Swish Away Your Cavities And Rebuild Your Damaged Teeth

Ayurveda and traditional Medicine outline various benefits one gets by using natural products. Charaka Samahita the ancient Ayurvedic writings mentions kavala gandosha, which translates to oil swishing. There are many benefits of oil swishing. This oral treatment reduces incidence of diseases and improves dental health. It reduces gingivitis, halitosis and plaque significantly. Here we are going to see how to do this and what benefits we get from it.

Oil Swishing is as important as drinking milk. It removes a whole collection of bacteria that accumulate in the mouth during the night. Children however, need to grow up before they start this.

Best do oil pulling during early mornings, when the stomach is empty for the best benefits of oil swishing. Using cold oil improves the efficacy of the method. Swish oil around in mouth for at least 15 or more minutes. One has to do this every other day or once in three days.

Once one has done oil swishing, one has to clean out the mouth using salt water. Then one may clean and brush the teeth in a normal way using brush and paste. Salt water adds minerals to enamels.

Hygiene begins and ends with the mouth. This the origin of input for metabolism and any bacteria that gets in will invade the body system and lead to diseases and poor health. People with poorly formed teeth will often have attacks from diseases and infections.

Why is oil pulling so important to hygiene?

Oil pulling provides an effective solution to removing bacteria from the mouth. The condition of teeth may be bad, but if one regularly practices oil pulling, these conditions will improve. One may remove the streptococcus bacterium that causes tooth decay through this method. This is one benefit of oil swishing.

What is tooth decay?

Caries is a common term used to describe tooth decay. Caries in general, applies to all decay of bones and teeth anywhere in the body. In particular, for teeth, caries refers to tooth decay.

What is tooth structure?

The tooth consists of enamel the top covering which is very hard. The other tissues are dentin, the dental pulp and cementum. Cementum covers lower layers of tooth while dentin covers top portion or crown.

Which are the most common dental problems?

Two main problems are formation of plaque, a film of bacteria and caries, the actual rot that affects teeth. These form through improper oral care. If left untreated, plaque will lead to caries.

How does plaque affect oral health?

Plaque covers entire top surfaces of teeth and release bacteria that feed on food particles left behind in the mouth crevices. This results in formation of acids that begin to erode the enamel. When the pH of the mouth falls below 5.5, enamel begins to dissolve. Thus, the protective layer leach away when one consumes anything acidic or sugary.

What is demineralisation and how does this relate to tooth decay?

Demineralisation is leaching away of protective enamel layer. Enamel consists mostly of minerals that make them so hard. Bacteria consist mostly of plaque. Some of these live of sugars, starches and related food material. When oxygen is absent, these produce lactic acid that leaches calcium and phosphorus from teeth. This demineralisation leads to tooth destruction.

What is remineralisation and how does it take place?

Replenishment of minerals of teeth is termed as remineralisation. This takes place simultaneously with demineralisation all the time. If one follows good oral hygiene remineralisation will be more but if there is more dirt then demineralisation rate will be greater.

Remineralisation happens when you consume good food, brush your teeth regularly and use proper rinses for your mouth. Calcium is essential to dental health, just like phosphorus. Addition of these ingredients takes place internally through metabolic digestion of food or externally through mouthwashes or toothpastes.

What is significance of brushing? Is toothpaste of any use to dental hygiene?

Brushing is essential for proper hygiene. Brushing removes all dirt hidden in crevices and gaps within the teeth. Through this, one deters formation of plaque that can destroy teeth.

Toothpastes are very useful for a variety of purposes.

1) Provide shining action

2) Provide fluoride

3) Provide agents that cut through plaque

4) Deodorizes the mouth

Toothpastes have material that shine up teeth. This helps prevent bacteria build up. The fluoride is very useful for formation of mineral crystals or remineralisation. This remineralisation helps strengthen teeth and enamel. One must destroy the plaque already present. One does this through chemical action by substances in pastes. Lastly, toothpastes a certain amount of refreshing agents that makes the mouth, smell good again.

What are contributing factors to decay of teeth?

People are remiss about their dental hygiene and go see a dentist only when their teeth have decayed considerably. This decay happens due to:

a) Not brushing

b) Not flossing

c) Not use mouthwashes

d) Improper diet

e) Irregular in their dental checkups

Most important thing that contributes to decay of teeth is presence of food debris. One rinses his or her mouth with water and hopes for the best. Actually, there is a significant amount of food caught in the crevices of the teeth. Brushing will get rid of all these dirt and debris quickly.

For people who have gaps in their teeth flossing helps to clean effectively. Mouthwashes have fluoride and minerals in them. This helps fight against plaque while helping in mineralization process. Regular dental check-ups will ensure that your teeth in pristine condition always.

People addicted to sweets will have bacteria in huge amounts. These kinds of foods such as soda and carbonated drinks have excess sugars that favor bacteria build up. This will lead to plaque formation, which will ultimately lead to caries.

What is flossing and how is it useful?

One does flossing with floss and one uses this method to dislodge dirt and food particles stuck in between teeth. This is useful for old people because young people do not have so much gaps or crevices in their teeth. Older people will find flossing more essential than brushing since their teeth is past its prime.

