For adults, a tablespoon of oil (most often coconut or sesame oil) is swished around the mouth and sucked through the teeth for 15–20 minutes one to three times daily.^[1]

For children older than 5, a teaspoon of oil is recommended. If 15–20 minutes is not tolerable, oil pulling can be performed for 5–10 minutes instead. Practitioners state that at the end of the oil pulling session, the oil should be milky white and have a thinner consistency. At this point the oil should be expelled from the mouth, and the mouth may be rinsed with water. To avoid clogging the pipes, it is recommended that the oil is not expelled into the sink directly but rather into the trash or a paper towel.^[2]