Oil Pulling

Well I suppose many of you have heard about oil pulling; if you haven’t, hopefully you’ll learn something new. Oil pulling is a very healthy addition to your daily oral care.

Ok so I tried oil pulling. I used a tablespoon of coconut oil as suggested. I couldn’t do it. It felt weird in my mouth and actually made me gag. Then I tried olive oil. Yuck same reaction. I had read about all the benefits and my holistic doctor suggested it as well; however, I was just simply unable to do it. Not ready to give up on the idea I decided to tweek it by making my own toothpaste. First, I followed some instructions I found and made it with coconut oil and baking soda. Ok, that really didn’t work out. Apparently, my bathroom doesn’t stay warm enough and the coconut oil solidified again, and it was difficult to get out of the jar. So, I decided to add some ingredients. I added a tablespoon of olive oil, emptied a few capsules of charcoal, and about 5 drops of peppermint essential oil. Let me tell you this concoction works amazingly. My teeth are cleaner and brighter. In fact, there is no tarter build up on my teeth. After a few weeks my teeth looked like I had just had a teeth cleaning at the dentist. It feels amazing tastes just fine and is healthier than using that fluoride toothpaste. And here’s the kicker. If you swish the toothpaste in your mouth you are also oil pulling. It’s a win-win situation. I’m saving money and living a healthier life. If you want to give it a try here’s the recipe I used.

Toothpaste Recipe

• 2 heaping Tablespoons Organic Coconut oil

• 1 Tablespoon of olive oil

• 2 heaping Tablespoons Baking Soda

• 5 drops of peppermint essential oil

• 1-2 capsules activated charcoal

Now this will turn your teeth as black as night but don’t worry it rinses right off. Now you’ll also need a washcloth to wipe your face because it is very likely that you might get some on your skin. No worries, it also wipes off easily.

NOTE: Oh yeah, be very careful if you use the activated charcoal because it will stain fabrics and grout. Just make sure you protect any clothing, counters, and floors when using this toothpaste.

Hope you enjoy this recipe, I know I sure do.

Now for the “learning something new” portion.

What is Oil Pulling?

Oil pulling (rooted in Ayurvedic medicine) cleans and detoxifies the teeth and gums in a natural way.  It destroys the unhealthy bacteria growing inside our mouths and comes with a bonus; it whitens the teeth naturally without destroying the enamel. In fact, it helps the enamel and can break down tarter build-up. no more painful dental cleaning.  It has also been found to improve gum health and prevent gum disease.

Basically, you would swish the oil; usually, Coconut, Olive, Sunflower, or Sesame seed oil in the mouth for up to 20 minutes to improve oral health. My personal favorites are coconut and olive oil as I personally feel they have the highest bacterial fighting agents in them. In fact, I rate them right up there with oregano and garlic oil; however, that is another topic.

Benefits of Oil Pulling

The research may be minimal, but I can tell you from personal experience that I have rather enjoyed the benefits from oil pulling. Who can debate against no tarter build-up, whiter teeth, healthy gums, and “healing” of cavities?

I have completed many years of medical study and research (some in college and some on my own) and know that poor oral hygiene can have serious consequences. Bacteria and infection can enter the blood stream and/or the lungs through the mouth.

How to Oil Pull

Here is where the general instructions and myself differ. All instructions I have found say to take a few teaspoons or a tablespoon of coconut oil and “chew” the oil until it melts for about 20 minutes. Well it doesn’t take the oil 20 minutes to melt, it only takes a about a minute or less. Then spit it out into a trash can because the coconut oil will solidify in the pipes. You should do this each morning or several times a day depending on your current condition. If you have an infection or periodontal disease you could do this throughout the day. For general purposes only once in the morning is sufficient. According to the research conducted by Anand et al. sesame seed oil was effective in reducing bacteria. Rinse with warm salt water or just plain water and brush your teeth as you normally would.

Happy Pulling!

Now, if you are going to use my recipe for the toothpaste here is some information on the benefits of including the charcoal, peppermint oil, and baking soda.

Activated charcoal for teeth?

traps toxins and harmful chemicals in the body. We used it a lot in the emergency room to treat poisoning and drug overdoses instead of gastric lavage (stomach pumping) in most all cases. Apparently when you drink it, it tastes awful because in many cases the patient would vomit. Not to mention the fact that they all said, “This taste horrible”. I personally never had to drink the stuff, so I’ll just take their word for it. Taken in pill form it can reduce bloating and gas, lower cholesterol, and prevent hangovers. It is safe to use during pregnancy

So, how does this charcoal stuff work?

Activated charcoal is very porous and all those bad toxins and chemicals get trapped in its pores. The basic physics of it all is that activated charcoal holds a negative charge that attracts positively charged toxins and gas that creates a bond. Think of it like double sided tape. Oh yeah and BTW this is not the same as the charcoal you use in your barbeque grill.

How does it Whiten Teeth?

The activated charcoal changes the pH balance in your mouth and absorbs the plaque and all that stuff that causes stains on your teeth like coffee, tea, wine, or berries. As an additional bonus it can help prevent cavities and gum disease.

Note: If you have crowns, caps or porcelain veneers, it’s possible that activated charcoal will stain them. However, I have caps and my mother has porcelain veneers and neither one of us have noticed any staining, and I've been using this for months. This method is suppose to reduce sensitivity; however, if your teeth become sensitive, please quit using it.

Benefits of baking soda for teeth

Baking soda also has teeth whitening, plaque removal properties, and balances the pH in your mouth; which contributes to healthy prevention of tooth decay and gum disease.

Peppermint Essential Oil for teeth?

Peppermint oil has antiseptic properties that destroy germs in your mouth. It also helps eliminate bad breath and leaves your mouth feeling fresh and clean. It has also been used as a pain reliever. The cool part is that it contains tons of healthy minerals and nutrients like magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, folate, copper, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and even omega 3 fatty acids.

So, there you have it. That’s why I love my toothpaste recipe and why I no longer need to go to the dentist for regular cleaning. The toothpaste does it all and WOW the money I save! Who could ask for more?