Teeth whitening with olive oil: "I rinsed my mouth with oil every day for a month these are the

A life without laughter? Unthinkable! However, I am anatomically built in such a way that when I laugh, not only do my eyes immediately contract into tiny slits, but my entire set of teeth is also immediately on show. So, it's all the more important to me that my teeth always look as good as possible. Lately, however, when I look in the mirror or at photos, I find myself thinking that my teeth could be a little whiter.

Why I did the olive oil test

Naturally, after deciding that my teeth were a little too yellow for my liking, I turned to Google: How do I get my teeth white again? In the past, I've had some very painful experiences with professional teeth whitening, so, while it may be the most common and effective method, it's sadly not an option for me. I was also hesitant about trying aggressive whitening toothpastes, strips and baking soda, as they can all damage the enamel of the tooth.

I was getting desperate: is there no way to get your teeth whiter without resorting to chemicals and harsh abrasives? And that's when I come across an Ayurvedic method that, according to various sites and forums, works through a process known as oil pulling. I simply had to give it a try.

The science behind why it's supposed to work

Before I started the process, I decided to speak to an Ayurvedic doctor about what oil pulling actually is. Dr. Pushpa, chief medical officer of Barberyn Beach and Waves Ayurveda Resort, Sri Lanka, explained, "Oil pulling is a cleansing and detoxification method in the mouth that involves moving a small amount of oil, such as olive oil, back and forth in the mouth for 15 minutes."

According to Dr. Pushpa, the main purpose is to detoxify the body: “Oil pulling detaches bacteria from the oral mucosa and tongue, especially fat-soluble toxins and heavy metals.” However, the doctor noted that he had never come across any proof that the method dissolves dental plaque and, in turn, leads to whiter teeth. I wasn't too surprised. After all, Ayurveda is about keeping the body healthy, not about visual benefits. Nevertheless, I wanted to believe the promises of the Internet, so I started testing it for myself.

The experiment: how I used olive oil to get whiter teeth

Let's get into the practicalities. To start oil pulling with olive oil, you probably won't even have to go shopping. After all, most of us have olive oil at home. As recommended, I put a small amount of olive oil onto a tablespoon and swished it around in my mouth. Surprisingly, it felt velvety, soft, and actually pretty good. I also got the feeling that the oil really was doing something.

After 15 minutes, I followed Dr. Pushpa's advice: "After oil pulling, be sure to spit it out and never swallow the oil!" he had said. But that wasn't so easy, because you can't just pour the olive oil down the drain — it would clog the pipes. So, I spat into a tissue, which I then threw away.

After about a week, the oil pulling ritual had become an established part of my daily routine. I got into the habit of doing it first thing in the morning when I got up. While I was oil pulling, I could prepare breakfast or get dressed, so, I don't even lose any time. However, the olive oil taste became too intense for me personally in the long run. I ended up finding a special mouthwash that contains olive oil but also has a minty aroma.

My results

When I looked in the mirror in the morning after three weeks, I couldn't initially see much of a difference. However, when I went back and looked at the before pictures, I saw just how much my teeth had changed. The before picture was taken in mid-August, the after picture four weeks later:

So, does oil pulling really work?

As you can see from my pictures, my teeth are only minimally brighter. “There is no scientific evidence for oil pulling,” confirms Dirk Kropp from the Prodente Initiative. So, why do you still see a small difference? If the teeth do become brighter, this might simply be down to the fact that you're putting more time and effort into oral hygiene.

Although oil pulling doesn't harm the teeth, Kropp does give one warning. “In rare individual cases, there is a connection to pneumonia if oil droplets are inhaled unintentionally,” he says. "This should therefore be avoided at all costs. Apart from that, no other risks are known.

Even though I didn't get sparkling white teeth, I will definitely keep the ritual. I've gotten used to the fresh taste in my mouth — and it's nice to feel like I'm doing my body some good. And while plaque may not be removed directly through oil pulling, it certainly feels like new buildup is being prevented. In fact, according to Ayurvedic teachings, the process prevents toxins and bacteria from entering the body through the mouth. My conclusion? It's worth giving oil pulling a try for the detox and mindfulness practice alone.

And if you want to have really white teeth? "Coatings that discolour teeth must be removed mechanically, there's no way around it," says Kropp. "This can be done by thoroughly brushing your teeth at home or by having your teeth professionally cleaned at the dentist's office, where they are whitened by a few shades." However, according him, teeth only really become significantly brighter with bleaching.

This article originally appeared in Glamour DE.

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