admin There is a school of thought which believes that our mouths store a lot of the bodily toxins. The belief is that these toxins can be washed away with the help of plant-based oils. The practice of holding certain oils and swishing them in the mouth for long-periods is called Oil Pulling. It is believed that this started under the Ayurvedic medicinal practice some 3000-5000 years ago. It is, therefore, an ancient folk remedy that is driving the oil pulling enthusiasts. Recent belief however, is that though It may not help us get rid of all our ailments, there are definitely some health benefits of oil pulling.
The oils act as cleansers which attract the harmful bacteria and fungal diseases. While swishing, these apparently get mixed with the oil and are removed when you spit out. Hence, reducing the chance of them spreading throughout the body. Not just cleansing the mouth, it also promotes good blood circulation inside the mouth, thus reducing stress and inflammation. The benefits differ from a person to person.
Which Oil Will Work the Best?
Ayurveda recommends using an organic carrier oil of superior quality, usually the virgin and hand-pressed varieties. While the recommended oils are coconut oil such as Mesmara Virgin Coconut Oil, Mesmara Sesame Oil and sunflower oil, you can also use an antimicrobial essential oil such as Mesmara Tea Tree Oil, oregano oil or Mesmara Lemon Essential Oil. They will work just as good as the others.
Benefits of Oil Pulling
1. Smarter Teeth
Plant oils are good at dissolving stains from the teeth. As you practice oil pulling, you will notice that your teeth shine increases and they appear whiter and bright. You will be surprised to know that it has caught on with a vast number of celebrities.
2. Oral Hygiene
The antimicrobial nature of the oils makes them very efficient in improving oral hygiene. They reduce tooth infections and manage bad breath. It has been medically deduced that coconut oil is as effective against streptococcus mutans bacteria as chlorhexidine (dentist prescribed mouthwash). It can also counter plaque induced gingivitis which is often painful and causes swollen gums. Sesame oil or sunflower oil are best known for reducing gingivitis.
3. Detoxification
The swishing motion used during oil pulling, not just moves around the oil, it also causes secretion of the saliva enzymes. These then absorb toxins from blood around the tongue and consequently detoxify and purify the entire human body.
How Do You Oil Pull?
Rinse your mouth with water and spit out to remove any food particles. Subsequently, take one or two tablespoons of oil and keep swishing it. Try doing it gently for as long as you can, not exceeding 15-20 minutes. If you can’t hold it for long, you can increase the duration each day by a minute or more until you reach 15-20 mins.
Be wary, the intention is not to gargle but just slowly move around the oil to reach every nook and corner of the mouth. An extremely important advisory is to never swallow any of the oil as it is full of all the bad toxins you want to get rid off.
Rinse your mouth once again with water or light saline water to clean-up. Finally, brush your teeth.
How Often Should You Do It?
For best results, plan to do it at a time just before brushing teeth. Not only will oil pulling cleanse, brushing just after it will give the freshness that everyone is used to. Recommended frequency is at least once daily, but if you are suffering from oral hygiene issues, you can do it more number of times to accelerate the results.
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