Oil pulling is an ancient practice originating from Ayurvedic medicine that involves swishing an edible oil, most commonly coconut or sesame oil, around the mouth for 5 to 20 minutes on an empty stomach. The procedure aims to draw out and dissolve impurities from the oral cavity as an additional step in a daily oral hygiene routine. After the oil has been thoroughly “pulled,” the liquid changes consistency and must be removed from the mouth.
The Necessity of Immediate Rinsing
After completing the swishing process, you must spit out the used oil immediately and rinse your mouth thoroughly. The spent oil should never be swallowed, as it contains collected contaminants. For proper disposal, spit the oil into a trash receptacle, such as a paper towel-lined trash can, rather than down a sink or toilet drain. This prevents the oil, especially coconut oil, from solidifying and clogging plumbing.
Once the bulk of the oil is expelled, a vigorous rinse is necessary to remove any lingering oily residue coating the tongue, cheeks, and gums. This initial rinse should be done with warm water, which helps to dissolve and carry away the remaining oil film. Some practitioners recommend using a saline solution, as the mild salt water may offer additional cleansing properties.
Understanding Contaminants in Used Oil
Immediate rinsing is important because of the oil’s composition after it has been pulled through the mouth. The oil, being a lipid, binds to fatty substances and lipid-coated organisms present in the oral cavity. During the swishing period, the oil attracts and absorbs bacteria, yeast, and various forms of cellular debris.
Bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans, are trapped because their outer membranes are primarily lipid-based, making them naturally attracted to the oil. As the oil mixes with saliva, saponification occurs, which changes the oil’s texture and color to a thinner, sometimes milky-white consistency. The resulting liquid is a carrier for these collected contaminants and must be completely removed to avoid reabsorbing them or irritating the digestive system.
Completing the Post-Pulling Cleaning Protocol
The immediate water rinse only removes the bulk of the contaminated oil; it does not complete the cleaning process. Following the initial rinse, you must proceed with a standard oral hygiene routine to ensure all surfaces are clean. Brushing the teeth with a regular fluoride toothpaste is mandatory, as this step mechanically removes any remaining bacterial film or microscopic oil droplets that the initial rinse missed.
The full brushing session should cover all surfaces of the teeth and tongue to maximize the removal of residual matter. Flossing should also be incorporated into this post-pulling protocol to ensure the spaces between the teeth are clear. Combining the immediate rinse, subsequent brushing, and flossing finalizes the process, preventing the collected contaminants from resettling in the mouth.