What you need to know about oil pulling for your oral hygiene
Oil pulling is an Ayurvedic treatment that improves your oral health and helps to clean your teeth.
This is a simple, yet effective, way to whiten and clean your teeth. It also helps reduce bacteria in the mouth and fights bad breath, cavities and gum disease.
It is similar to mouthwash in some respects. Oil pulling is similar to mouthwashes containing alcohol, which you spit after 30 seconds. Instead, oil pull involves swishing plant-based oils in your mouth for 10-15 minutes. The oil will absorb bacteria, toxins and other microorganisms in your mouth’s deepest crevices, which brushing, flossing and mouthwash cannot reach.
How to Perform Oil Pulling
Use any vegetable oil you have at home, but remember to keep it in your mouth for a minimum of 10-15 minutes. You’ll need to select an oil that has a pleasant taste, like sesame oil, sunflower oil, or high quality olive oil.
Coconut oil is the oil of choice for most people. Coconut oil is a more appealing oil due to its flavor and texture. It may also have some added benefits because of the lauric content.
Oil pulling is easy to do once you have the oil of your choice.
- One tablespoon of oil is equal to one teaspoon. You may find it easier to start with smaller amounts if you’re just getting started.
- Place the oil into your mouth, and begin to swish for 10-15 minutes.
- Swish the oil vigorously and thoroughly so that it reaches every part of your mouth.
- When you’re finished, spit out the oil into the garbage.
- Brush and floss your teeth as usual after rinsing with warm water.
Do NOT spit this down the drain as it could clog up your pipes.
Don’t swallow it. It is full of bacteria and toxins that you do not want to consume.
Oil Pulling Benefits
Alcohol-based mouthwashes kill bacteria quickly in your mouth. Because they are so corrosive, the quick rinse can leave some of the deeper layers in your mouth.
Oil pulling is a much more thorough and prolonged process, which goes deeper into cleaning all areas of your mouth. Alcohol kills bacteria, but oil does not. The fatty oils in the oil instead bind with the fatty acids in the microorganisms’ cell membranes. This causes them to break down and be eventually eliminated from the mouth.
This antimicrobial action helps reduce bad breath, cavities and gum disease. This product also improves your oral health and may lead to a healthier, longer life.
Additional Considerations
There are some additional things to consider when it comes time to pull oil.
It is recommended that the duration of oil pulling be between 10 and 15 minutes. The taste and feeling may take some time to get used to. You may start with 3-5 minutes, and then increase it as you become more accustomed.
Oil pulling should not be used as a substitute for any other oral hygiene routine. Oil pulling can be a routine that has added benefits to your oral health. Visit your dentist regularly and continue to brush and floss.
It’s best to consult your dentist if you are new at oil pulling or have questions about the practice. They can give you advice on how to perform oil pulling properly and ensure that it doesn’t interfere in any way with other treatments or medication.
