Oil pulling has been recommended by some, and a few others swear by it. But what is so beneficial about oil pulling, that people would do it? And to what extent does it help cure bad breath?
Known as Gundasha, Oil pulling has been around for thousands of years, being an old remedy used by those in india, according to certain ancient Ayurveda manuscripts. The idea as been passed on down through the generations, with it coming to America in the 1900s.
What Is Oil Pulling?
Oil pulling is basically just swishing some oil your mouth, usually coconut, seasame, or sunflower, and then spitting it out after a 10-20 minutes of swishing. It’s literally that simple. No fancy formula’s, or exotic sprayers. Just swish and spit.
As you pull the oil back and forth through your mouth, the oil will naturally start pulling much of the bad bacteria towards itself, and essentially help clean your mouth out of it’s deadly toxins.
How does this work?
Well, most toxins and bad bacteria are single celled organisms. These cells are covered with a fatty-like membrane. Fats sticks together and adhere’s to each other. So as you pull the good oil around your mouth, these bad cells covered with fat membranes will stick with the good oil being swished in your mouth.
The longer you swish this oil in your mouth, the more likely you’ll get more bacteria clinging to it. The oil pulling treats not only bad breath, but also tooth decay, gum disease, and can help make your teeth whiter.
What oil is best to use?
Like said above, most people use sesame, sunflower, or coconut oil. Some even use olive oil. While there isn’t one that is ‘best’, most sites will tell you to use coconut oil. Why does coconut oil stand out so much for most people?
It whitens teeth. WIth coconut oil coming with anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, it naturally will help remove stains and other debris around you teeth. This gives them a more white appearance, making your smile all the more beautiful.
It fights againt Candida. Candida is a fungal bacteria that lives within your mouth. While usually harmless, if it gets out of hand and starts growing, you’re in trouble. But coconut oil can help fight against those fungal diseases, and decrease the chances of your mouth getting a yeast/fungal infection.
It contains lauric acid. This acid can help fight against a number of problems within your mouth, including gingivitis and plaque buildup.
It speeds up the healing process. Coconut oil contains Vitamin E, a vitamin that helps with healing. This is beneficial if you are fighting a mouth wound, sore gums, or some other oral malady.
It improves overal health. As you pull coconut oil through your mouth, some of it can seep into your blood stream. This is good in that, coconut has been known to help improve digestion, alzhiemers, help remove wrinkles and age spots, and help with blood circulation.
Things to think about before oil pulling
Oil pulling does have many benefits, but that doesn’t mean that there actually are studies that have shown those benefits. Many skepticts will claim that oil pulling by citing that there really is no evidence to oil pulling.
While there is no need to argue against what they have to say, it is worth noting that there really is no harm to oil pulling. It’s not like you’ll get a disease within your mouth if you do swish some oil around. The worse that usually happens to people is that they swish too fast and too long, and end up with a sore jaw.
And while we just said there is no harm to oil pulling, it does need to be said that with any food there is risk of allergy. The majority of people won’t be allergic to coconut oil, but that doesn’t mean some people aren’t allergic. If you are allergic, or aren’t sure, it’s best to test yourself before you actually start oil pulling.
Using coconut oil does have some downsides. Coconut oil becomes a liquid at around 75 F. degrees. So if you live in cooler climates, you’ll have to warm up your oil before using it, which may be too much of a hassle for some.
Also, some people don’t like the taste of coconut oil. To get around this, it is possible to use a drop or two of an essential oil, to help give it a better smell, and a more postive tool to use.
One more thing to think about is that oils can plug up drains and septics. So it’s best to spit the oil you’ve pulled into a trash can. That way, you won’t have to worry about doing some plumbing in the future to unstop any pipes.
How-to oil pull?
Like said previously, oil pulling is very easy.
Choose which oil you want to use. It can be olive oil, sunflower, coconut oil, or some other oil you may like.
Take 1 tablespoon of oil. Most how-to’s recommend taking a tablespoon of oil. But if you are new to this, you may want to take less than that, until you are use to oil pulling. Also, a good rule of thumb is that by the end of the oil pulling time, you’re ‘oil’ will double in size. So make sure not to take too much.
Swish around for 10-20 minutes. Again, if you are new to this, you might not be able to do it that long. Slowly work up towards 20 minutes. Remember, the longer you swish, the more bad bacteria and plaque you’ll be pulling out of your mouth. Don’t forget to slowly swish your oil around. Going to fast could give you a stiff jaw, something you want to avoid.
Spit out in a trash can. As noted before, it’s best to spit this out into something that won’t clog up your pipes or drain. Some spit it into a bottle and then throw the bottle away when it’s full, but do what’s best for you.
Rinse your mouth out with warm water. After oiling pulling, make sure to rinse your mouth out, to help remove the rest of the oil that is coating your mouth. Some gargle salt-water afterwards, some cold water, and others warm water.
Brush your teeth/floss after. Oil pulling isn’t a replacement for brushing and flossing. It’s still recommended to brush and floss before or after you swish oil. Brushing your teeth after will help remove the rest of the oil from your mouth, and remove those larger debris that the oil might not have been able to get.
Oil Pulling Your Halitosis Away
Many who have done oil pulling have attested to having better breath after doing it. They’ve found that the oil they swish around does help with fighting again any odors and bacteria producing the odors.
If you feel that oil pulling is for you, then go ahead and try it! There really is no harm in trying it. Just start slowly and soon you’ll be a pro at oil pulling in no time!