Oil pulling with hemp & CBD – A different kind of oral hygiene

The advantages are obvious. When the plant is cultivated according to organic standards, a raw agricultural product of the highest quality is produced. The extracts and oils obtained from the leaves and seeds, which contain the active ingredient cannabidiol (CBD), can then be processed into natural cosmetics. Now, cosmetics are not only used for skin care. Toothpaste and mouthwash are also cosmetics and obviously serve dental and oral care. To explore the use of hemp in the dental sector, we visit the Dental Institute Dr. Huemer GmbH in Wolfurt.

Dr. Huemer: Your dental institute is known beyond the Austrian borders. Patients from the entire Lake Constance region come to you in Wolfurt. Could you briefly describe your institute?

We are a facility that specializes in the treatment of the jawbone, tooth roots, and the periodontal tissue. We have also specialized in aesthetics and masticatory function, which has brought sleep medicine into dentistry. Dentistry has become very complex today; whether it's prophylaxis, aesthetic or plastic surgical treatments, it has almost nothing to do with the concept of dentistry from 30 years ago.

What makes a visit to your practice special? What do you and your team value?

We are a holistic dental practice. In the areas of prophylaxis, aesthetics, endodontics, oral surgery, oral plastic surgery, implantology, prosthetics, and restorative aesthetic dentistry, we represent the most modern and contemporary techniques. But the most important point in our practice is that the patient truly stands at the center of our efforts and not any academic program or personal interests. We have made it our goal to sustainably improve the quality of life of our patients through conscientious, competent advice and therapy.

Prophylaxis, especially in dentistry, is very important. What does the dentist recommend? And what role does a healthy diet play in this context?

Since we are worlds away from a natural diet with little sugar today, professional prophylactic support is necessary to maintain teeth or implants in the long term. There are simple rules for nutrition:

1. First, plenty of fruits and vegetables, then the rest in moderate amounts

2. As sugar-free a diet as possible

3. If sweets are consumed, then eat everything at once and not spread throughout the day

That a dentist deals with the topic of hemp or the active ingredient cannabidiol (CBD) is quite special and certainly not common. What sparked your interest in the plant or the cannabinoid active ingredients?

The fact that CBD products have a calming effect on inflammatory processes prompted us to include CBD oil in postoperative treatment. We also use this oil in complex periodontal prophylaxis. Here we have had very good success with CBD oil. Therefore, we also use this oil in standard implant prophylaxis for implant bridges.

Can you share your experiences with oil pulling? What role does CBD play in this? When do you recommend your patients to undertake an “oil pulling cure”?

Especially after major surgical procedures, aftercare with CBD oil is a good way to help wounds heal faster. Open wounds close more quickly and improve the prognosis in difficult wound closures.

How do patients respond to oil pulling and what are the results?

Patients are very open to this type of natural wound treatment. Today, the trend is clearly towards natural and organic – even in dentistry. I have not encountered any patients who rejected CBD oil when I recommend it.

Do you and your team also rely on other natural active ingredients?

Yes, we have also included tea tree oil and extra virgin olive oil in our recommendation list for standard prophylaxis for many years. For surgical aftercare, we primarily recommend vitamin C, chamomile tea, and sage tea, and for canker sores, geranium tea or mullein tea.

Image sources: © 2020 Tabea Walch / © Institut Dr. Huemer