I get excited about discovering natural healing remedies that work, which is what’s led me to post this blog about oil pulling. I’d never even heard of “oil pulling” before, until I developed a toothache. Being a home remedy enthusiast, I researched holistic dental care, which is how I stumbled across this Ayurvedic folk remedy.
What is “Oil Pulling”?
Oil pulling originated in India and is a ritual that’s used not just for dental hygiene, but to purify the body as a whole. Basically, you take about a tablespoon of sesame seed or coconut oil and swish it around in your mouth for 15 to 20 minutes first thing in the morning (and on an empty stomach) without swallowing it, then spit it out. You’re not gargling, you’re actually using your tongue against your teeth to create create a sucking or “pulling” motion with the oil.
So I decided to try it, since I had virgin coconut oil on hand. After swishing and sloshing the oil about in my mouth, I noticed my teeth felt polished and plaque-free. When I spit the oil out, my mouth felt squeaky clean. When I nudged my tooth with my tongue, it no longer ached! I had to really apply pressure on it to confirm it was the same tooth. Prior to the oil-pull, even the slightest pressure applied on my back tooth would have ached. So I’m sold! Here’s how oil pulling works.
How Oil Pulling Cures Toothaches
The oils mix with your saliva, and the action of “swishing” it in your mouth like mouthwash apparently activates the enzymes. This causes the oil to draw toxins out of your blood. If you try this, do not gargle or swallow the oil because it becomes toxic. As you continue to pull the oil through your teeth, the oil will become sticky and turn white. It’s supposed to take up to 20 minutes for the oils to pull toxins from deep from within your organs. Once you’ve finished swishing, spit out the oil into a paper cup and discard it outside. Don’t spit it into the sink or the toilet or it could cause plumbing issues.
Oil Pulling for Gum Disease and other Health Issues
Now for the cool part… this simple procedure is believed to reverse gum disease, tighten loose teeth and heal a multitude of ills from toothaches, to female hormonal problems, heart disease, kidney disease, arthritis… and tons of others chronic ailments. Sounds like quackery, right? But it’s not. Oil Pulling has been researched and documented extensively in Indian medical journals, and the practice has been done for thousand of years. I’m going to incorporate this into my morning routine. If you have your own “oil pulling” success story, please add your comments below. I’d love to hear about it.
Update: I also forgot to add that after you spit out the oil, you should brush your teeth and also gargle with sea salt water for an extra minute or so to ensure you rid your mouth of the toxins you just pulled from your body.