Oil pulling is rooted in Ayurvedic medicine and has been around for thousands of years. For those new to the idea, oil pulling got its name from the action of “pulling”– i.e., swishing and sucking– oil through one’s teeth. Sesame, Sunflower or Coconut oil is held in the mouth for up to 20 minutes to improve oral health. The practice of oil pulling (also called gundusha) started in India thousands of years ago and was first introduced to the United States in the early 1990s by a medical doctor named Dr. F. Karach
These Natural products mentioned above are very effective at cleaning and detoxifying teeth and gums.
The basic idea behind oil pulling is that the oil picks up pathogens– bacteria to a large extent and probably viruses and fungi that are living in your mouth and when spat out reduces the pathogen load in the mouth. Oil pulling by some authors has been known to cut through plaque and thereby reducing toxins in the mouth
Why coconut oil?
Coconut oil has several beneficial qualities namely; antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, relieves halitosis, gingivitis and has been known to whiten teeth without sensitivity
The saturated fat in coconut oil is made up of seven different types of fatty acids, including caproic, caprylic, capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic, and stearic acid. Of the seven types of acid, lauric acid is the most predominant. Coconut oil contains about 6 g of lauric acid, a type of medium-chain fatty acid commonly used in soaps
Benefits of Oil Pulling
- Reduces plaque accumulation and bleeding gums
- Reduces Halitosis
- Less sensitive and a whiter teeth
How to Oil Pull
Oil Pulling Instructions
- Put 1-2 teaspoons of oil into the mouth.
- Swish for 20 minutes. “Timing is key” it should be long enough to break through plaque and bacteria but not long enough that the body starts re-absorbing the toxins and bacteria.
- Spit oil into the trash can.
- Rinse well with warm water.
- Brush well.