Essential Oils
Place in Therapy
Oil “pulling” or oil “swishing” is considered a complementary and alternative medicine that involves rinsing the oral cavity with various oils for oral hygiene and systemic health.1 The practice originated in India centuries ago and oils from plants such as sunflower and sesame are typically used. Oil pulling consists of orally swishing approximately 15mL of oil for 10 to 15 minutes.1 The swishing of the oil is thought to extract the harmful bacteria and toxins in the body and as such, it is not to be swallowed. While there is no sufficient evidence to support the practice of oil pulling, the use of edible oils for oil pulling slowly transitioned into the use of other essential oils such as Common Sage, Chamomile, Golden Marigold and Tea Tree as a mouth rinse.2 However, Health Canada has only currently approved mouthwashes containing small amounts of Menthol, Thymol and Eucalyptus as a natural health product.3
Although essential oils have varying degrees of antimicrobial properties in vitro, there is only limited evidence supporting its effectiveness in eliminating halitosis.4 Essential oils are believed to treat halitosis through chemical reduction of odour-causing bacteria such as Porphyromonas, Prevotella, Actinobacillus, and Fusobacterium species.5 More specifically, the antimicrobial properties of essential oils are believed to eliminate bacteria that produces volatile sulphuric compounds that are responsible for producing the unpleasant odours associated with halitosis.6 The duration of benefit can be up to three hours; however, the short-term effect implies that essential oil containing mouth washes must be used multiple times through the day.7
While it is proven to be safe for daily use, limited evidence of efficacy suggests that mouth rinsing with essential oils can serve as an adjunctive therapy to daily tooth brushing, flossing and regular professional dental care. Furthermore, when used up to twice daily, it is an inexpensive treatment option to incorporate into one’s daily oral hygiene routine.3
References
1. Asokan S, Kumar R, Emmadi P, Raghuraman R, Sivakurma N. Effect of oil pulling on halitosis and microorganisms causing halitosis: a randomized controlled pilot trial. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2011 Apr; 29(2): 90-4.
2. Forrer M, Kulik EM, Filippi A, Waltimo T. The antimicrobial activity of alpha-bisabolol and tea tree oil against Solobacterium moorei, a Gram-positivebacterium associated with halitosis. Arch Oral Biol. 2013 Jan; 58(1):10-6.
3. Health Canada. Listerine. Written and last reviewed on Dec 18, 2012. Obtained from http://webprod3.hc-sc.gc.ca/lnhpd-bdpsnh/info.do?lang=eng&licence=02130831, Accessed July 3, 2013.
4. Dumitrescu AL. Understanding Perodontal Research. New York: Springer; 2012.
5. Krespi YP, Shrime MG, Kacker A. The relationship between oral malodor and volatile sulfur compound–producing bacteria. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2006 Nov; 135(5): 671-6.
6. Cosyn J, Princen K, Miremadi R, Decat E, Vaneechoutte M, De Byun H. Double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study on the clinical and microbial effects of an essential oil mouth rinse used by patients in supportive periodontal care.
7. Van den Broak AMWT, Feenstra L, de Baat C. A review of the current literature on management of halitosis. Oral Dis. 2008 Jan; 14(1): 130-39.
8. Cortelli SC, Cavallini F, Alves MFR, Bezerra AA, Queiroz CS, Cortelli JR. Clinical and microbiological effects of an essential-oil-containing mouth rinse applied in the “one-stage full-mouth disinfection” protocol – a randomized double-blinded preliminary study. Clin Oral Inest. 2009 Jun; 13(2): 189-94.
9. Kapoor A, Grover V, Malhotra R, Kaur S, Singh K. Halitosis – Revisited. Indian J. Dent. Res. 2011 Dec; 5(3): 102-111.