Dr. McDougall's Online Discussion Board

Snopes has it's place but it discounts a lot of valid things.

It's not something I have any interest in trying. I keep hearing Dr. Essy's words -"no oil, not even a drop" - how do you swish the oil in your mouth without ingesting it? It's not like rubbing oil on your skin - this is in your mouth, I would think you would have to end up ingesting some of it.

it's not that challenging to keep it in the mouth - unless you become a bit active. that's why i was suggesting just doing things like organizing drawers or shredding stuff to pass the time. the oil actually changes in your mouth - it pulls out impurities - you don't want to swallow it. then you rinse out your mouth.

Found a few abstracts on Pub Med (list is below) - some compared sesame oil pulling with chlorhexidine mouthwash and showed reduced bacterial activity and plaque; free full articles are available by going to Pub Med for most of them. Chlorhexidine is pretty strong and can stain the teeth.

5.
Effect of oil pulling on halitosis and microorganisms causing halitosis: a randomized controlled pilot trial.
Asokan S, Kumar RS, Emmadi P, Raghuraman R, Sivakumar N.
J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2011 Apr-Jun;29(2):90-4. doi: 10.4103/0970-4388.84678.
PMID: 21911944 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Free Article
Related citations
Select item 21760690
6.
Tooth brushing, oil pulling and tissue regeneration: A review of holistic approaches to oral health.
Singh A, Purohit B.
J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2011 Apr;2(2):64-8. doi: 10.4103/0975-9476.82525.
PMID: 21760690 [PubMed] Free PMC Article
Related citations
Select item 21525674
7.
Mechanism of oil-pulling therapy - in vitro study.
Asokan S, Rathinasamy TK, Inbamani N, Menon T, Kumar SS, Emmadi P, Raghuraman R.
Indian J Dent Res. 2011 Jan-Feb;22(1):34-7. doi: 10.4103/0970-9290.79971.
PMID: 21525674 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Free Article
Related citations
Select item 19336860
8.
Effect of oil pulling on plaque induced gingivitis: a randomized, controlled, triple-blind study.
Asokan S, Emmadi P, Chamundeswari R.
Indian J Dent Res. 2009 Jan-Mar;20(1):47-51.
PMID: 19336860 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Free Article
Related citations
Select item 18445939
9.
Oil pulling therapy.
Asokan S.
Indian J Dent Res. 2008 Apr-Jun;19(2):169. No abstract available.
PMID: 18445939 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Free Article
Related citations
Select item 18408265
10.
Effect of oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans count in plaque and saliva using Dentocult SM Strip mutans test: a randomized, controlled, triple-blind study.
Asokan S, Rathan J, Muthu MS, Rathna PV, Emmadi P; Raghuraman; Chamundeswari.
J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2008 Mar;26(1):12-7.
PMID: 18408265 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Free Article
Related citations

Thank you so much, StarchHEFP, for posting this information... can't wait to dig in!