Oily food is bad for health, whilst oil is good for oral care. How confusing is this notion? One of the many latest trends to resurrect from ancient archives has to do with giving your mouth a quick oil bath. It’s called oil pulling and it dates back to centuries-old Ayurvedic medicine.
Kavala, now referred to as oil pulling, is an oral cleansing technique where a comfortable amount of oil is held in the mouth and gargled. Gundusha involves completely filling the mouth with oil and holding it, rather than swishing or gargling.
HOW DOES IT HELP?
Oral cleanliness is one less worry with oil pulling. Here are some of its benefits:
- Kills harmful bacteria.
- Reduces plaque formation.
- May help prevent tooth decay.
- Improves bad breath.
- Promotes gum health.
- Strengthens oral muscles.
- Whitens the teeth.
Ayurvedic practitioners believe that oil pulling:
- Enhances the senses.
- Brings about a feeling of freshness.
- Maintains clarity in the voice.
- Clears sinuses.
- Reduces headaches.
- Reduces inflammation in the body that’s linked to illnesses like arthritis and heart disease.
- Excretes heavy toxic metals by activating the salivary enzymes and detoxifies the body.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The steps are simple:
- Take a tablespoon of oil into your mouth. Use high-quality, edible oils like sunflower oil, coconut oil, and sesame oil.
- Swish it inside your mouth until it turns frothy and white. Start with two minutes and gradually move your way up
to five to 20 minutes. - Spit the oil into a trash can or some tissue. Don’t spit it into the sink or toilet as this can cause buildup and lead
to clogging. - Brush your teeth with toothpaste as usual to remove excess oil.
- Rinse your mouth well using water before eating or drinking anything.
- Repeat a few times per week or up to three times daily. It’s recommended to do this in the morning on an empty stomach.
Sources: Healthline, Verywell Health, Medical News Today, National Library of Medicine, WebMD
