Oil Pulling

Fresh coconut oil in half of nut on wooden table

Oil Pulling

Oil Pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic technique to detoxify the body through the mouth. It is remineralizing to teeth, helps them to look brighter and relieves sensitivity associated with mineral loss. Ayurveda prescribes sesame oil, but oil pulling has been popularly done with coconut oil. Oil helps to pull out toxins, bugs from the gum sulcus and have better oral hygiene. Remember bugs in you mouth are same that travel to your gut and heart and other organs. A good quality oil – coconut, sesame, olive or sunflower oil can be used as per ones liking.

Step1: First thing in the morning on an empty stomach and before drinking any liquids (including water), pour exactly one-two tablespoon of coconut oil or sesame oil into your mouth. You can start off with one tablespoon and increase it to up to 2 as you get a hang of the habit.

Step 2: Swish the oil around in your mouth without swallowing it. Move it around in your mouth and through your teeth, as if it was mouthwash (don’t tilt your head back to gargle though). You’ll find that the oil will start to get watery as your saliva mixes with it. Keep swishing. If your jaw muscles get sore while swishing, you’re putting too much into it. Relax your jaw muscles and use your tongue to help move the liquid around the inside of your mouth. When you do this correctly, you’ll feel very comfortable. Pretty soon, it will become second nature.

Step 3: As the end of the oil pulling session approaches, you may notice the oil/saliva mixture in your mouth has become thicker. This is quite normal, since it is pulling out toxins from your body. When 20 minutes is up, spit out the oil into the toilet. Don’t be alarmed if it looks yellowish–this is also normal.

Step 4: Rinse out your mouth a couple of times with warm salt water and spit into the trash. Rinse and spit with a good mouthwash. I prefer to dilute with water (or use full strength), regular hydrogen peroxide and I rinse and spit with that. The hydrogen peroxide is very effective in rinsing out any toxins which may be left in the mouth.

Always spit out in a trash can and not in your sinks!

Benefits of oil pulling

  • It is antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-fungal, anti-parasite and helps to control periodontitis.
  • It elevates the mouth ph and prevent cavities.
  • It reduces teeth sensitivity and sinusitis and curbs inflammation.
  • It helps with teeth whitening.