October 14, 2024, 6:45 pm | Read time: 4 minutes

Eliminating bad breath, preventing tooth decay, whitening teeth – rinsing the mouth with coconut oil sounds healthy, even if the taste is questionable. But what is the truth behind this tradition from ancient India, which has long been an old hat in Ayurvedic teachings? STYLEBOOK asked a dentist to find out.

What do you need for oil pulling?

How does oil pulling work?

Start by gently cleaning your tongue with a tongue scraper. Next, remove any residue and spit it out. Although this step is not absolutely necessary, the roughened surface of the tongue can loosen the toxins and allow the oil to work particularly well. After this pre-treatment, add a tablespoon of oil, rinse it back and forth for at least ten minutes, and allow it to pass through the entire oral cavity. It is important to pull/press the oil through the interdental spaces and also into the pockets at the back of the mouth. This is exactly where bacteria and foul-smelling deposits settle.

Now it’s time to hold out until the mixture becomes watery and milky – ten minutes maximum, but not much less than that. It’s crucial not to swallow! Otherwise, the painstakingly dissolved toxins and harmful substances will be back in your body, and your efforts will have been in vain. Spit it out, rinse with water, and only then brush your teeth. Pro tip: Avoid spitting into the sink to prevent clogging the drain. It is better to spit the oil into a tissue and then dispose of it in the household waste. Remember, oil pulling is not a substitute for brushing your teeth!

Oil pulling – an all-rounder?

While bad breath is certainly off-putting, it’s not always inevitable. The surface of the tongue, in particular, is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria to develop. Due to additional influences such as poor diet or cigarette consumption, the breath simply doesn’t smell good. Serious problems with the oral flora can, of course, cause this and should ideally be treated by a dentist. Oil pulling aims to eliminate the toxins that accumulate on the teeth, in the mouth, and on the tongue.

“My experience with oil pulling as a supplement to traditional dentistry has been consistently good,” says dentist Juliane von Hoyningen-Huene from the dental practice Dr. E. Adler & Kollegen. “I am particularly happy to recommend it when patients are unable to counteract chronic inflammation despite their best efforts with professional teeth cleaning and their own oral hygiene.” According to the expert, aromatic oils can also be used. “Similar to the antibiogram, you can have an aromatogram done to see which aromatic oils inhibit the bacteria in the gum pockets. This can further improve the effect of oil pulling.” After all, the gums are said to strengthen and thus have a preventative effect. Natural detoxification from oil pulling is also believed to boost the immune system, though scientific evidence is still forthcoming.

What are the disadvantages of oil pulling?

Undoubtedly, the taste associated with oil pulling requires an adjustment period. You may need to manage the gag reflex during the process. The question of which oil to use for oil pulling is something everyone has to find out for themselves. You can choose any oil, from sunflower to coconut, provided it’s of high quality.

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Brighter teeth and a better sense of well-being

Commit to daily oil pulling without cutting corners on time, and you’ll be rewarded with brighter teeth. Yellowish plaque caused by bacteria, food, and, above all, smoking is slowly removed, and as the oral cavity is ideally freed of toxins thanks to the traditional ritual, the smile will also be brighter in the future. Traditional, harsh tooth whitening treatments can dramatically alter tooth color but tend to be costlier, uncomfortable, and abrasive.