Oil Pull Before Or After Brushing

So you’ve heard about oil pulling. Maybe from that friend who smells faintly of coconut and enlightenment. It’s the ancient Ayurvedic practice of swishing oil in your mouth for 20 minutes, supposedly pulling out toxins like a greasy vacuum cleaner for your gums. But now you’re standing in your bathroom, holding your toothbrush in one hand and a bottle of sesame oil in the other, asking the eternal question: Before or after brushing?

Let’s clear the froth. The overwhelming consensus from dentists who don't hate fun is: oil pull before you brush. Think of it like pre-washing a greasy pan. You wouldn’t scrub a pan with soap first, then try to rinse the grease off with water—that’s just sad, inefficient dishwashing. Oil pulling first loosens the plaque and bacteria, which your toothpaste and brush can then drag down the drain like bouncers at a club.

If you brush first, you’re basically polishing the floor before sweeping. You’ll just be swishing oil around a clean-ish mouth, which is fine for a spa day, but it defeats the purpose of pulling out the hidden crud. Your smile will be pristine, but your gums might still be hosting a tiny, oily rave.

The Great Schedule Debate (Or, When to Start Your Oil-Swishing Career)

Here’s the brutal truth: you need to do this for 20 minutes on an empty stomach. That means, if you’re like me, you’ll be standing over the sink at 6:15 AM, contemplating life and wondering if you can spit this oil into a cup and finish it later. (Spoiler: you cannot—and nobody should ever see that).

So brush first? No. You brush after, because the oil loosens everything like a pre-game warmup. Then your toothbrush (and a good fluoride toothpaste) finishes the job, leaving your mouth feeling like a freshly waxed car. Just don’t swallow the oil. I once did, and I tasted regret and a faint hint of fried chicken for three hours.

Is Oil Pulling Just Pseudoscience? Separating Fact from Myth

But wait, there’s a plot twist. Some dentists say: if you must, do it after. Listen, these are the same people who advocate for flossing twice a day. They live in a world of perfect hygiene where no one has ever eaten a burrito in their car. Ignore them. The majority of research says oil before brush is the way to reduce plaque and gingivitis by a shockingly decent amount.

What Kind of Oil Should You Use? (And Why You Shouldn’t Use Motor Oil)

Coconut oil is the MVP here. It tastes like a vacation and fights bacteria because it’s rich in lauric acid. Avoid olive oil unless you want your mouth to smell like a salad bar. And for the love of all that is holy, do not use canola oil—that’s just asking for your dentist to laugh at you. Surprising fact: Oil pulling can reduce the amount of Streptococcus mutans (the bacteria that causes cavities) by up to 40% in two weeks. Forty percent! That’s almost impressive enough to make you forget how ridiculous you look swishing.

Coconut Oil Pull Before Or After Brushing Teeth at Warren Short blog

Now, the process. Scoop one tablespoon of oil. Swish it around like expensive mouthwash—don’t gargle, because that’s how you turn your morning into a gag reflex Olympics. After 20 minutes (use a timer, not your soul), spit it into a trash can. Do not spit it down the sink, because oil will solidify and one day your pipes will scream for mercy. Then, brush your teeth like a normal person.

One last tip: if your jaw hurts, you’re doing it too hard. Relax the face. You’re pulling toxins, not fighting a greasy, slippery bear. Your mouth will feel cleaner, your breath will be less dragon-like, and you’ll have a great story to tell your barista about the morning you accidentally drooled coconut oil onto your cat.