White teeth. Fresh breath. More energy. Better health.
Keep those benefits in mind, because I'm betting you're going to think the next part is pretty weird.
Take some oil. Put it in your mouth. Swish. For twenty minutes.
Wait... You want me to what?
I know, that's probably what you're thinking. And yes.
It's called oil pulling and it involves swishing a tablespoon of oil around your mouth on an empty stomach for 20 minutes a day. Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice also known as Kavala (the act of swishing oil around your mouth) or Gundusha (holding oil in your mouth). Yoganonymous notes that oil pulling offers a wide range of benefits, including whiter teeth, increased energy, clearer sinuses and healthier gums.
Many people report cleaner teeth and gums and fresher breath right away when they add oil pulling to their daily routine.
Oral Health for Overall Health
What we often overlook is that oral health contributes to overall wellness. As livescience.com points out, "maintaining good oral hygiene is also important for your overall health, research suggests. In some cases, oral problems can be a symptom of other diseases, such as diabetes. Research has also linked gum disease to heart disease, premature birth and even knee arthritis."
If you let oral hygiene fall by the wayside it can lead to bacteria buildup which can make its way to other parts of your body. Health Canada notes that cavities and gum disease may contribute to many serious and unexpected conditions, such as diabetes and respiratory diseases. Gum disease specifically can lead to the loss of teeth and increases your risk of more serious diseases, such as respiratory disease. The bacteria in plaque can travel from the mouth to the lungs, causing infection or aggravating existing lung conditions. The CDC states "that oral health means much more than healthy teeth, and is integral to the general health and well-being of all Americans.”
What's exciting about oil pulling - odd as it may seem - is that it's a simple health habit that can be easily added to your morning brushing and flossing routine.
Discover a simple all in one oil that improves oral health fast.
Evidence for Oil Pulling
Despite its long history in Ayurveda, for a long time oil pulling wasn't explored much by the scientific community and didn't have much popularity in the West. Recently, though, studies on the efficacy of oil pulling have been published and the results are amazing.
The National Center for Biotechnology Information lists two different studies that suggest positive outcomes from oil pulling.
In one study, oil pulling was found to be helpful for decreasing plaque and gingivitis when used in combination with other oral hygiene practices like brushing and flossing. In that study the participants already had gingivitis. Adding oil pulling to their routines led to a significant decrease in both plaque and signs of gingivitis after 30 days.
In another study, the oil was found to be equally effective as chlorhexidine (an oral mouthwash) for reducing bad breath and the microbes in the mouth that cause it. The researchers concluded from this that oil pulling can be promoted as a preventative home care therapy for halitosis (chronic bad breath).
How to Oil Pull
It's important to choose a high-quality food-grade oil. It should be organic, cold-pressed and unrefined to avoid rancidity. It's best to purchase oils that are stored in dark glass so sunlight can't get at them. That makes sure that they don't become rancid after pressing.
In addition to choosing your oil carefully, it's also important never to swallow the oil when oil pulling, because the oil is literally pulling bacteria and toxins from your mouth. Swallowing the oil would carry those toxins further into your body, defeating the purpose of pulling them from your mouth.
Here's how to make oil pulling a healthy part of your day:
Try to get in the habit of oil pulling first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach.
Keep your oil somewhere where you will see it every morning. Some people like to leave their oil and a spoon in the bathroom, others keep it near the coffee maker. Just be sure that it's out of direct sunlight.
Put 1 tablespoon of oil into your mouth and swish it around. Keep it moving gently around your mouth. If you have an unbearable urge to spit it out or swallow it, you can go ahead and spit and start again with a new spoonful of oil (deducting the time you've already done from the total time).
Some people like to sit quietly in mindful meditation while they oil pull, but others prefer to go about other morning tasks like showering, making coffee or packing the kids' lunches.
After 10-20 minutes, spit the oil into a trash can (to prevent clogging drains). Remember, you can start with five minutes if 10-20 minutes is too hard.
This is optional, but for best results, rinse your mouth with salt water. Don't worry, you can start slowly. Oil pulling can be a strange sensation so you might want to start with 5 minutes and build up to 20 minutes as it becomes a more comfortable habit. Even five minutes a day will bring benefits.
5 Favorite Oils For Pulling:
Sunflower seed oil.
Coconut oil.
Sesame seed oil.
Flax seed oil.
Coriander seed oil.
You're probably wondering which oil is the best. Well, each oil has it's benefits. Coriander seed oil helps your mouth fight off bacteria and gum inflammation. Flax seed oil is filled with healthy omega 3's. New research is coming out that shows omega 3's may help naturally defend against gum disease . Sesame seed oil and coconut oil have been studied for their ability to fight plaque and decrease gingivitis. Sunflower seed oil is rich in healthy fats that can pull out gunk and whiten teeth. But still...
Which one is the best?
Good news: You don't have to choose.
You can get the oral health benefits of almost all of these oils (daily) in one tbsp. It's actually quite easy! There's a one-of-a-kind blend of 5 special seed oils that combines almost all the oils above in every drop. It's one of the quickest and most effective oils to pull with. Every drop contains the perfect mix of healthy fats, antioxidants and antibacterial properties that your mouth needs to healthy and your teeth need to be white.
In as little as 5 minutes a day you can use this special blend to start pulling bacteria and toxins from your mouth. With the power of Flax oil, Sesame oil, Coriander oil, Sunflower oil and 1 other secret ingredient for strong beautiful teeth it's simply our best oil to use for oil pulling.