What is Oil Pulling

Oil pulling (also known as Gandusha) is a Ayurvedic practice of swishing a natural oil around in the mouth for oral and whole body health benefits. Essentially, the oil is gathering up all the toxins from the mouth while its antiviral and antibacterial properties work to kill bacteria in the mouth. The health of the mouth correlates with the health of the whole body.

Benefits of Oil Pulling

• Reduce plaque and gingivitis (read more here and here)
• Whiten teeth and freshen breath
• Treat tooth decay
• Can help to treat and prevent strep throat and other mouth infections
• Strengthen jaw muscles which helps with TMJ and Bruxism symptoms
• Moisturize skin (even without topical application)
• Prevent cavities
• Clear out sinuses and relieve some allergy symptoms

What Oil Pulling Did for Me

Treated my infected tooth. I have the dumbest wisdom teeth. They are so wise that they cannot grow in straight. They would grow a bit and come out of the gums, then stop, and go back under the gums. During this process, one of the wisdom teeth actually got through the gums and stayed there, however it got infected. I went to see my dentist with this infected tooth and was speaking to him about whether I needed a wisdom tooth removal (which I did need because they were growing in sideways and pushing on my other teeth and I had no more room in the back of my mouth for more teeth!) By the time my next appointment came, my tooth infection had disappeared! Thank you coconut oil.

Moisturized my skin. I began oil pulling a few years ago in the winter time and noticed I was getting dry skin around my mouth and jawline [most likely because I hide from the cold in my gigantic winter scarves]. After oil pulling for less than a week, my skin was not as dry and almost back to normal (even without applying extra lotions or creams – I have sensitive skin).

Cleared out my sinuses. After oil pulling for only a few days, I noticed my body was releasing more mucus and I was blowing my nose quite a bit. I crossed my fingers and hoped I wasn’t getting sick, but then I noticed a relief in pressure on my face (above and under eyes) in my sinuses.

How to Oil Pull

Start on an empty stomach (this is best to do first thing in the morning).

Put 1 tablespoon of oil into the mouth. Choose a good quality organic coconut oil or sesame oil.

Swish oil around in mouth for 20 minutes. Swishing does not need to be super vigorous or your jaw will ache in 2 minutes. Move the oil around the inside of the mouth, and push it back and forth between the teeth. Do not gargle. 20 minutes is just enough time for the oil to work without reabsorbing toxins back into the body. Plan a task during this time (ex. shower, prepare food, throw a dance party, get ready for the day) to help time go by faster. Or stare at the clock like I did once…T-19 minutes to go here… ok now 18 minutes 40 seconds…

Do not swallow! Spit it into the trash. The oil will seem to have doubled in volume as it mixed with saliva. It will be a milky creamy colour as it is full of toxins and bacteria that should not be swallowed. I have spit into the sink before… often this is not advised because coconut oil can harden and clog pipes. Our pipes have been very forgiving!

Brush regularly with toothpaste and use mouthwash to remove any residual oil and bacteria.

Enjoy your beautiful smile and added health benefits!

Psst… some extra tips

If oil pulling for the first time, do not force yourself to use a full tablespoon and go for the full 20 minutes! Start with 1/2 a tablespoon and maybe 5-10 minutes and work your way up.

I used oil pulling everyday at the start and now only need to about every other day or 3 times per week.

It takes time to see results and health benefits! I eat one salad and lose 20 pounds? No. The body needs time to heal and it looks different for everyone. The list of health benefits are a guideline for what the body can experience and what others have noticed. Everyones health journey looks different and everyones body reacts differently to natural remedies.

Happy Oil Pulling 🙂

Have you tried oil pulling? What does your oral health care routine include?