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 may remove bacteria, but it doesn't kill bacteria, and that's a big difference. If oil pulling is used alone, without regular brushing and flossing, then no, it is not an effective way to keep your mouth healthy. It will not heal existing decay.
These include the traditionally used sesame oil and modern options such as sunflower oil, coconut oil, olive oil, and palm oil. Of these options, many prefer coconut oil for oil pulling because of its antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
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. There's no right or wrong way to oil pull.
How often should you oil pull? If you suffer from gingivitis or gum disease, oil pull once a day to improve gum health. If you have good oral health, oil pull 1-2 times each week.
Oil pulling is a popular age-long practice for removing plaques and other food particles from the mouth with natural oils. What's more, it's an effective natural remedy for receding gums and gingivitis.
The negative side effects of oil pulling including dry mouth, excessive thirst, muscular stiffness, exhaustion and loss of sensation or taste in the mouth.
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.
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.
Proponents of oil pulling claim that, when practiced properly and with regularity, users can expect to start seeing results such as reduced plaque, cavity prevention and stronger gums in 2 – 3 months. Some users also claim that oil pulling helped remove stains from their teeth.
Oil pulling is simple: You place a tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil (coconut and sesame oils are also good) on your tongue and swish it around your mouth for at least five minutes, pulling it between the teeth for an in-depth teeth cleaning.
The research on oil pulling
One study involved 60 participants aged 16 to 18 with gingivitis who practiced oil pulling every day alongside brushing and flossing. There was steady improvement after day seven, and a 50% decrease in plaque formation and plaque induced gingivitis after four weeks.
You don't have to brush your teeth before oil pulling. It's better to brush afterwards so you can completely remove the oil and bacteria from your mouth. Oil pulling involves swishing an edible oil around in your mouth to remove bacteria.
Can Oil Pulling Reverse Cavities? While oil pulling may be beneficial for reducing bacteria and preventing tooth decay or gum disease, it must be said that no amount of oil pulling can reverse cavities. A dental cavity, also known as carie, is a permanently damaged area of the enamel or dentin layer.
In oil pulling, a tablespoon full of oil is swished around the mouth in the early morning before breakfast and in empty stomach for about 20 min. In case of children greater than five years of age, a teaspoon of oil is used. The oil is 'pulled' and forced in between all the teeth by swishing it all around the mouth.
Oil pulling is a method of detoxifying the mouth for optimal oral hygiene. This ancient ayurvedic technique uses vegetable oil to bind toxins and bacteria – including streptococcus mutans, the bacteria responsible for dental cavities and gingivitis – for complete removal from the oral cavity.
Mild jaw pain is a common sign of oil-pulling, especially for first-timers. This is because you are exercising the muscles and joints that you don't use that often. But as long as you don't overdo the swishing, there won't be any problem and your muscles will get stronger instead.
Oil pulling is not harmful unless you overdo it or use the wrong oil. While oil pulling removes harmful bacteria from your mouth, overdoing it may disturb the oral microbiome and affect your palate and taste buds.
Eucalyptus oil has been used for centuries as a potent anti-inflammatory medicine, and when used in concentrated doses, has been shown to treat receding gums and even stimulate the growth of new tissue.
'Galla Chinensis was revealed to inhibit the acid production of caries-associated bacteria as well as make teeth more resistant to acidic attack. '
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.
Oil pulling benefits for oral health
One must do it on an empty stomach, so brushing teeth or drinking water prior to it are a complete no-no. Swish oil in the mouth for 5-10 minutes and spit it out. As simple as that!