Oil Pulling ~ What is IT?!

First you’re probably thinking, what the HECK is “oil pulling”?  At least, that was my thought that first time I saw the term posted somewhere!  “Oil pulling…?  Is that something you do to your car?” (yes, that was REALLY the first thing that came to my mind! hahaha!)

To answer my own question, NO, it’s not something you do to your car! J  Actually, oil pulling is a great healthy habit that I plan to adopt starting tomorrow morning!  So what is it EXACTLY?

Well… Oil pulling is an age-old remedy that uses natural substances to clean and detoxify teeth & gums.  And BONUS, it whitens your teeth too, NATURALLY.  (I don’t know about you, but those crest white strips make my teeth super sensitive, ouchy!).  Evidence shows that it is beneficial in improving gums and removing harmful bacteria & toxins. In addition to increased oral health, less sensitive and whiter teeth, people have reported improvements in areas of their health not related to their mouths!  Included on the list is help with skin conditions such as eczema and acne, arthritis, asthma, headaches, hormone imbalances, infections, liver problems and more. The list just goes on! J  Oh and did I mention, supposedly this is a GREAT hangover cure, so they say at least!

Now, I know each person will have different results and different experiences with oil pulling, after all, every body is different. But I’m really excited to see what this does for me!

If you’re interested in trying it with me, here’s how you oil pull:

**Note: you can oil pull at any time of the day BUT it is most beneficial in the morning when you first wake up!**

1. Put 1-2 tsp of oil into mouth (this can be extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil or coconut oil.  Most people prefer coconut because of the taste. That’s what I’ll be using!).  Scoop it out when it’s still solid and let it melt in your mouth (obviously, sesame and olive will already be a liquid).
2. Once melted, swish in your mouth for 20 minutes.  TIMING IS KEY!!  20 minutes is just long enough to break through plaque and bacteria but not long enough that the body starts to re-absorb the toxins & bacteria.  The oil will get thicker & milky as it mixes with saliva and it should be creamy white when you spit it out.
3. After 20 minutes, spit the oil out!  *TWO important notes: DO NOT SWALLOW (it will be loaded with the bacteria and toxins you just removed from your mouth) and make sure to spit it into a TRASH CAN.  Do not spit it into any drains as it will harden once it cools down and can clog them up!*
4. Rinse mouth well with warm water.  (I’ve also read salt water…? ).  I’ll test this and see which I like best and let ya’ll know!
5.  Brush well! 

~~~~~~~~~~~ POOF!! You’re an experienced oil puller! J

There are a couple of side notes that I want to share.  Some people have claimed to notice a “detox reaction” for the first few days of using oil pulling.  It can include mild congestion, headache, mucous drainage, breakouts and other side effects.  However, this is really a good sign, this is your body getting RID of that stuff (BU-BYE JUNK!)

So like I said, I’m starting this tomorrow.  I’ll be doing weekly updates on how I’m feeling and any side effects I’ve felt or seen! J

If you’ve already tried oil pulling, please share your experiences, I’d love to hear how you liked it!