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OIL PULLING: A MIRACLE IN ORAL HYGIENE

OIL PULLING: A MIRACLE IN ORAL HYGIENE

25 Jan

Did you know that you can have whiter teeth and get rid of bad breath if you swish some oil in your mouth for some time? It sounds a little odd and even gross, but many people swear by it. The process is called oil pulling, and it’s a holistic dental treatment that has been catching on lately.

What is Oil Pulling?
Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic dental treatment that dates back about 3,000 years. It involves swishing a small amount of oil in your mouth for a short time, then spitting it out. The idea is that the oil pulls out bacteria and other toxins that hide in your mouth.

How Does Oil Pulling Work?
When you get up in the morning, get a tablespoon of any oil and swish it around your mouth for about 20 minutes, like when you use mouthwash. However, don’t do it as vigorously since you’ll be doing it for far longer and your jaw will get tired.

Gently swirl the oil around your mouth and suck it through the spaces between your teeth. Make sure not to swallow any of it, or you’ll ingest the nasty things in your mouth collected by the oil.

When you’re finished, spit the oil in the trash. Don’t spit it in the sink because it may clog up your pipes when the oil congeals. Rinse your mouth out with warm water then brush and floss like normal.

How to Do Oil Pulling?
When oil pulling, you should use high-quality, edible oil: Sunflower oil, coconut oil, and sesame oil are all common types.  Start by dropping a tablespoon of oil into your mouth. Then, swish it around.

There’s no right or wrong way to oil pull, but you should focus on moving the oil around as much as possible. Swish it from side to side and force it through your teeth. 

The key is to keep oil pulling long enough to get the benefit. Start by oil pulling for five minutes, then gradually increase your time as you get used to the feeling.

As you swish the oil around your mouth, it picks up other liquids and air, which makes the oil’s volume increase as you pull. That causes many people to feel like they have to spit before they’re done oil pulling. If that happens to you, spit a small amount of oil into the trash (so it doesn’t clog your sink) and then keep pulling. 

With time, you can work your way up to a longer session of oil pulling. When you finish, spit the oil into the trash. It will appear frothy and white after so long being swished around. Brush your teeth to get off any remaining toxins or oil, and you’re ready for the day.

Health Benefits
Oil pulling dates back to a time before tooth brushing. It was believed to help remove plaque from teeth and boost the health of teeth, tongue, and gums.

A 2007 study from the Indian Journal of Dental Research confirmed that. It compared 10 men who did oil pulling for 10 days, with 10 men who did not. The people who did oil pulling had reduced plaque, the study found. 

According to Ayurvedic medicine, oil pulling also helps with overall health by clearing toxins from the body. Ayurvedic practitioners believe that oil pulling can clear the sinuses, reduce headaches, and reduce inflammation in the body. Inflammation has been linked to a variety of illnesses, from arthritis to heart disease.

Oil pulling seems to be an excellent technique to improve your oral hygiene. It’s definitely worth trying.

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