Oil pulling is a well-established Ayurvedic practice that uses oil as a mouthwash to clean and detoxify your teeth and gums. Research demonstrates oil pulling can rid your mouth of harmful germs and can contribute to good oral and overall health.
What is oil pulling?
Short answer: Oil pulling is simply the swishing around of an oil, generally sesame, sunflower or coconut oil, in the mouth for up to 20 minutes each day.
Oil pulling, also called Gundusha or Kavala, has its roots in ancient India, and from my research, a restorative specialist named Dr. F. Karach first introduced it in the United States in the mid-1990s.
How does oil pulling work?
The chemical principle of "like dissolves like" applies to oil pulling. For example, water is polar and oil is non polar. Water won’t dissolve oil, but oil will dissolve oil. As you’ve seen for yourself, if you fill a jar with oil and water, they do not mix. However, if you fill a jar with two oils, they will mix easily.
Our mouth is full of bacteria, each of which has a fatty outer coating. When the bacteria come into contact with another fatty substance (like oil) they stick to that substance. The oil is like a bacteria magnet. When you spit out the oil after pulling, you’re spitting out the bacteria as well. Oil can reach those small crevices that a toothbrush cannot, cleaning your mouth to a whole new level.
Why do oil pulling?
Although many scientific studies have been done about oil pulling (see some studies here) proving its effectiveness, some people are still skeptical. I personally have experienced great results from oil pulling – my teeth are less sensitive, brighter and my mouth just feels clean. Even my dentist comments on how clean I keep my teeth and gums.
In my research on oil pulling, I’ve come across many people who swear by it. Many people have attributed oil pulling to helping with skin conditions, joint inflammation, asthma, headaches, and the list goes on.
I have read about specialists who explain how microscopic organisms and disease can enter the bloodstream through the mouth. Once the germs enter the bloodstream, they can end up anywhere in the body, creating inflammation and contributing to systemic diseases. It does make sense that bleeding gums would allow a way for bacteria in the mouth to seep the bloodstream. I personally don’t have any systemic diseases, so I can’t attest for this.
At any rate, oil pulling can be very beneficial and has no side effects. It is also completely natural. Oil pulling is an inexpensive treatment that can conceivably have extraordinary benefits to your oral and overall wellbeing, so I see no harm in giving it a try for yourself.
How to do oil pulling
Put 1-2 teaspoons of oil into your mouth. Swish around your mouth for 20 minutes. If you’re new to oil pulling, you can start at 5 minutes and work your way up to 20 minutes. The oil will get thicker and smooth as it blends with saliva, this is normal. Dr. Bruce Fife, author of Oil Pulling Therapy, says that if the saliva fills your mouth before the 20 minutes is up, you can spit it out and put fresh oil into your mouth and continue pulling. At first, it’s a bit hard to do the full 20 minutes but, with practice, the 20 minutes goes by in no time.
Spit the oil into the garbage can. Do not spit into the sink! The oil may thicken and could clog the pipes. Try not to swallow the oil as it is full of the harmful bacteria you’ve just pulled from your mouth.
Rinse well with water. I find that warm water seems to remove any residual oil better. You could also rinse with warm salt water.
Brush and floss as you normally do.
What oil to use for oil pulling?
In my experience, coconut oil is the best. Coconut oil is effective at removing certain microscopic organisms from the mouth, including Streptococcus mutans which is known to cause cavities. When you buy Masigi Boost oil pulling you get the coconut oil version.
Sesame oil is the classic oil used in Ayurveda, however this is due to its accessibility when oil pulling began thousands of years ago. Olive oil is sometimes used, however some people do not like the taste. It is best is to abstain from using any high Omega-6 or synthetically made oils like vegetable oil, canola oil, soybean oil, corn oil, etc.
Who can practice oil pulling?
Kids: Several experts that I have asked about this said oil pulling is safe for children once they are mature enough not to swallow the oil.
Pregnancy: I have done oil pulling while pregnant, but I was also doing it before I was pregnant. I asked a gynecologist and she said that it is thought to be safe for pregnant women, particularly after the first trimester. Oral health is particularly significant during pregnancy, so I was happy to have a natural method to keep my mouth clean while I was pregnant and allowed me to stay away from those chemical laden mouthwashes. As with anything health related, check with your doctor or a specialist before starting any new health care routine.
Anyone With Dental Issues: I have a few fillings in my mouth and I got the green light from my dentist to do oil pulling. Again, check with your dentist before starting any new oral care routine.
Is it safe to oil pull?
Fortunately, this is one point that everyone seems to agree on! While some people are skeptical about some of the benefits, they all agree that it can’t hurt.
The oil that is used to pull are safe to consume and are commonly used to cook with, so they are clearly not hazardous when swished around in the mouth.
After doing some research of my own about oil pulling, I discovered that while it would be nice to see more scientific studies done, many dental professionals still recommend it to patients who are looking for a natural alternative to mouthwash.
Does Oil Pulling Work?
Oil pulling really does work and it is it safe. I’ve been oil pulling for years and I have personally experienced many of the benefits it is known for, especially keeping my teeth and gums clean and free from plaque build-up. I have found the book "Oil Pulling Therapy" by Dr. Bruce Fife to be an excellent source of information about oil pulling. If you buy Masigi Boost oil pulling single-serve packets, it makes it much easier to pull while on the go or when you travel. Email contact@masigi.com for more information about their travel friendly oil pulling packets.
