Even my dentist was impressed.

Oil pulling is the practice of swishing oil around in your mouth to remove toxins. There are many reasons to try oil pulling: less cavities, healthier gums, and brighter teeth, for example.

It takes a while to get used to the idea of putting oil in your mouth, but oil pulling has been practiced in India for over 3000 years as a traditional Ayurvedic therapy. I oil-pulled for two weeks before my dental appointment and was surprised by how much whiter my teeth seemed. My dentist couldn’t believe how little plaque I had.

Why You Should Start Oil Pulling

The oil pulls out bacteria from your mouth and may prevent cavity-causing bacteria from binding to your teeth. Studies have shown a decrease in the amount of unwanted bacteria in our mouths after oil-pulling. The oil also moisturizes your mouth, a useful side effect if your mouth is naturally dry. Most people, like I did, can feel their teeth becoming whiter.

Oil-pulling doesn’t just help your mouth. The parts of our body are intricately linked and healthy gums are directly related to brain health and heart disease.

How to Start Oil Pulling with Coconut Oil

  1. Place 1-2 tsps of organic, edible coconut oil on your tongue.
  2. Swish the oil around your mouth for 20 minutes. Twenty minutes is just long enough for the oil to work its magic and pull out the bacteria, but not too long that your body starts to re-absorb the germs.
  3. Spit it out – don’t swallow. Yuck!
  4. Brush your teeth with a dry ‘dirty’ toothbrush used only for post-oil pulling brushing. Don’t use this toothbrush with toothpaste.
  5. Brush your teeth with your regular toothbrush and toothpaste. Use natural or homemade toothpaste to avoid the chemicals in most brands.

Chew on this

Make sure to brush with regular toothpaste as well – oil pulling complements but doesn’t substitute for regular brushing.

Does oil pulling work for you? Let me know in the comments.