Toronto, Canada (PRWEB), April 17, 2014 –Princeview Dental (www.PrinceviewDental.com), one of Etobicoke’s local dental clinics, is commenting on the millennia-long practice of oil pulling as a means of oral care and the suggestion that it may cure other ailments not associated with dental or oral diseases.
Oil pulling involves swishing a teaspoon of oil around in the mouth for roughly 20 minutes, then spitting out that oil and rinsing with salt water. The dental care benefits are supposed to be brighter teeth and fresh breath, but there have been claims of it clearing up acne, curing hangovers, and even relieving heart disease.
“People have to remember that this is a practice that’s been going on for possibly 5,000 years,” says Dr. Janice Mummery, founder of Princeview Dental. “It’s interesting that it’s only recently become prevalent in western cultures. I take that as a positive sign that people are looking for creative ways of teeth whitening.” (Source: Almendrala, A., “Oil Pulling Might Be The Next Big Thing -- Or Not,” Huffington Post, March 12, 2014; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/12/oil-pulling_n_4943808.html.)
Many noteworthy celebrities are jumping on this craze, including actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who admits she recently read about oil pulling over the Internet and is trying it out for its teeth- and skin-clearing benefits. Dr. Mummery notes that there’s been talk that oil pulling has benefits outside of whitening teeth and freshening the breath, but there has been little research on the practice and assumptions shouldn’t be made without extensive clinical trials. (Source: Mulholland, A., “Oil pulling: The secret to whiter teeth or snake oil?” CTV News web site, April 1, 2014; http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/health-headlines/oil-pulling-the-secret-to-whiter-teeth-or-snake-oil-1.1755131.)
Dr. Mummery adds that while there haven’t been any dangers associated with the teeth-whitening practice, it also hasn’t been officially recommended by any western dental association. So while it’s great if people are using oil pulling and getting, it should still be used in tandem with proven oral health care practices, such as regular teeth brushing and visits to the dentist.
“The Internet era has made it easy for any product to instantly become a craze,” Dr. Mummery concludes. “However, anyone using oil pulling for any purpose other than dental care should be careful and consult a professional before starting the practice.”
Founded in 1994, Princeview Dental is a trusted dental clinic in Etobicoke. Princeview Dental offers a full range of dental services for all age groups, including preventive dentistry, restorative/cosmetic dentistry, and offering patients a variety of procedures to “makeover” their smile, including dental implants, surgery, full and partial dentures, and treatment for gum disease. To learn more about Princeview Dental, visit the company’s web site at www.PrinceviewDental.com or call 416-231-4562
