Oil pulling is slowly gaining in popularity by way of the Internet. People are becoming more aware of this supposed “mouth cleaning” exercise in health. The art of oil pulling has been around for centuries – before toothpaste was even a thought. It makes some other big claims about improving health, though. While some of the claims are fairly mild (oil pulling will clean your teeth and give you fresher breath), a few of the claims are slightly bigger. Supposedly oil pulling can help with migraines, eczema, arthritis, and some mild diseases by helping to pull the toxins out of your body. As far as scientific studies, there are very few backing up any of these claims other than oral health. The research does say that oil pulling can help reduce plaque and in some cases can help people with receding gum lines. Now for the question of the day: what exactly is oil pulling?
Oil pulling involves swishing with any kind of pure oil (think olive, coconut, or sesame). Many people prefer coconut oil for its taste. The following are the steps for oil pulling:
- Start with a tablespoon of pure oil. Coconut oil will usually start out as a lard-like substance, but after a couple of minutes in your mouth, it’ll become more of an oil consistency.
- Let the oil melt a bit in your mouth as you begin to swish and gargle with it. This part is where the toxins begin to pull out. You’ll leave the oil in your mouth for about 20 minutes, consistently swishing it around like you would mouthwash.
- Spit the oil out. Once you’ve swished with it for the full 20 minutes, it should come out kind of milky and should at this point have “pulled” some of the toxins from your body. You can do this up to once per day.
While oil pulling has its roots in ancient practices, and it could be useful to supplement your current oral hygiene routine, it in no way replaces brushing and flossing; you should still brush at least twice per day everyday, even if you are trying oil pulling. Consult with your dentist or doctor before attempting this trend.
If you have any questions about our blog, Current Dental Trend: Oil Pulling, or if you wish to schedule an appointment, please contact Annapolis Family Dental Care by calling (410) 267-0766 or visit AnnapolisDentalCare.com today! Our diligent knowledge of all dental treatments and extensive experience in all fields of dentistry, ensure Annapolis Dental is best suited to care for your oral health. You can also follow Annapolis Dental Care on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
Source: Oil Pulling: Can Swishing Oil in Your Mouth Improve Your Health?