Oil Pulling - Detox your mouth for better oral health

I your mouth, there are all kinds of favourable conditions for bacteria to thrive and multiply.

It's hot and humid and often full of food debris. With oil pulling, you can get rid of many of these bacteria. At the same time, you can also achieve whiter teeth.

Oil pulling is an ancient Indian folk remedy that is claimed to whiten your teeth, freshen your breath and improve your oral health. Oil pulling comes from pulling out the bacteria.

Using coconut oil for oil pulling is becoming increasingly popular.

Many people swear by this remedy, and many say it improves their health in other ways too.

This article explores whether there is any truth behind these claims, or if oil pulling is just another useless trend.

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Introduction

Oral hygiene is an important part of our daily routine. But have you ever wondered why it's so important? A healthy mouth is not only important to avoid cavities and bad breath. It's also crucial for avoiding more serious health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.

Many of the products we use to care for our mouths contain chemicals and other synthetic ingredients. These can be harmful to our health in the long term. That's why it's important to consider more natural alternatives.

One of the most effective natural methods to detox your mouth and improve your oral health is oil pulling. But what is oil pulling and how does it work?

Your mouth is a little paradise for bacteria

This is where bacteria can settle and become more and more numerous. After a long day, you will often be able to feel with your tongue how much dirt has accumulated on your teeth.

Even though your teeth are strong as bones, they still need care and attention if you have them close to your heart.

Because if bacteria are given free rein, they grow into large colonies, resulting in them softening your teeth and eventually creating cavities, more bacteria and bigger cavities.

The bacteria produce an acid that slowly but surely destroys and wears away the enamel that protects the teeth. So even though the saliva in our mouths kills a good portion of the bacteria, we still need to help out a little with brushing our teeth.

This scrapes away the vast majority of bacteria, but depending on the toothbrush, brushing behaviour and where the bacteria have settled, many may still remain.

This is where oil pulling comes in as an additional bacteria killer. Some people even report that oil pulling also helps them achieve whiter teeth.

What is oil pulling? - A great holistic oral care solution

The term "oil pulling" comes from the process of oil being pulled into the mouth by pulling, pushing, and sucking the bacteria that may be in the mouth and between the teeth.

This form of oral therapy is not a new phenomenon. It has its origins all the way back to Ayurvedic medicine, which dates back 3000 years. The procedure involves rinsing with about a tablespoon of oil and rolling it around in the mouth.

As the oil hits your teeth and gums, microbes (bacteria) are picked up, almost like a magnet they are attracted to. Bacteria hide under the cracks in your gums and in the pores between your teeth.

Here they are sucked out of their hiding places and held in the solution. The longer you push and pull the oil through your mouth, the more microbes are pulled out.

The oil should be swirled long enough to turn into a milky white colour. This indicates that the bacteria have been "pulled" out.

Oil pulling is an ancient natural medicine method for pulling bacteria, viruses and other organisms out of the mouth. By spitting out the oil and then rinsing clean with water.

How does oil pulling work?

Oil pulling is about rinsing oil around the mouth and using it as a mouthwash. It has been used for thousands of years as an Indian folk remedy.

To do an oil pulling, you put a tablespoon of oil in your mouth and then swish it around for 15-20 minutes. Yes - they say the longer the better.

The main benefit of doing this is that it reduces the amount of harmful bacteria in your mouth.

There are hundreds of different types of bacteria in the mouth. While many of them are friendly, others are not.

The bacteria in your mouth create a biofilm on your teeth, a thin layer known as plaque.

Having some plaque on your teeth is perfectly normal, but if it gets out of control, it can cause various problems including bad breath, gingivitis and cavities.

The way oil pulling works is simple - as you swish the oil around in your mouth, the bacteria is swept away and dissolves into the liquid oil.

Oil pulling will work with virtually any oil, but extra virgin coconut oil is a popular choice due to its pleasant flavour.

It also has a favourable fatty acid profile, containing high amounts of lauric acid, which has antimicrobial properties.

What are the benefits of oil pulling?

People who use oil pulling often say it has helped them whiten their teeth, relieve bad breath and even reduce gingivitis.

In many cases, they also claim that it helps to "prevent" cavities, as well as relieve gum and tooth sensitivity. For the record, however, it's worth pointing out.

That a regular oil pulling routine does not replace routine dental visits and traditional oral hygiene, such as brushing your teeth.

On the other hand, many people who regularly use oil pulling experience whiter teeth, less tartar build-up and fewer problems with their mouth and teeth in general.

I myself have only used the method for a short period of time. But I can already recognise that it really does something about bad breath. The mouth feels more delicious and clean, and you feel more comfortable at the same time. My teeth also seem to have whitened, but whether it's wishful thinking is hard to gauge. In any case, I feel like my mouth feels comfortable pretty much all day long. For those reasons alone, I'm not going to stop.

Which oil to use for oil pulling

The oils people use for oil pulling are very different, ranging from sesame oil to sunflower oil. These oils have both omega 6 fatty acidswhich are pro-inflammatory. Most of us already have too much of these in our diet as it is today.

Therefore, it makes sense to use a different oil. Coconut oil is preferred for oil pulling. This is because 50% of the fat in coconut oil consists of antibacterial properties in the form of lauric acid.

Lauric acid is known for its antimicrobial properties that inhibit streptococcal mutans. These are the primary bacteria that cause cavities in the teeth. They do this because when the bacteria break down sugar, they produce the sugar dextran, which is part of the coating of the teeth (slice) and form lactic acid, which corrodes the teeth.

With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that recent studies have shown the benefits of coconut oil in preventing tooth decay. There's no doubt that oil pulling reduces bacterial build-up and the amount of bacteria in the mouth.

