OIL WHAT?
Crazy as it may seem, oil pulling was established as an ancient Ayurveda ritual. Ayureveda, which is a system of traditional medicine from India, referred to oil pulling as “gandusha” or “kaval”. It was believed to help cure more than 25 systemic diseases – including conditions like tension headaches, migraines, asthma, bronchitis and even osteoarthritis.1
According to Ayurveda expert Dr. Scott Gerson, oil pulling is currently endorsed by many celebrities and health care practitioners as a method to prevent tooth decay, mouth odor, bleeding gums and dryness or hoarseness of the throat, while also strengthening the teeth and gums.1
COCONUT SECRETS
Coconut oil is one of the best oils to use to practice this technique. Coconut, especially its oil, is a powerful destroyer of all kinds of microbes. One of the primary reasons coconut oil’s benefits are so broad is that 50 percent of the fat in coconut oil is lauric acid. Your body converts lauric acid into monolaurin, which is very good at fighting infections. Scientists found that coconut oil that had been treated with enzymes stopped the growth of Streptococcus bacteria – a major cause of tooth decay which affects 60 to 90 percent of children in industrialized countries.2
GERMS, GERMS EVERYWHERE
Germs and waste products of Candida and Streptococcus (yuk! are you seeing this?) are also common residents in your mouth that can cause plaque accumulation and tooth decay as well as secondary infections and chronic inflammation throughout your body. Dr. Joseph Mercola promotes that oil pulling can help lessen the overall toxic burden on your immune system by preventing the spread of these organisms from your mouth to the rest of your body, by way of your bloodstream.3
Other benefits of oil pulling include:4
• Whitens teeth
• Healthy, pink gums
• Increased energy
• Decreased migraine headaches
• Clear sinuses
• Less severe asthma
• Decreased allergies
• Improved PMS symptoms
• Regulated menstrual cycles
• Better sleep
• Clear skin
SWISH AND SPIT
Oil pulling is simple… using 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil, rinse it around your mouth like you would with mouthwash. This process allows the oil to “pull out” bacteria, viruses, fungi and other debris. The best time to do this is in the morning before eating breakfast, but it can be done at any time. Doing this for a period of 15 to 20 minutes a day for 4-5 days a week is recommended. Discard the oil in the trash when you are done and try not to swallow any of the oil when it is in your mouth because it will be loaded with bacteria and toxins.
Oil pulling is only one tool you may wish to use to keep your mouth healthy and to avoid plaque and bacteria. Brushing and flossing are also very important to include in your daily routine. Plaque buildup and tooth decay can also be avoided by consuming a healthful diet. A diet low in sugar, grains and processed foods, and high in fermented vegetables, whole foods, and grass-fed meats can improve your dental health.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Are you going to try oil pulling, or have you already tried it?
References:
1. Grush, Lauren. What is oil pulling? Examining the ancient detoxifying ritual. FoxNews March 24, 2014
2. Coconut Oil Could Combat Tooth Decay. September 2, 2012. http://www.bbc.com/news/health-19435442
3. Dr. Mercola, Joseph. Coconut Oil Might Combat Tooth Decay. December 2012. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/12/08/coconut-oil-combats-tooth-decay.aspx
4. Walling, Elizabeth. Heal and Detox with Oil Pulling: The What, Why and How NaturalNews.com. March 01, 201