Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic procedure. It is highly beneficial for your health, especially oral health. Simply put, it involves using a vegetable oil as a mouthwash to pull out bacteria and toxins, and dissolve them in the liquid. When you finally spit out the oil, all the bacteria and toxins go with it into the trash!
It’s important to get rid of toxins because the body responds to the accumulation of toxins and other foreign invaders with inflammation, allergic reactions and other symptoms, thus overburdening the immune system.
Removing toxins helps reduce inflammation throughout your body and positively affects every aspect of your health, ranging from headaches to heart disease.
A lot of people swear by this traditional Ayurvedic remedy, although there have been only a few scientific studies that support it. Nevertheless, this therapy is gaining popularity as it is inexpensive, harmless and easy-to-follow.
Benefits of Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is excellent for oral health as it draws out bacteria and removes plaque, thus treating issues like bad breath, toothache, sensitivity and gum disease. It will also help brighten your teeth, heal mouth sores, prevent cavities and keep your gums healthy.
A 2013 Indian study analyzed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of Meenakshi University found this therapy to have a significant effect on plaque and gingivitis in participants suffering from plaque-induced gingivitis.
Scientists explain that the microorganisms in the mouth consist of a single cell that is covered with a fatty membrane. When they come in contact with oil, which is also a fat, they naturally adhere to each other.
Oral health is essential for overall health as well because certain diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease are linked with gum disease.
Studies suggest that germs from advanced gum disease or periodontal disease may enter the bloodstream, attach to the fatty plaques in arteries and contribute to the formation of clots that restrict blood flow and may lead to a heart attack.
Similarly, clogged arteries in the brain may lead to a stroke. Gum disease may also have an adverse effect on blood-sugar levels, making it harder to control diabetes.
Moreover, as already mentioned, oil pulling helps pull out bacteria and toxins, in turn reducing inflammation throughout your body and preventing the domino effect of chronic inflammation undermining your health.
There are several other health benefits as well, but the exact reason as to why or how it works in such cases is still not known.
In addition to the oral health benefits, here are some other health benefits of oil pulling.
- Relieves headaches and migraines
- Reduces eczema
- Treats arthritis and related illnesses
- Clears sinuses and reduces infections
- Improves the lymphatic system
- Stimulates metabolism
- Prevents heart disease
- Supports kidney function
- Alleviates allergies
- Regulates menstrual cycles and reduces PMS
- Promotes better sleep
Although oil pulling can benefit your health immensely, keep in mind that serious ailments require proper diagnosis and treatment. So, use it as an adjunct treatment along with the treatment suggested by a qualified healthcare professional.
How to Do Oil Pulling
- Take 1 tablespoon of organic, unrefined, cold-pressed vegetable oil like sunflower oil, sesame oil or any other edible oil. Many people like to use coconut oil as it has several additional health benefits and has strong antimicrobial properties due to its lauric acid content.
- Put the oil in your mouth and swish it around for about 20 minutes. Do NOT gargle with it and do NOT swallow the oil.
- Spit it out and then brush your teeth as usual.
- Do this daily in the morning, on an empty stomach. If you have a dry mouth, you can drink a few glasses of water about an hour or more before doing the procedure.
Tips
- If you have trouble swishing around 1 tablespoon of oil in your mouth, you can reduce the amount to 1 teaspoon. Also, you can try for just 5 to 10 minutes a day in the beginning. If you still find the procedure unpleasant, spit out the oil and try it another day.
- Keep swishing the oil in your mouth until it becomes thin, foamy and milky white. You do not need to swish it forcefully though, as it may cause your face muscles to ache.
- Do not swallow the oil. It is loaded with toxins.
- When you spit out the oil, make sure to spit it in a trash can rather than a sink as it can clog the drain. This is particularly important when using coconut oil that will solidify.
- After spitting out the oil, you may rinse your mouth with warm salt water and then brush your teeth.
- When you get used to this remedy, you can do it up to three times a day—before your breakfast, lunch and dinner. Doing oil pulling after eating anything may cause nausea.
- It can be done by anyone older than age five.
- To get positive results, use this remedy on a regular basis, at least for a few months.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC88948
https://info.umkc.edu/dentalfacultypractice/periodontal
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18408265
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21911944
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/200132.php
oil pulling is it 20 mins or seconds cause 20 mins is to long you need to swallow
it is not to be swallowed, claudia. you dont want all the toxins back in your body. 20 minutes sure is a long time, needs practice to get used to it!
Greetings,
Thanks for sharing this very informative details:-) May God give you more wisdomas you share good and beneficial information:-) Indeed, health is wealth:-) and being healthy is God’s gift to mankind:-) Let’s honor our body for it is the temple of the Holy Spirit:-)
God bless us all:-)
pj
I just love home remedies,they are SUPERB!Thank you
It’s should be 15 to 20 Minutes not seconds. Oil basically turns white after 15 minutes.
How often should one do oil pulling?
As often as you like. I do it 2 to 3 times a month.
Thanks so much. I have been tossing whether to try it or not. will now give it a bash.
for how many days oil pulling should be continued?
I do it 2 to 3 times a month. I can’t imagine there is a point where it becomes too much.
this is amazing and much better than any other médicament
can one use coconut oil
That is what I normally use. The paste quickly turns to oi . Best oils are coconut, almond, grape seed and olive.
Thank u so much…your all tips r wonderful
I find that adding peppermint oil improves the flavor & gives an extra tingle.
Yes, 20 minutes. At first it is not easy. But after a couple of times you learn how to release air build up, not swallow any oil and distract yourself while multi tasking. And your mouth becomes more relaxed.
Set a timer for 20 minutes. Don’t think about or watch the time. Go play Solitaire, Hearts or something productive to distract you. The time goes much quicker that way. You start to know after practice that the timer alarm is about to ring because the consistency will change to a “sudsy” feeling.
I recommend rinsing after with about an 8 ounce cup of warm water with natural Sea Salt or Pink Himalayan Salt, about half a mouth full at a time until empty. Then brush your teeth.
The best oils are raw, organic, natural coconut (paste becomes oil quickly), almond, grape seed, or olive.
I love your wesite and quote your information to many friends as well as referring them to yr site. I pray you continue the excellent research and that you prosper in God’s name.
I keep a jar of coconut oil in the shower and use it daily while I shower. Goes by more quickly without thinking about it so much. Course if you like to sing in the shower…..
Thanks for all the.information on home remedies .I will make good use of them and I will always support your website.
It really helps in case of headaches over a period of time
Thank you so much home remedies team,its too good to cure ur health at home i love your site,may u be prosper n happy always.
It is a good website. I have started oil pulling and found good. Can i share my homeremidy its very simple. You apply any oil into your belly button. Your lips will never Dry and many more health benefits.
You should not be using just any edible oil. If you want optimum results then you should use organic coconut oil or sesame seed oil.
I’ve tried the oil pulling to day for the first time…and i can tell you after i’ve brushed my teeth my mouth felt totally different..and keep the oil 20 min in my mouth wasn’t to hard to do..concentrate on the benefits it brings you and 20 min is gone like 20 seconds
Im intrested in learning more about the coconut oil in the form of pills.
l wonder if this treatment will help me get rid of my (grid) might be spell wrong but is phlem in my throat and causes bad taste in whatever I put in my mouth, The minute I taste any kind of food, my mouth gives me a bitter taste, I thought it was reflux, but my M,D, gave me medicine so when I cough green phlem comes out .Need a remedy that will stop the phlem from getting stuck in my throat, and get rid of this ailment.