When you consider that a clean mouth can have between 1,000 and 100,000 bacteria on each tooth. And those who don't have a clean mouth can have between 100 million and one billion bacteria on each tooth.

So what's the harm in extracting some of them with some oil? Your immune system will also benefit.

Because by pulling bacteria away from the body, the risk of getting sick from batteries is significantly reduced. So maybe you should start making oil pulling a daily routine at the bathroom?

Can other oils be used for oil pulling?

There are several different oils you can use for oil pulling. Some of the most common include:

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is one of the most popular oils for oil pulling. It has antimicrobial properties and can help prevent dental problems.

Sesame oil

Sesame oil is another common oil for oil pulling. It is said to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Sunflower oil

Sunflower oil is another popular oil for oil pulling. It contains high levels of vitamin E and can help prevent infections in the mouth.

Other oils

You can also use other oils for oil pulling, such as olive oil, almond oil or avocado oil. The most important thing is to choose an oil that is of high quality and has not been refined or added chemicals.

How is oil pulling done?

To perform oil pulling, you need to choose a suitable oil. Some of the most common oils used for oil pulling are coconut oil, sesame oil and sunflower oil. You can also use other oils, such as olive oil or almond oil.

Once you've chosen your oil, take a tablespoon and swish it around in your mouth for 5-20 minutes. It's important to avoid swallowing the oil as it contains toxins and bacteria that have been extracted from your mouth.

After 5-20 minutes, spit the oil out into a waste bin. Then rinse your mouth with warm water and brush your teeth as normal.

Oil pulling - How to do it

 

Put a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth and swish it back and forth and between your teeth. Back and forth - up and down - all the time.

Move your jaws as if you're being paid to do so. Keep in mind that the oil will almost double in size in your mouth as it absorbs saliva, bacteria and other toxins. So you might want to start with a teaspoon.

Keep doing this for at least 5 minutes and preferably up to 20 minutes. Remember that the longer you do this, the more bacteria will be drawn out. But don't swallow the oil, as it will be filled with bacteria.

You want to get these bacteria out of your system - not in. Some people experience a mild headache in conjunction with this oil flush. Studies suggest that this may be the result of a detox headache for those new to the process.

You can do something else while you do it. Not everyone wants to look at themselves in the mirror for 20 minutes while they're sloshing around. You could read the morning paper, check your emails, read a book, listen to a podcast or even take the dog for a walk.

When you're done, spit it all out and put it in the rubbish bin as coconut oil clogs the drain.

Then rinse your mouth with water and spit it out again. You can optionally add a little salty - Himalayan salt is favoured for extra cleansing.

Then brush your teeth, preferably using a homemade toothpaste.

If you want to give your teeth an extra gentle care, you can use baking soda. It tastes pretty awful, let's face it. But it provides a mild and good effect for your teeth when you want to whiten them naturally.

Finally, floss and rinse a second time with water. Now you're left with a super fresh mouth. However, you should be aware that while you may notice a difference at first. The real results will only come once you've established this process as a daily routine.

If you don't want to do it every day, you can do it a couple of times a week. It will still be far better than not doing it at all.

Benefits of oil pulling

Oil pulling has a number of health benefits. Here are some of the most notable:

Improving oral hygiene

Oil pulling can help remove plaque and bacteria from the mouth, which can reduce the risk of dental problems such as caries and gingivitis. It can also help prevent bad breath.

Removal of toxins

Oil pulling is an effective way to remove toxins and other harmful substances from the mouth. These substances can come from food, drinks and the environment. By pulling the oil around your mouth, you can help remove these toxins and improve your overall health.

Reduction of inflammation

Inflammation in the mouth can be caused by bacteria, infection or injury. Oil pulling can help reduce inflammation and improve the healing process.

Reduction of headaches

Some people report that oil pulling can help reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches. This is possibly due to the oil's ability to reduce inflammation in the body.

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Conclusion

With a little help from baking soda and regular brushing, coconut oil can do wonders for your teeth and overall personal oral health.

By simply swishing a little coconut oil around in your mouth, you can remove a whole host of nasty mouth bacteria. Without the use of boring chemicals and using only natural raw materials.

Try it and see if it gives you cleaner and whiter teeth. Worst case scenario, you'll get rid of a whole lot of bacteria and that's worth taking into account.

Do you use oil pulling as part of your daily oral hygiene routine? Tell us about your results in the comments section below. You can buy our unique coconut oil here.

Oil pulling is an effective and natural way to improve your oral health and reduce the risk of dental problems and other health issues. It can be performed daily with a variety of oils and has a number of health benefits.

Frequently asked questions

1. Is oil pulling suitable for all age groups?
   Yes, oil pulling is a safe and natural method that all age groups can do.
2. Which oil is best for oil pulling?
   There are several oils that can be used for oil pulling, such as coconut oil, sesame oil and sunflower oil. The most important thing is to choose an oil that is high quality and not refined or added chemicals.
3. How long should I swish the oil around in my mouth?
   It is recommended to swish the oil around in your mouth for at least 10-20 minutes every day.
4. How often should you perform oil changes?
   It is recommended to perform oil pulling every day for at least 10-20 minutes.
5. Can you do oil pulling if you have dental problems?
   Yes, oil pulling can help reduce the risk of dental problems and improve oral health.
6. Can oil pulling replace regular dental care?
   No, oil pulling should be seen as a supplement to regular dental care. You should still brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day and visit your dentist regularly.
7. Can oil pulling be used to treat headaches?
   Some people report that oil pulling can help reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches, but there is not enough scientific evidence to support this claim.