Taking care of our overall well-being as humans is crucial. It’s important to take care of all aspects of your health from your physical well-being, emotional and mental states, and even your oral health. There is a lot of emphasis on eating well and taking time for self care and regulation, but oral health is something that you shouldn’t overlook.
It is common for many people to get cavities due to their diet or brushing habits. Over time, cavities–if not treated–can cause other issues, such as pain, abscesses, and even tooth loss if not taken care of. Getting a cavity can depend on everything from how well you brush or floss your teeth and how often, to genetics, so finding new ways to further prevent them is important.
Oil pulling is a traditional practice that can have a ton of benefits to your oral health, but knowing if they can reverse cavities is essential information to know!
What is a Cavity?
Knowing exactly what a cavity is and the symptoms to look out for are essential!
Before getting into the process of oil pulling, it’s first important to understand what a cavity is and just how they can form in your teeth. Knowing how they develop–and how easily they can appear when you think you’re doing everything right–can help in the process of improving your oral health and preventing them from popping up even more.
What Classifies a Cavity?
If anyone ever has issues with their teeth, one of the most common is to get a cavity–which is essentially a hole in your tooth caused by tooth decay. The cavities result in the hard layer, or the enamel, of your teeth decaying. This could be caused due to the acids of the foods that you eat breaking down your teeth over time, and sugar is the main cause of this deterioration.
What are Some Common Reasons Why Cavities Form?
Cavities can form if you’re not careful, and while they’re easy to fix, the pain that can come from them will make you wish you never got it in the first place. There are many reasons why cavities develop and some of the most common reasons include:
- Plaque build-up
- Eating sugary foods or snacks
- Poor oral hygiene (brushing, flossing, using mouthwash, etc.)
How to Prevent Cavities
The good news is that while cavities can appear at any time–even if you think you’re t maintaining your oral hygiene–they can easily be prevented. In order to prevent cavities, it’s important to follow the included steps below to keep your teeth in tip-top shape:
- Brush your teeth twice a day
- Floss daily
- Use mouthwash
- Drink plenty of water
- Avoid sugary foods and/or drinks
- Avoid foods of a sticky consistency
- Go to the dentist every six months for a dental cleaning
- Consider sealants
- Use fluoride treatments
What is Oil Pulling?
Oil pulling is a traditional practice that has a lot of benefits for oral health to consider!
For those who are more prone to getting cavities and you feel like you’re doing everything you possibly can, there may be something else you can include in your routine. Your oral health is extremely important and while there are many ways to keep your teeth in the best shape possible, something like oil pulling can be another step to add for extra protection.
Oil Pulling: What is it and Where Did it Come From?
There are lots of different at-home dental treatments that many people do–such as using whitening strips and even brushing their teeth with baking soda to whiten them–but oil pulling is something that comes with many potential benefits too.
Oil pulling is a traditional Indian practice of swishing coconut, sesame, or sunflower oil in your mouth for fifteen to twenty minutes before spitting it out. This practice has turned into the modern day mouthwash or oral rinse, but many people believe that it has incredible benefits that can overall help improve your oral health.
This is a common practice to do in the morning while getting ready for the day and all you need to do is take one ounce of an oil of your choice and swish it around for fifteen to twenty minutes before spitting it out. As you are swishing it around in your mouth, the oil will turn into a foamy, milky white consistency, which is common to see when spitting it out. After you’re done, you will continue with your brushing and flossing routine–but it’s always important to do the oil pulling first.
Oil pulling originates from an ancient Ayurvedic medicine, which is a traditional Indian practice from upwards of 5,000 years ago. It was a holistic practice that many people did and still do to this day as the oil is known to pull out toxins that can cause cavities and other dental issues. Even with how old the practice is, it is common to see many people adding it to their morning routine to keep their smile healthy–and even prevent cavities.
Are There Any Benefits to Oil Pulling?
While oil pulling may be an old practice that has been done for thousands of years, there are many potential benefits to doing it. Some of these benefits to adding this in your daily routine can include:
- Reducing amount of harmful bacteria in your mouth
- Reduces bad breath
- Reduce inflammation
- Improves gum health
- Prevents cavities
- Natural way to whiten teeth
- Affordable oral health method
Can Oil Pulling Reverse Cavities?
While oil pulling can help prevent cavities, it’s important to know if they can reverse them if you have one!
Now that you are familiar with oil pulling and how it can get rid of harmful bacteria in your mouth to prevent dental issues such as cavities, it’s also important to know what it can do if you already have one. Cavities can cause a lot of pain depending on the extent of the tooth decay, so it’s crucial to know if oil pulling can do anything for a cavity you currently have.
The Verdict
When it comes to oil pulling and if it can reverse cavities–the short answer is that it cannot. Oil pulling has its benefits when it comes to getting rid of the harmful bacteria in your mouth, but if a cavity is present along with tooth decay, then the practice has no way of reversing the damage. A cavity that is developing will require a dental filling from a dentist to complete the treatment.
It’s important to know that while oil pulling cannot reverse a cavity that is present, it is also not a cure if you frequently experience pain and tooth decay from cavities and other dental issues. Oil pulling can potentially help within the early stages of a cavity forming by preventing the damage from escalating any further. Also, if the enamel on your teeth is wearing off due to aggressive brushing, cavities, or other dental issues, oil pulling cannot reverse this either.
This continues to show just how important dentist appointments are and how a six month cleaning can have major benefits to your oral health. Not only are dentists able to go in and get rid of excess plaque build-up, but they can also provide fluoride treatments and other dental interventions to keep your teeth healthy for a long time. It’s essential to ensure that you’re taking the steps and precautions to prevent any further tooth decay by brushing your teeth everyday, flossing, and using mouthwash.
Cavities are no fun–so it’s important to do what you can to prevent tooth decay for a happy, healthy mouth. Oil pulling has its benefits in terms of getting rid of harmful bacteria in your mouth, preventing cavities, reducing bad breath, and overall improving your gum health. While oil pulling cannot reverse cavities and prevent tooth decay, it is a useful practice to add into your daily routine to keep your oral health–healthy!
If you’re in the Washington, PA area and are struggling with cavities, tooth decay, or have a nagging pain in your mouth––consider contacting Elizabeth L. Wakim—exceptional smiles start here!
Dr. Elizabeth Wakim, DDS, is the founder of Enhanced Wellness. She’s a compassionate and highly-regarded dentist with her own practice in Washington, Pennsylvania, known for providing modern, comprehensive dental care, botox and facial aesthetics with a focus on patient comfort and anxiety reduction, serving general, cosmetic, and pediatric dentistry needs.
