When I first heard the words Oil Pulling, I pictured pulling a rope tied to a heavy drum of oil…Turns out I was way wrong.
What it actually involves is literally taking a spoonful of oil in your mouth, and swishing it around for about 20 minutes–then spitting it out.
The practice of oil pulling has apparently been around for centuries. Best known for its association with Auyrveda medicine, studies suggest that it can improve dental hygiene by pulling bacteria from the mouth.
There are even alternative health practitioners who claim that oil pulling can help treat a multitude of diseases in the body. As you may imagine, health claims other than dental health are often tough to accurately measure and verify.
However, when it comes to oral health & hygiene, there have been several studies that have shown its effectiveness in “pulling” bacteria from the mouth, moisturizing the gums, and increasing saliva production.
There are several reasons to try oil pulling for yourself.
here are the top 4 reasons we found based on real scientific studies:
1. May help prevent cavities
Cavities are caused by tooth decay which is often the result of poor oral hygiene, over-consumption of sugar, and a bacterial buildup on the teeth.
plaque coating on the teeth (comprised of food particles, bacteria, and saliva) can also lead to the formation of cavities as the bacteria can form an acid which destroys tooth enamel and causes the tooth to decay.
Since oil pulling has been shown to decrease the number of harmful bacteria in saliva, It’s often compared to using mouthwash and can significantly reduce the risk of cavity formation.
2. Can fight bad breath
Bad breath which is also known as Halitosis, is a common condition affecting an estimated 50% of the population.
It has many causes however the most common are poor dental hygiene, gum disease, and infection. It’s treatment includes the use of an antiseptic mouth wash and brushing both the teeth and tongue.
One study showed that oil pulling was effective in reducing bad breathe using sesame oil. Although more studies are needed, this one alone showed that oil pulling is in fact a great natural alternative to reduce bad breathe.
3. Reduces inflammation in the gums
This was something I could personally attest to. After experiencing isolated gum pain and inflammation for a couple of days, I tried oil pulling and within a few hours had marked decrease in pain. The redness and swelling seemed to subside as well.
I cannot say for sure it was caused by the oil pulling–but a 2009 study may in fact confirm this.
Gingivitis which is a type of gum disease is caused by bacteria found in plaque. Since oil pulling was shown to decrease harmful bacteria and plaque in the mouth, the study showed that it helped reduce plaque and improve gum health.
4. Natural and Safe to use
I personally love to use coconut oil for oil pulling as it has strong anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
The best part is that this is an all-natural method which carries nearly 0 known risks when done properly.
Oil pulling is is also a cheaper alternative to other methods such as over-the-counter or medical grade mouth wash such as Chlorhexidine.
So how do you do oil pulling exactly?
It’s quite simple actually
- Begin by measuring one tablespoon of oil. You can use sesame, olive, or coconut oil (I personally use coconut).
- Swish it around in your mouth for about 10-20 minutes (don’t swallow it!)
- Spit the oil in the toilet or a trash can so you don’t clog up your sink!
- Rinse your mouth out with water prior to eating or drinking anything.
I normally do this daily upon waking up. At first, the urge to swallow was strong. What works for me now is distracting myself such as washing dishes, walking around the room, reading a book, or anything to get my mind off of it.
If you cannot do the full 20 minutes–start small and work your way up. Even 10 minutes is enough to get some bacteria–although doing the full 20 minutes is of course ideal.
