What is oil pulling?
So the internet is filled with people trying oil pulling and everybody seems so be psyched about it. Now I am quite a curious monkey and I want to try it too. I did a little research and this article will be the first part, next time you will be reading more from me about oil pulling, it will be with the results!
What is Oil Pulling?
First things first
So what is oil pulling? Oil pulling, also known as "kavala" or "gundusha," is an ancient Ayurvedic dental technique that involves swishing a tablespoon of oil in your mouth on an empty stomach for around 20 minutes. This action supposedly draws out toxins in your body, primarily to improve oral health but also to improve your overall health. The reported benefits include:
- Whiter teeth
- Cavity and gingivitis prevention
- Better breath (halitosis suffers also reported greatly improved morning breath)
- Stronger teeth and gums
- Less jaw pain (TMJ sufferers noted great improvement)
- Improvement of sleep problems and sinus issues
- Alleviation of headaches
- Hangovers and skin issues (reports have shown improvement in acne, psoriasis and eczema)
How it's done
Put 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil into the mouth. I think I'm going to use an organic coconut oil. Scoop it out as a solid and let it melt in your mouth before swishing.
Swish for 20 minutes. This is long enough to break through plaque and bacteria but not long enough that the body starts re-absorbing the toxins and bacteria.
Spit the oil out. Do not swallow the oil as it is hopefully full of bacteria, toxins and pus! IEW!
Rinse well with warm water. They say warm water seems to clean the mouth better. Swish a couple of times with warm water.
Brush well. Make sure you clean your mouth afterwards.
So I'm starting Tuesday with oil pulling and intend to do it for a month. I will take a before picture of my teeth so we can see the results. Wanna try it with me?
