When you hover through your Facebook and Instagram, you must have observed some videos of people swishing oil just like a mouthwash. You may think it is weird or dismiss it as the newest social media health fad, but they are actually partaking in a centuries-old Ayurvedic practice.
To get good oral hygiene and a healthy smile, people nowadays are trying numerous trendy tricks and hacks, thus elevating their confidence, too.
And oil-pulling is one of the tried and tested practices. This ancient method, which involves placing edible oil in your mouth and swishing it through the teeth, is considered one of the finest ways to improve oral health. What’s more? The benefits are not just limited to oral hygiene but impact the overall health if practised regularly. Acquire key knowledge about what oil pulling is, how it works, and the dos and don’ts of this Ayurvedic ritual!
3 Surprising Benefits of Oil Pulling Practice
Oil pulling was initiated in an era before brushing teeth became a norm. It was believed to support removing plaque from teeth and improve the health of your tongue and gum. Over the years, several other benefits of oil pulling popped up as well, including:
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Fight against Bacteria
If you practise oil pulling every day, you can witness that it is helping you remove harmful bacteria from your teeth and mouth.
Note: According to a few dental specialists, oil pulling may remove germs from your mouth, but that does not necessarily mean that it can destroy the bacteria that contribute to tooth decay and other oral problems.
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Minimises the Risk of Gingivitis
When your gums are inflamed, swollen, and tender, it means you have the symptoms of gingivitis. With oil pulling, you can reduce the risks of untreated gingivitis that can lead to major oral health concerns such as periodontitis. Yes, it is possible! While doing this ancient practice, the oil actually acts as an emollient and cleans the teeth and gums from undesirable buildup.
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Fixes Bad Breath
Pulling oil can help your saliva cut down bacteria without making your mouth dry. According to clinical studies, regular practice of oil pulling can kill the germs that are responsible for halitosis.
How Oil Pulling Works: A Wellness Guide
- Put a tablespoon of sesame/ coconut/ sunflower oil in your mouth in the morning before breakfast. A teaspoon of oil for children aged 5-12 years.
- Swish and hold the oil and move it from one cheek to the other inside your mouth.
- Now, spit out the oil and rinse with lukewarm water.
Note: Coconut oil has antifungal properties, which help destroy candida residing in the mouth. Therefore, coconut oil is typically preferred both economically and simply to diminish oral thrush symptoms.
Oil Pulling Practice: Important Do’s and Don’ts
This 3000-year-old practice eliminates the toxins in your body and enhances your entire health. However, there are some particular ways to practise this ancient tradition, and now we will be revealing some important do’s and don’ts of the oil pulling ritual:
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Do’s of Oil Pulling Practice
- Swish the oil in your mouth for at least 5 to 15 minutes to observe the real impact.
- Practice oil pulling on an empty stomach. Do not drink water before and after this ritual.
Note: Practising this in the morning before breakfast helps to liberate the maximum quantity of enzyme-containing saliva.
- Swish with a relaxed jaw. Make a target of swishing the oil for at least 5 minutes a day and gradually increase the timing day by day.
- Practise this ritual every alternative day; however, regularly doing it is more beneficial.
- To the oil you are using for pulling practice, try adding a few drops of natural lemon or orange juice, as it freshens your breath and boosts antibacterial properties.
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Don’ts Oil Pulling Practice
- Remember not to swish with oil vigorously every day, which can lead to muscle aches.
- Do not swallow the oil while doing the ritual. You cannot put toxins or bacteria in your stomach because oil pulling helps wash them out of your mouth.
- Avoid talking while pulling oil. If you do this, you might spill the oil over or swallow it. So, be very careful while practising this oil-pulling ritual.
- Don’t spit oil in the sink, as it can cause clogs; use a trash bin instead.
- Don’t skip brushing because oil pulling is a supplement, not a replacement for brushing and flossing.
Final Thoughts
Oil pulling is one of the simplest practices you can grasp to maintain and improve your oral health. However, this Ayurvedic ritual is not a treatment for your dental disease. Still, it can support making your oral microbiome healthy and reduce any inflammation related to gum bleeding or other problems. Despite the lack of scientific evidence, if you follow this routine, you can get your proof. Thus, there is no harm in giving it a shot! Just remember the important dos and don’ts while beginning your oil-pulling exercise.