coconut oil showed a significant decrease in plaque and gingival scores in comparison to olive oil in patients with mild to moderate gingivitis. That is, those who pulled with coconut oil had less plaque buildup and less inflammation in their gums than those in the olive oil group.
You can whiten your teeth with coconut oil every day if you want, but most people choose to do it only a few times a week. If you don't want to swish the oil around in your mouth, you can always apply the oil to your toothbrush and simply brush your teeth.
Pulling with Coconut Oil can reduce the concentration of harmful bacteria in your mouth to help treat Gingivitis and Gum Disease. The Lauric Acid in Coconut Oil may also help to reduce plaque buildup on teeth.
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.
Coconut oil toothpaste is safe to use, but it should not replace your regular toothpaste unless it also contains fluoride. Coconut oil pulling has become increasingly popular in the United States, and medical studies support it having some antimicrobial properties that can help your oral health.
Additionally, olive oil may help strengthen teeth by providing important minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals are essential for healthy teeth and can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
Tartar may be removed at home with regular brushing and flossing or with a water flosser. Oil pulling — using coconut oil or olive oil — may also help remove tartar at home. These methods may be effective at removing tartar; however, a dentist can remove tartar in a more timely manner.
Coconut oil is the best oil to use because it contains lauric acid, which has proven anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. Sesame oil and sunflower are also options, but I recommend coconut oil pulling the most. You can also incorporate essential oils into the process to enhance oil pulling benefits.
Oil Pulling – One way to use essential oils to address receding gums is to try oil pulling. This Ayurvedic technique combines a carrier oil, like coconut oil or cold-pressed sesame oil, with a few drops of essential oils. After mixing, swish well for 10-15 minutes, then spit.
All you have to do is take about a tablespoon (just a teaspoon for children) of coconut oil, olive oil, sesame oil or sunflower oil and swish it around in your mouth, as if you are using mouthwash, for 20 minutes. The ideal time to oil pull is when you wake up in the morning, on an empty stomach.
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.
The oil of choice is usually coconut oil when it comes to oil pulling. This is because coconut oil is widely believed to be beneficial to gums, removes plaques, and whitens teeth.
A lot of tooth pastes already have this common ingredient in them! Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a teaspoon of coconut oil and you have yourself a cheap option for whitening your teeth. Plus, coconut oil has anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties and can help kill bacteria that cause bad breath.
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.
Brushing removes plaque that has built up on your teeth. In addition, it removes loose food particles that contribute to the development of plaque. Brush your teeth going in 2 directions so that you brush off all plaque that forms on them, and make sure you brush both the front and the back of your teeth.
The best way to remove the build-up of plaque and tartar on your teeth is by brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Daily flossing and using an antiseptic mouthwash will help to keep bacteria at bay in hard-to-reach areas.
"It will help fight plaque and gingivitis." However, oil pulling isn't officially recommended by the American Dental Association, so it's always important to exercise caution and keep up with regular dental cleanings—oil pulling shouldn't replace your other daily oral care practices.
If you experience pain while oil-pulling, then you're probably swishing too hard or the amount of oil is too much. Oil-pulling should be comfortable so try to be calm and relaxed while doing it. Also, you don't have to swish for the whole 20 minutes.
Some suggest swishing before brushing, while others suggest brushing before swishing. Dr. Mark Burhenne, from Ask the Dentist, says, “If you brush after you pull, you'll actually get rid of the good bacteria you just worked to support.”9 With this in mind, brushing then swishing may be best.