I started oil pulling about three years ago, and haven’t turned back.
So, what is it!?
Oil pulling is a practice for detoxing the body from Ayurvedic Medicine. It is used primarily for oral health, detoxification, and even sinus support. After just a few days of oil pulling I noticed my teeth were shiny with absolutely no plaque build-up, I was less congested, and my throat wasn’t dry and scratchy by the end of the day.
When you feel a cold coming on, or when trying to get over a sinus infection or strep throat, pulling twice a day can help the body rid itself of bacteria and heal faster! It is called oil ‘pulling’ because the hydrophobic properties of oil allow hydrophobic plaque, bacteria, and other nasty toxins in your mouth to bond to the oil, ‘pulling’ them away from your body. It’s definitely worth a try! Here’s how to do it:
- Use a clear oil: sunflower, sesame, or my absolute favorite: Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil. Be sure to get a high quality, organic, extra-virgin coconut oil to enjoy the sweet taste of coconut while pulling.
- Right when you wake up, put about 1 Tablespoon of oil in your mouth, and start swishing. You don’t have to go into swishing overdrive, but gently swish the oil in your mouth between 10-20 minutes. This is the perfect time to wash your face, pick out your outfit, take a quick shower, or even meditate!
- Spit that stuff out after 10-20 minutes. If you notice that the once-clear oil is now cloudy, that means it worked! You’re spitting out everything that built up in your mouth overnight. ***Be sure to spit this out in the trash, and not down the sink! Coconut oil solidifies below 76 degrees Fahrenheit, and you really don’t want to clog up your sink.
- Now, rinse your mouth with warm water, then floss and brush your teeth right away to make sure everything that was pulled up from your gums and sinuses is brushed away. Also, remember a lot of phlegm and mucus is pulled out of the sinuses so you’ll need to spit that out to feel nice and clear! Go enjoy your day with a super-clean-feeling smile.
- Just be aware that detoxing your body can bring some stuff to the surface! When I first started, my skin broke out a bit at first, and then became even more clear than before.
This Ayurvedic practice is really catching on to mainstream health sites, and is even featured on WebMD. Click here for more info!
Article by: Courtney Avery MPH, eRYT