Olive Oil for oil pulling

Oil pulling has been undertaken for thousands of years to improve dental health. But before you reach for the vegetable oil, coconut oil or sesame oil, you’ll be interested to know that there’s another oil hitting the scene now being recommended by dentists; extra virgin olive oil (EVOO).

Using extra virgin olive oil is different to using other types of olive oil. This is based on the standards that must be met in order for it to be classified as an EVOO and the highest grade of olive oil available.

It’s also important to note that oil pulling should be used in conjunction with your dental hygiene plan. If you have braces and cleaning your teeth is difficult, then you’ll be pleased to know that we have personally heard from some customers who say their dentist has recommended olive oil for oil pulling.

Why use extra virgin olive oil for oil pulling?

Extra virgin olive oil is known for its healthy properties especially for its phenolic content.

These are the main reasons to use Extra Virgin Olive Oil:

• It is anti-inflammatory,
• It is anti-bacterial,
• Rich in anti-oxidants – polyphenols and vitamin E,
• EVOO has strict standards for minimal processing and so is a high quality olive oil,
• Doesn’t require time to melt in your mouth like coconut oil.

Initial studies look promising for the use of EVOO for oil pulling however more research needs to be conducted for it to be conclusive. You may like to test extra virgin olive oil for your own results and buy a quality EVOO online for this purpose. But don’t stop there. You can use your choice of EVOO for salads, drizzled over cooked vegetables and for dipping with a crusty bread. So none goes to waste.

Comparative Oils

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is commonly used oil for oil pulling. While the Heart Foundation strongly recommends against the regular consumption of coconut oil due to its very high level of saturated fats, for oil pulling, it has similar benefits to extra virgin olive oil because it contains lauric acid, which has strong antimicrobial properties.

Sesame Oil

Sesame oil contains Vitamin E, polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid and oleic acid. These anti-oxidative properties assist with reducing free radical damage to oral tissues.

For further details, you can read the article: Naseem M, Khiyani MF, Nauman H, Zafar MS, Shah AH, Khalil HS. Oil pulling and importance of traditional medicine in oral health maintenance. Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2017 Sep-Oct;11(4):65-70. PMID: 29085271; PMCID: PMC5654187.

How to use olive oil to help clean your mouth

Oil pulling is a very easy 3 step process. What may be more of a challenge for you or your children, is your commitment to it on a daily basis. Make sure to put a reminder in your phone so you can continue to improve your dental health.

How to do Oil Pulling

1. Place approximately 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil in your mouth,
   
2. Swish the olive oil around inside your closed mouth and push the oil forward and backward so it goes between your teeth.
   
   Start with 5 minutes if you need, otherwise start at 10 minutes and work your way up to a longer time such as 20 minutes.
   
3. As this is an oil, do not put down sink. Discard the olive oil into a tissue or paper towel and place in the bin. Brush your teeth.

That’s it!