Oil Pulling & You

Here are the facts:

Oil pulling has earned the positive respect from professionals as an alternative method to keeping your smile healthy. While some individuals can’t understand why someone would stick oil in their mouth and swish it around, the impact of this choice can change the way your smile looks. Here are the facts about oil pulling. While oil pulling does not replace regular brushing and flossing, it can still be a valuable addition to your routine habits.

Oil pulling has been around for three thousand years and is not new in the dental field. It has gained recent attention due to reported benefits. The recommended oil is sesame, coconut or sunflower oil. Coconut oil has the added benefit of having anti-microbial agents.   

While twenty minutes may seem like a long time when oil pulling, if the time is a struggle you may want to begin at five minutes and then work your way up. Dr. Judy Strutz, suggests, “Do this one time a day.” The purpose of oil pulling is to remove food from between the teeth and remove bacteria in the mouth.

Once you put the oil in your mouth, you need to gently swish back and forth. Your jaw should not hurt while oil pulling. It is just a gentle swish in the mouth. When your time is up, you’ll want to spit out the oil. “It is not recommended you swallow any,” says Dr. Strutz.

To learn more, contact our office.