Coconut Oil Pulling Superior to Chemicals for Oral Health

By Sayer Ji | April 14, 2015

A new study this year has proven for the first time that the oral use of coconut oil is effective in reducing plaque related to gingivitis, a common form of inflammation in the gum tissue of the mouth that occurs in response to bacterial biofilms (known as plaque) adhering to the surfaces of the teeth. Gingivitis can lead to a more serious oral condition known as periodontal disease.

Researchers decided to test the hypothesis that the increasingly common practice of “oil pulling or oil swishing therapy” is as effective for maintaining oral health today as it has been believed for centuries. They published their findings in the Nigerian Medical Journal in a report titled “Effect of Coconut Oil in Plaque-Related Gingivitis, a Preliminary Report.”  

Oil pulling is a traditional therapy that stretches at least as far back as 1,500 years, when it was mentioned in the early Ayurvedic text, the “Charaka Samhita.” For more information, see our article “Oil Pulling: Ancient Secret for Optimal Health.” 

Yet traditional oil pulling was believed performed mainly with sesame oil. Available published studies also use sesame seed oil, not coconut. This study aimed to fill the data gap on coconut oil.

 

 The study enrolled 60 subjects between 16–18 years of age with plaque-induced gingivitis. No control was used. Rather, “the study was designed to compare the baseline values and the post-intervention values in a single group performing coconut oil pulling in addition to their oral hygiene routine.”  The subjects were measured for plaque and gingival indices at baseline (day 0), and then on days 1, 7, 15, and 30 after the oil pulling was started.

 

 The results were found to be statistically significant, indicating that coconut oil is an effective treatment for reducing gingivitis symptoms and plaque buildup on the teeth.  

 

How Does It Work?

First, coconut oil is a well-known anti-microbial agent and may have direct anti-bacterial properties due, in part, to its lauric acid content.

Second, oil pulling results in the emulsification of coconut oil, which greatly increases its surface area. Once formed on the surface of the teeth, it reduces plaque adhesion and bacterial aggregation, according to the study.

Third, coconut oil produces a soap-like substance when the saliva mixes with the oil (a process known as saponification). The is also why coconut is used in soap-making.

According to the study, “The soaps produced with coconut oil can lather well and have an increased cleansing action. The lauric acid in the coconut oil can easily react with sodium hydroxide in saliva during oil pulling to form sodium laureate, the main constituent of soap which might be responsible for the cleansing action and decreased plaque accumulation.” 

Better Than Chemical Mouthwashes

The most commonly used active ingredients in mouthwashes are chlorhexidine, phenol (Listerine), and amine or stannous fluoride (Meridol), with chlorhexidine being the most effective at controlling plaque-induced gingivitis and inhibiting bacteria. The problem, however, with chemical mouthwashes is that they have significant, even irreversible, adverse side effects.

 

 In contradistinction, the researchers noted coconut oil does not appear to carry these side effects.

 

The study concluded: “Oil pulling has been proven to be an effective method in reducing plaque formation and plaque- induced gingivitis. This preliminary study shows that coconut oil is an easily usable, safe, and cost-effective agent with minimal side effects, which can be used as an adjuvant in oral hygiene maintenance.”

This article was originally published on GreenMedInfo.com