I bet you’ve heard about the many healthy benefits of coconut oil, but have you heard of “oil pulling” to get whiter teeth and fresher breath?
I have to admit when I first stumbled upon oil pulling it took me a few moments to grasp exactly what it is and why I should be doing it. In a nutshell, it’s using coconut oil as a kind of mouth wash.
What exactly is oil pulling?:
- Take a dollop of coconut oil & place it in your mouth
- Let the oil melt
- Swish it around for about fifteen minutes – this is about break through plaque and bacteria.
- Spit it out — but not into your sink. The oil will get thick and milky as it mixed with saliva and will look creamy and white when you spit out.
- Rinse well with warm water
- You’ll probably want to brush your teeth afterwards
I know. It sounds crazy, but I’ve seen the results.
For the record, oil pulling is an ancient practice originating in India dating back thousands of years. Swishing coconut oil around in your mouth kills bacteria, loosens plaque and makes teeth whiter. But how does it actually work?
Your mouth is full of bacteria. Some bacteria are nasty critters that cause tooth decay, gingivitis, bad breath and a whole host of other maladies. But along with the bad bacteria are the good guys that keep your mouth healthy. When you swish the oil around in your mouth, it dissolves the thin of filmy buildup on your teeth, also known as plaque. It also traps and kills other disgusting bacteria which you then spit out.
I’ve been faithfully oil pulling for the past three months using coconut oil and I can report that my teeth actually do look whiter and a recent trip to my dentist confirmed that I definitely had less plaque. So, it certainly looks like the real deal. Oil pulling is no substitute for flossing and brushing but it can play a big role in better oral health.
If there’s any advice I can give you in regards to oil pulling, it’s don’t swallow the coconut oil and do not to spit it into your sink when you’re finished or it will definitely stop up your plumbing.
For oil pulling, I prefer coconut oil because of its pleasant taste, as well as its other healthy benefits.
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