As we continue our summer tour through the Ayurvedic self-care practices for the sense organs, we come next to the mouth and tongue.

This is a sense organ most of us are used to caring for with the practices of brushing and flossing. There are some lovely Ayurvedic toothpastes and powders out there, Incorporating herbs like neem and licorice, known for their oral benefits.

Another great Ayurvedic practice many people are incorporating in recent years is tongue cleansing by drawing a simple loop of stainless steel (or even a spoon) across the surface of the tongue, removing small food particles and bacteria.

Today I want to share another tremendous practice for oral hygiene – Gandusha, better known as oil-pulling, although “oil-pooling” is a more accurate term for it. In this practice, a spoonful of sesame oil is held in the mouth for several minutes, then spit out.

The primary benefit of gandusha is to improve oral hygiene, since sesame oil is antibacterial and antimicrobial, and has beneficial properties to protect the integrity of the skin of the mouth. It is said to help prevent cavities, reduce gum recession, improve the sense of taste, and strengthen teeth. It can prevent infection, improve the quality of the voice, reduce āma or biological toxins in the mouth and throat, and pull waste matter from the sinuses and oral cavity for expulsion.

To do this practice, take a spoonful of plain organic sesame oil (not the toasted kind) and simply hold it in the mouth. It’s not necessary to swish it around a lot (which is a different practice called kevala) – you can simply hold it. You can hold it just for a few minutes and build up in time as you get comfortable with it – the benefits increase the longer you hold it up until about 10 minutes. When time is up, spit out the oil into the garbage or outside. Do not spit it into the sink, as overtime this could cause plumbing issues. When complete, you can then massage the gums gently with your finger. 

Classically, sesame oil or specific medicated oils like arimedas tailam were used for gandusha, but you can also find herbal oils on the market today with familiar tastes like mint or cinnamon. If the taste of sesame oil turns you away from the practice, you can use coconut oil which is also antimicrobial, although there is less traditional evidence of benefits using coconut oil. 

The recommended sequence is to scrape the tongue, then brush and floss, and finish with gandusha. There is no need to brush the teeth again after gandusha, as the oil is antimicrobial, but if the taste or feeling bothers you, then you can change the sequence.

This practice is another way Ayurveda teaches us to take such deep care of our senses. The mouth and tongue provide such important information about the qualities of our food, and they also serve as a potential portal for bacterial intruders. Gandusha can be a great addition to our daily routines, adding another layer of self-love and protection.