Oil pulling, the oral health practice of swishing food oils around in one’s mouth, has been sweeping the country and picking up a number of devoted practitioners.
Oil pulling, the oral health practice of swishing food oils around in one’s mouth, has been sweeping the country and picking up a number of devoted practitioners.
Many users of the technique have reported healthier, cleaner-feeling mouths and whiter teeth.
Dental professionals who promote the practice say that daily oil ritual can also help with bigger problems like periodontal disease and keep mouth infections from spreading to the rest of the body.
Gum tenderness, swelling, and bleeding are all symptoms that have been known to disappear after a period of pulling.
Some have even reported that after an extended duration of oil swishing, acne cleared up, stomach problems vanished, and sinus problems diminished.
The attention oil pulling is getting in dental circles may be new, but the practice isn’t.
It’s been borrowed from Indian ayurvedic medicine and adjusted to incorporate oils that can easily be found at the local grocery store.
Whereas the Indian version involves myriad specially blended products, the adapted technique calls for a spoonful of straight-up coconut, sunflower, or sesame varieties.
The recommended daily routine is a 20-minute rinse and spit followed by regular brushing.