For beginners, mild jaw pain is a common side effect of oil pulling. This feeling results from working out the joints and muscles you don't use very often. However, if you don't go overboard with the swishing, there won't be any issues, and your muscles will develop stronger.
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.
However, this practice could be harmful to teeth. We recommend not brushing until approximately 30 minutes after eating, and while oil pulling isn't quite considered eating, your tooth enamel has still had time to be affected by the oil in your mouth and can be more susceptible to erosion after this practice.
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.
To maximize results, try to oil pull at least a few times per week or up to three times per day. When you first start, you can swish for about five minutes and gradually increase the duration until you are at 20 minutes. Keep in mind that oil pulling doesn't replace traditional oral care.
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.
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 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.
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.
Most guides suggest brushing the teeth immediately afterward. Others say that it is better to wait a bit to promote the retention of good bacteria and the rebalancing of the oral microbiome. In any case, use a different toothbrush after oil pulling to the one used for daily teeth cleaning.
Oil Pulling May Worsen Dental Erosion.
The negative side effects of oil pulling including dry mouth, excessive thirst, muscular stiffness, exhaustion and loss of sensation or taste in the mouth.
There aren't any known physical side effects from oil pulling. However, you might notice a sore jaw or headache at first from the rigorous motion of oil pulling. If you swallow the oil, it could cause an upset stomach or diarrhea. Oil pulling should never be used in place of brushing and flossing.
Dentist's verdict: Oil pulling with coconut oil can help with more mild forms of gingivitis when used in conjunction with flossing. This is (again) due to the lauric acid in coconut oil. It should not be seen as a way of treating more serious gum disease or as a replacement of flossing.
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.
The process of emulsification of oil begins upon 5 min of oil pulling. This oil will coat the teeth and gingiva and inhibits bacterial co-aggregation and plaque formation. Thus plaque building bacteria responsible for dental caries, gingivitis, periodontitis and bad breath are removed from the oral cavity.
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.
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.
After you're through oil pulling, rinse thoroughly with water to get rid of the filmy coating across your gums and teeth. Some self-proclaimed experts say to rinse with salt water. Rinse for about 10-15 seconds or until it feels like you've removed most of the oil.
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.
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.