Oil pulling can help keep your teeth healthy by preventing tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. It also helps whiten your teeth naturally by removing stains and plaque.
All that is needed is a spoonful of oil and about twenty minutes. Simply insert a spoonful of one of the oils mentioned above into the mouth and swoosh it around like mouthwash for about fifteen minutes. After the fifteen minutes have passed, simply rinse with water into the sink and enjoy a clean mouth!
It is one of the most popular and commonly used methods to whiten teeth at home. Olive oil has been known to have properties to reduce stains on the teeth. It is especially beneficial for people who have developed stains on their teeth because of excessive smoking and tea or coffee.
Does Oil Pulling Whiten Teeth? There's no clear evidence that oil pulling can make a difference in the color of your teeth. You're better off treating your teeth in ways that are more likely to be effective. Professional teeth whitening can help you achieve the pearly whites you deserve.
However, in our study, coconut oil, as such, had shown whitening effect on the tooth, also found to have had no effect on the restorative material and can be preferred over other types of oil such as olive oil which was found to have a darkening effect on restorative materials.
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.
Oil pulling should be ideally performed daily morning on empty stomach before brushing teeth and care should be taken that oil is not swallowed. Swallowing of oil during oil pulling should be avoided as the oil contains bacteria and toxins. Oil pulling is best practiced in sitting position with chin up.
How often should you oil pull? If you suffer from gingivitis or gum disease, oil pull once a day to improve gum health. If you have good oral health, oil pull 1-2 times each week.
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.
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.
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.
Start with just 5 minutes a day. Twenty minutes of swishing is a long time, and while the longer you pull, the more bacteria you'll remove, 5 or 10 minutes will still offer some benefit. Also, if your jaw starts aching a few minutes in, slow down. "Don't work too hard," Emery says.
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.
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.
Can Oil Pulling Reverse Cavities? 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.
Although the act of swishing vegetable oil around in your mouth for 20 minutes will do you no harm, the muscles in your face may become tired or slightly sore from the exertion. To combat that, don't swish too vigorously, and make sure to not use too much oil since it'll take more force to keep your lips firmly sealed.
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.
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.
Can I Eat or Drink After Oil-Pulling? After oil-pulling, just rinse your mouth and brush as you normally would. You may then consume any food or drink that you want immediately.
Orange Oil
D-limonene is anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant. Simply place 2 drops of orange oil onto your dry toothbrush and brush for 2 minutes. You will instantly noticed whiter teeth.
Multiple studies have demonstrated that olive oil can help prevent periodontitis and protect the gums. Some of the studies have also concluded that olive oil can help prevent dental caries and aids in overall oral health. The positive effects of olive oil were seen when taken frequently.
The longer you push and pull the oil through your mouth, the more microbes are pulled free. 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.