Oral care5 min
Two-Minute Coconut Oil Mouth Swish
One spoon of coconut oil is swished for two minutes and then spat into the bin. It is a short kitchen habit, not a treatment for teeth or gums.
A two-minute coconut oil swish after brushing
Some kitchens keep a small spoon of coconut oil for a short swish after brushing. Two minutes is the whole practice. The oil is then spat into a bin, not the sink, because oil can cling to pipes. It is a familiar mouth habit, not a promise of cleaner teeth or healthier gums.
Do not swallow the used oil, and do not stretch the two minutes into a long session. Brushing, a dentist visit, and any medicine already prescribed still come first. If the mouth is sore, swollen, or bleeding, skip the swish and get it seen.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- A small clean spoon
- A cup of plain water to rinse after
How to prepare
- Measure one teaspoon of coconut oil. If it is solid, let it soften in the spoon.
- Have a bin ready, and a cup of plain water for a rinse afterwards.
How to use
- Swish the oil gently around the mouth for two minutes.
- Spit it into the bin, then rinse with plain water and spit that out too.
- Once in a day is enough. Do not swallow the used oil.
Helpful habits
- Two minutes is the limit. A longer swish is not better.
- Spit into a bin or trash, not the washbasin, so oil does not sit in the pipe.
Precautions
- This does not treat tooth decay, gum disease, or bad breath from illness.
- Do not swallow the used oil, and do not give this swish to a small child who may choke.
- Skip it if the mouth is painful, swollen, or bleeding, and see a dentist.
Frequently asked questions
Should I swallow the coconut oil?
- No. Swish for two minutes and spit the used oil into the bin.
Is two minutes enough?
- Yes. This practice stops at two minutes. A longer swish is not the idea.
Will this fix teeth or gums?
- No. It is only a short kitchen habit. Pain, swelling, or bleeding needs a dentist.
