Oil pulling or oil swishing, in alternative medicine, has been used to prevent decay, oral malodor, bleeding gums, and dryness of throat, and cracked lips and for strengthening teeth, gums, and jaws.
There are two types Gandusha and Kavalagraha. Gandusha involves filling the oral cavity completely with liquid medicine held for about three to five minutes and then released.
In Kavalagraha, a comfortable amount of fluid is retained within the mouth for about three minutes and then gargled. It is a simple rejuvenating treatment which when done routinely, enhances the senses, maintains clarity, brings a feeling of freshness and invigorates the mind. Various natural oils like refined sunflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, coconut oil and liquids like milk and water, gooseberry and mango extracts have been used for oil pulling.
Kevin Henry, the group editorial director for Advanstar's dental division, sits down with Anastasia Turchetta, RDH, to talk about the oil pulling craze and the conversations that dental professionals need to have with their patients about it.