Oil pulling, also known as "kavala" or "gundusha" in Sanskrit, is an Ayurveda dental technique that involves swishing a tablespoon of oil (typically coconut oil or sesame oil) in your mouth on an empty stomach for up to 20 minutes.

According to Ayurveda health-care philosophy, oil pulling draws out toxins in your body to improve oral health specifically and to improve your overall health. Swishing an oil like coconut oil in your mouth for multiple minutes takes practice, especially if you have the dreaded "gag reflex". After a few weeks, though, it becomes as customary as brushing your teeth and leaves your mouth and breath cleaner and fresher. You can find oil pulling oils in many natural health food stores. We like Daily Swish from Banyan Botanicals.