It also tends to be more meditative in nature, and may be more effective for dry mouth than kavala graha. Kavala gandusha is a more disciplined approach to oil pulling that hasn’t really become part of Western practice, Hall Carlson says. In this approach, you fill your mouth with oil so that gargling isn’t possible, and hold it there for 3 to 5 minutes or up to 20 minutes, as described in the research above. This type of oil pulling is more commonly used today because it tends to be manageable for most people, she notes. According to Ayurvedic thought, the swishing motion, or kavala graha, will create more circulation, work the jaw muscles, and wash the teeth, Hall Carlson says. To perform kavala graha, per one research article, place 1 tablespoon of oil in the mouth and gargle for about 3 to 20 minutes (or as long as is tolerable) before spitting out the oil. There are two primary types of oil pulling described in Ayurvedic texts, says Larissa Hall Carlson, an Ayurveda practitioner in Manchester, Vermont. If you're concerned about your oral health or physical health, seek professional advice from a doctor or dentist. You can find an Ayurvedic practitioner through their directory or search their list of accredited programs. National organizations such as the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) accredit Ayurvedic institutions and programs in the United States to ensure quality training and practice. To date, Ayurvedic practitioners aren’t licensed in the United States, and there’s no national standard for training or certification, notes Johns Hopkins Medicine. But if you need advice about using oil pulling to address a specific concern, you might work with an Ayurvedic practitioner. Oil pulling is a relatively safe practice to do at home. Rinsing with it may theoretically cause the bacteria to become less active, “thus providing your body a chance to repair damage from acidic insults.” Coconut oil, for example, has a pH of 7 to 8, he notes. Oil pulling may be another way to bring your mouth’s pH back to neutral or basic levels, Dr. Your mouth’s pH rises when you brush your teeth or rinse your mouth, which gives your teeth the chance for repair via the remineralization process. When your mouth's pH drops below 5.5 and becomes more acidic - as when you eat - the enamel on your teeth starts to demineralize (the process of removing minerals) and cavities begin forming, according to a research paper. “This is especially true when the pH of the mouth drops below 5.5.” (According to the pH scale, anything greater than 7 is basic, whereas anything less than 7 is acidic.) “Oral bacteria thrive in an acidic environment, but become muted in neutral and basic environments,” he says. On the other hand, David Chen, DDS, a general and cosmetic dentist in New York City, explains oil pulling in terms of its effect on the pH of the mouth. It’s also believed that the oil acts as a protective coating, preventing plaque and bacteria from adhering to the teeth and gums. Coconut oil, for example, contains lauric acid, which reacts with saliva to form a soap-like substance that contains antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, the action of swishing oil around your mouth may activate digestion, and when the oil mixes with digestive enzymes in your saliva, it may become a potentially powerful antiviral and antibacterial agent, says John Douillard, a doctor of chiropractic and a certified Ayurvedic practitioner in Niwot, Colorado. Some theorize that the oil has a soap-like effect and cleans the teeth and gums, that the oil reduces plaque buildup and makes it harder for bacteria to stick, and that it may have antioxidant or antibiotic properties. While there are various theories on how oil pulling works, the exact mechanism is still unclear.
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