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.