This is useful since it removes food left behind. The bacteria that feed on starches and food particles now do not have anything to feed. This reduces lactic acid formation and hence reduces tooth decay.

Why must we brush and floss everyday?

For complete dental care, we must brush our teeth and floss them properly. This prevents bacteria build up, and reduces the incidence of plaque formation. Demineralization thus reduces to minimum while the minerals in ones toothpaste helps remineralization. This helps strengthen teeth.

What is procedure for brushing and flossing?

Brushing

For brushing, use a toothbrush with soft bristles.

Hold brush inclined at around 40˚- 45˚ with teeth.

Use gentle circular movement to clean small portions of the teeth.

Do not use swift motion as this will result in ineffective cleaning as well as possibly hurt the mouth.

Flossing

One can do this with floss about 18-20 cm length. Wrap some around the two fingers of one hand and pass the floss through the teeth. After that hold the other end tight and pull. One can use sideways motion if there is large gap or use to-and-fro motion is the gap is small. Press the floss against side of teeth and rub up and down until you are sure that it is clean.

Will there be any difference if one uses mouthwashes?

Mouthwashes or rinses are effective only when one has cleaned the mouth through brushing. Mouthwashes contain a refreshing agent and minerals. Minerals help remineralization that strengthens teeth.

What are the desirable qualities of toothpastes and toothbrushes?

Toothbrushes

These should be small enough for your mouth and easy to maneuver around in the mouth. It should have pointed head to facilitate reach of corners of mouth. The bristles should be soft and the head should be big enough to make brushing easy.

Toothpastes

These should contain fluoride, as these are essential for building minerals that help strengthen enamel. They should have a crystal that helps shining action. It should also contain minerals.

What are things to avoid while doing oil pulling?

a) Do not swallow oil

b) Do not gargle vigorously

c) Do not hurry the process

d) Do not forget to brush

Once you swish oil around in the mouth, it contains lot of dirt and bacteria. It is thus toxic. So, one should not swallow it. Similarly, one must not let children do oil pulling. They will swallow the oil.

One must avoid gargling, as this will let the oil enter the throat. At the same time, one must be slow when one is moving the oil around. It must reach every corner of the mouth. Only then, one can remove all bacteria.

Once you have done oil swishing, for best results of oil swishing one has to clean and brush the mouth.

Does oil swishing affect the entire body?

Health improvements as per an unconfirmed report reported improvement in diverse areas of health. Digestive system, skin elimination and joints showed good improvement. So also, for those with pain in various parts of the body, and those with respiratory system, heart and circulation problems, there was significant improvement.

Where do they mention the benefits of oil pulling in Ayurveda?

In Caraka Samhita, writings pertaining to Ayurveda and health, one finds mention of benefits of oil pulling include those of maximizing relish and taste, strength of voice and jaw, freedom from dryness of mouth and throat, and firmness of gums among other things. One can also chew the hardest food.

What is principle of operation of oil pulling?

Oil is lipophilic. Oils attract other oils. The fatty layers of skin are the usual dumping place for toxins and wastes. Oil pulling attracts among other things:

a) Parasites

b) Oils

c) Toxins

d) Heavy metals

e) Pesticides

f) Preservatives

g) Hormones

This process sweeps away bacteria and parasite in the oil stream while other oils combine with the coconut oil to form a mixture that one spits away. Toxins go out along with other debris and residues present. It helps balance hormones in proper ratio. These are best benefits of oil swishing.

Why use oil? Why can we not use water?

For best results of oil pulling one has to use either coconut oil or sesame oil. These have proven benefits and are used daily for cooking. A significant amount of oil is absorbed and their benefits accrue. Water does not have the power to bring out all the dirt. The oil possesses higher density and hence exerts greater force.

Why should we use toothpaste?

Toothpastes are useful for a number of reasons.

1) Fluorides help mineral formation

2) Prevents plaque build up

3) Provides soft action surface

4) Shines teeth

Foaming action of toothpastes help to prevent strong contact with teeth and gums. This prevents injury to gums and smoothens brushing action. Plaque that builds up when there is bacteria build up does not happen.

Fluorides have a strong action in reformation of mineral crystals. This remineralization helps form strong teeth. There are soft materials within toothpastes that help shine the outer surface. Most of all, they prevent bad odor and freshens up the breath.

Should we change our toothbrushes often?

Changing toothbrushes at regular intervals is very important since ineffective bristles will lead to improper cleaning. Firm strong bristles will keep good contact with teeth and clean the gaps properly. Once the toothbrush becomes old, the bristles bend and become flaccid. This will not help in providing effective brushing action.

How should we brush?

One has to do the brushing with gentle action. Hurried motion will result in damage to gums. One must also clean the entire mouth using little unhurried steps. Clean only a few steps at a time until the entire mouth is clean.

Have they proved this method scientifically?

Researchers have concluded after studies that there is enough evidence to support the theory that oil pulling is one method of removing free radicals and toxins from the blood. People who practiced it for months or years have vouched for their efficacy.

How often should we do oil pulling?

One has to do oil pulling once every two to three days. To obtain the entire benefits of oil puling, one needs to include the best oil one has. This could be sunflower oil, sesame oil or coconut oil, but one has to do this for stretches of 20-30 minutes each time.