Oil pulling is done every morning on an empty stomach. Place a tablespoon of edible oil (typically sesame or coconut) in your mouth and swish it vigorously through your teeth for about 3 to 20 minutes while keeping your mouth closed. After you're done, spit out the oil and rinse your mouth with warm water.
You do not need to brush your teeth before oil pulling as the practice will remove food and bacteria from the mouth. However, it is important to brush afterwards to ensure that all of the toxins that are drawn out of the mouth are removed. If it feels weird, keep going.
Sesame and coconut oil are the most studied oils used in oil pulling and appear to be the most effective. Both of these oils have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which may help decrease and prevent harmful bacteria overgrowth in your mouth.
Oil-Pulling Tips
Start with just 5 minutes a day. Twenty minutes of swishing is a long time, and while the longer you pull, the more bacteria you'll remove, 5 or 10 minutes will still offer some benefit. Also, if your jaw starts aching a few minutes in, slow down. "Don't work too hard," Emery says.
Promotes Healthy Teeth and Gums
One of the most common culprits of tooth decay is Streptococcus mutans, a type of microorganism in your mouth. Daily oil pulling for 10-15 minutes can help reduce S. mutans count in your mouth and prevent tooth problems.
It's recommended that you perform oil pulling once per day, every day. Doing this on a regular basis can help prevent oral health problems by removing harmful bacteria from your mouth. However, don't do it more than once daily, as it can cause tiredness or soreness of the jaws.
Some dentists believe oil pulling is a sham practice, whereas others believe it can prevent cavities and gum disease. The official stance of the American Dental Association (ADA) is that there isn't enough evidence to recommend oil pulling as a dental hygiene practice.
A handful of small-scale studies show that oil pulling with sesame oil for 15 to 20 minutes a day for at least 40 days, alongside routine tooth brushing and flossing, can reduce plaque, bacteria and gingivitis.
The oil needs to be swished around long enough for it to turn a milky white, which indicates that the bacteria has been “pulled” off.
Once you have finished pulling, spit the solution into the trash. Do not discard the oil in the sink or down the toilet because over time the oil may build up and clog the pipes. Do not drink anything before rinsing your mouth. Rinse with water first before consuming a beverage.
Oil pulling is best incorporated in the morning, upon rising, and on an empty stomach, as it helps to stimulate the appetite and enhance the sense of taste. Some suggest swishing before brushing, while others suggest brushing before swishing.
The best time to scrape your tongue is as part of your morning oral hygiene routine after you have done your oil pulling, which you should do firstly, as soon as you awake.
Then, gargle the oil in the mouth for 5-10 minutes and let it out. Ideally, one should practise oil pulling on an empty belly, so brushing teeth or drinking water won't affect the process.
2. DO oil pull with an empty stomach, don't even drink water beforehand, first thing in the morning is the easiest. Pulling on an empty stomach triggers the release of the maximum amount of the enzyme-containing saliva. These enzymes remove toxins & bacteria out of the lymph fluids & bloods.
Oil pulling activates salivary enzymes which absorb toxins such as chemical toxins, bacterial toxins and environmental toxins from the blood and removed from the body through the tongue.
Dentist Concerns About Oil Pulling
Because sufficient evidence of the effectiveness of oil pulling is lacking, dental professionals recommend exercising caution when it comes to this practice. Although it isn't particularly harmful, some people may experience some side effects.
The American Dental Association does not recommend oil pulling due to a lack of “reliable studies” to show that it improves oral health or acts as a preventative measure for oral disease.
Oil pulling is an effective way to remedy inflammation because it decreases bacteria and plaque that contribute to gingivitis. You can further reduce inflammation by using oils with anti-inflammatory properties, which include coconut oil.
Despite the link between oil pulling and its role in liver cleansing, there are no confirmatory studies for weight loss with oil pulling. At the most, it can be an adjunct therapy for weight loss.
Another great home remedy you can try to combat double chin is oil pulling. Oil pulling involves the process of swishing oil inside your mouth which helps to activate jaw muscles to burn fat.
Ellie Phillips, DDS, often speaks favorably about oil pulling. However, she does caution against oil pulling for those with gum recession or sensitivity, as it may damage biofilm and pellicle proteins, which are critical for a healthy mouth. Thus, if you're using oil pulling for receding gums, do it only occasionally.