A Thirty-Second Swish of Sesame Oil
One teaspoon of sesame oil, swished for about thirty seconds, then spat out. Do not swallow it. This is a short rinse, not a long oil pull, and not a cure for cavities.
Thirty seconds, then spit
Take one teaspoon of sesame oil, move it gently around the mouth for about thirty seconds, and spit it into a bin, not the sink if oil clogs your pipes. Do not swallow. Rinse with water afterwards and spit that out too. This is kavala kept short on purpose. It is not a twenty-minute oil pull, and it does not heal cavities, a cracked tooth, or an abscess.
Children who cannot be trusted to spit, usually under about six, should not do this. Skip it if the mouth has a bleed you cannot explain, and see a dentist if a sore lasts more than two weeks, the face swells, or a tooth throbs at night. Oil is not a toothbrush.
Ingredients
- One teaspoon of sesame oil
- A cup to spit into
- Water to rinse after
How to prepare
- Measure one teaspoon. Do not fill the mouth from the bottle.
- Have the spit cup ready before you start.
How to use
- Swish gently for about thirty seconds.
- Spit it all out. Do not swallow.
- Rinse with water and spit again. Then brush as you normally do.
Helpful habits
- Thirty seconds is the whole practice. A longer swish is not this page.
- If the oil tastes bitter or stale, spit it out at once and throw the tin away.
Precautions
- Do not swallow the oil.
- Not for a child who may swallow it.
- Not a treatment for toothache, swelling, or a sore that lasts. See a dentist.
Frequently asked questions
Should I swish for twenty minutes to make it work?
- No. This page is about thirty seconds, then spit. A long pull is a different practice, and neither one cures a cavity.
Can I swallow the oil for extra benefit?
- No. Spit it out. Swallowing the swished oil is not part of this habit.
My tooth throbs at night. Is the oil enough?
- No. Night pain, swelling of the face, or a sore lasting more than two weeks needs a dentist.
