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Oil Pulling 101: How We Tried and Loved This Natural Remedy
So what is oil pulling?
Oil pulling is a teeth cleaning remedy that involves swirling around oil (usually sesame, sunflower or coconut oil) in the mouth for 20 minutes to clean teeth and gums. It’s an age-old Ayurvedic remedy that was developed centuries ago in India. The basic concept is that the oil cuts through bacteria and plaque in the mouth. The oil and the excess gunk adheres to each other. When you spit the oil back out, the extra bacteria goes with it.What are the benefits of oil pulling?
Reported benefits of oil pulling include: whiter teeth, gingivitis prevention, better breath, stronger teeth, less jaw pain and alleviation of headaches. There have even been claims that oil pulling is good for fighting eczema, psoriasis and acne.
What are the best oils to use?
Traditional Ayurvedic oil pulling uses sesame oil but sunflower and coconut oil will also do the trick. I personally found that melted coconut oil had a pleasant taste and if I had extra left over then I could use the coconut oil for other purposes.How to oil pull:
First thing’s first. Pick an oil. If you’re using coconut oil, take a tablespoon of the congealed oil and melt it in the microwave for 20 seconds. Begin to pull by swirling the oil around your mouth. Your jaw muscles may get tired, so when you’re starting off pull for only 5 minutes. Although the recommended time for oil pulling is 20 minutes, it’s easier to slowly work up to that amount of time. When you spit the oil back into the cup, you’ll notice that the oil will have magically doubled in size. Don’t worry. This is actually the gunk that the oil is cleaning from your mouth. Rinse your mouth with warm water and finish your nightly routine by brushing and flossing. Pro tip: Oil can clog the drain. So spit the oil back into a cup, use a paper towel to soak it up, then throw the towel into the trash.
I like this. Do I still have to brush and floss?
Yes, you will always have to brush and floss! There isn’t any alternative to brushing your teeth. To put it simply, oil pulling is a holistic addition to your oral hygiene regimen.What to do with the extra coconut oil?
Coconut oil is an amazing ingredient that can be used for the skin, hair and body. If you decide that oil pulling is something you wish to discontinue, use the leftover coconut oil in the jar as a natural body moisturizer, cuticle oil, lip balm or hair tamer.So does swishing coconut oil work?
To be honest, I was skeptical that this natural remedy would work. I began my oil pulling experiment at end of the night when I could feel the gunk building up. I swirled the coconut oil for 5 minutes and spit it out. After rinsing with water, I noticed a distinct lack of slime on my teeth. My mouth felt cleaner and my molars felt smoother. I still had to continue my tooth brushing and flossing regimen but overall, I felt that the coconut oil did a good job of rinsing out the gross stuff. I oil pulled for about a week and I haven’t seen any improvement with my eczema; however, my teeth have never looked better. My teeth feel cleaner and my breath is fresher in the mornings. Swishing coconut oil for a full 20 minutes is tiring, so I only plan on continuing to do it for 5 minutes per day.
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