purpose. Of course, if you wish to try it for yourself, you are free to do so, but it is advised that you do not try and use it as a substitute for brushing and flossing. 

The bacterium that is in your mouth is there to stay. There are more than 500 different types of bacteria, and there are some that are considered harmful. In most people – except for those who have a weak immune system, or those who smoke or drink a lot – the bacteria is normally kept in balance in a healthy mouth. It is also unlikely that you will exterminate the potentially harmful bacteria without also destroying some of the good ones. 

 

The Best Way to Improve Oral Health

When you want to improve your dental health, you do not want to leave out the traditional methods of brushing and flossing. Since plaque is constantly forming on your teeth, you want to be sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day. The best practice is to spend a full two minutes each time you brush to ensure a good job. You also want to floss each day, too. 

Brushing and flossing are necessary because it enables you to remove the food particles, bacteria, and the acid they produce from the surfaces of your teeth. Without flossing, these three ingredients are left between your teeth, and together they make a good recipe for sensitive teeth and cavities.

 

Visit the Dentist Regularly

There really is no substitute for going to a dentist on a regular basis. The main reason is to ensure that your teeth and smile continue to look as good as possible. When a dental problem gets started, that is the best time to let the dentist fix it. If you wait, it is only going to cost more.

Dentists spot problems early, and this is important particularly in the areas of gum disease and oral cancer. Both can be treated from the start, and this also enables the potential damage to be minimized. 

While you may want to try oil pulling for your own purposes to see if it will help you in any way, remember to take care of your teeth the traditional way to ensure that they last a long time. Your dentist can also provide you with many tips to help your oral health that are proven. 

 

If you want proven methods for better oral health, Champion Dental Clinic, Farmers Branch , Texas  can provide it. We provide a wide range of dental care services for all ages and accepts most dental health plans. For a consultation or dental checkup, you can contact our office today at 214-747-0763

detox your mouth dfw tx

How to Detox Your Mouth?

Get Better Dental Health with an Oral Detox

detox your mouth dfw tx

Your mouth is the host to more than 500 different kinds of bacteria. While much of it is necessary and beneficial, some of this vast number is harmful to your teeth and gums. If you have bad breath or know that you have gum disease, you can detox your mouth to help remove some of these problems. 

 

Why You Should Detox Your Mouth

Every day there is a battle going on in your mouth. It is the good bacteria versus the bad. The good bacteria try to keep the bad bacteria under control, but there are some things that can energize the bad bacteria so that the good bacteria are not strong enough to do so. 

Evidence that the bad bacteria is out of control in your mouth is bad breath. Another piece of evidence is that your gums bleed when you brush or floss them. If your gums appear red or inflamed is one more piece of evidence that you need detoxification. Detoxing your mouth can help eradicate the bad bacteria and restore the health of your mouth over time. 

 

Why the Health of Your Mouth Matters

Recent research reveals that having gum disease, caused by the bad bacteria being out of control, will affect your overall health. This is because the bad bacteria cause inflammation, and inflammation leads to coronary artery disease, diabetes, heart attacks, stroke, and even some forms of cancer. Because of this, no amount of gum disease is healthy. 

 

Things That Strengthen the Bad Bacteria

Before you can understand how to reduce and control the bad bacteria, you need to understand what causes it to get out of control in the first place. It may surprise you to learn that the bad bacteria feed on sugar. This means that every time you drink a soda or sip on a coffee or tea with loads of sugar in it, you are strengthening the bad bacteria in your mouth. The problem with this is that when it gets sugar, it turns it into an acid that slowly corrodes the enamel on your teeth.

So, while you may detox your mouth to try and remove some of the bad bacteria, if you eat a lot of carbs and sugar-laden drinks, you are not going to have much success. Drinking water and eating healthy foods will be much better for your overall health. Diabetes will also need to be controlled because high sugar levels in your blood will promote gum disease. 

 

How to Detox

There are numerous ways to detox your mouth. Here are some that you may want to try.

  • Green Tea

Green tea is known for its many health benefits. It contains anti-oxidants and flavonoids that have properties needed to help control the bad bacteria in your mouth. One study, published in the Journal of Periodontology, indicated that men who drank green tea had better oral health than those who did not. For every cup of green tea consumed, it reduced further the indicators of periodontal disease.

  • Oil Pulling

Oil pulling has been used for thousands of years in India as a way to prevent tooth decay, bad breath, bleeding gums, and more. Although this may not be as appealing as some other methods of detoxing your mouth, the benefits of using sesame oil have been tested by the National Institutes of Health and found to be an effective way to improve your oral health.

Sesame seed oil, some people also like coconut oil, can be used to detox your mouth. Simply swish it around your mouth for around 10-15 minutes or more before brushing your teeth. Then spit it out in the trash can (it can clog your drains), and rinse with water. In the case of coconut oil, which is a semi-solid at room temperature, let it melt in your mouth first, and then swish it around. Some people also say that it will whiten your teeth.

 

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil has also been used for centuries to help reduce oral problems. It is known to have anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties. This ability can be used to detox your mouth and help to alleviate the bacteria that cause periodontitis. One government report indicated that it was helpful in reducing the bacteria that cause periodontitis and reducing inflammation.

Detoxing your mouth is not a substitute for dental care. While it can help control the bacteria and reduce inflammation, it will not fix problems once they develop. You will still need cavities to be filled, and antibiotics, and possibly even surgery may be necessary to correct problems caused by a severe periodontal disease. 

For the best mouth health, you will also need to quit smoking. The chemicals from tobacco of any kind will raise your risk of gum disease, and it will also slow the ability of your gums to heal or fight the disease. 

 

Even though you use various home remedies to detox your mouth, it is still necessary to see a dentist for regular checkups. If you live in the Farmers Branch, TX  you can get dental care by making a visit to Champion Dental office. We perform many dental services and can help you get on the right track with the dental care you need. For more information, or to set up an appointment, you can call (214) 747-0763