And just like that, the crunchy girl begins! After reading The Cancer Revolution by Leigh Erin Connealy, MD, I was inspired to try some of her recommendations. The Coconut Oil Pulling seemed intriguing. This was the second time I had heard about oil pulling. Previously, a friend had mentioned that she used this to help with tooth pain from a cavity she was waiting to have filled. I will admit, when she first said that, I thought she might be kidding. But, when I realized she was serious, I Googled it. It’s a thing. Being exposed to this concept again in this book, pushed me over the edge, I had to try this.
Turns out oil pulling is a super old practice, dating back over 3,000 years to Ayurvedic medicine. Coconut, Sunflower, and Sesame are all recommended oils as they all fight bacteria. Coconut oil has lauric acid which is recognized for it’s anti-microbial properties.
So why would one try oil pulling?
I didn’t write a thesis on the benefits of oil pulling, but the commonly recognized benefits are:
- Whitens teeth
- Reduces inflammation in the mouth
- Reduces toxic stress load – might help with headaches and migraines
- Reduces Tooth Decay and Freshen breath – thanks to the reduction of bacteria in the mouth
- Reduces or even eliminates gingivitis
Personally, I have noticed that my mouth feels cleaner and teeth are a little bit whiter. Not like professional whitening white, but a smidge lighter.
What to use and how
I like to use Carrington Farms Coconut Oil because it is a liquid (which just makes life easier), it is also NON-GMO and Organic. Whatever oil you use, start with 5 minutes of swishing. No need to be aggressive, just keep it moving. Gradually increase the swishing time until you reach 20 minutes. (20 minutes is the recommended amount of time to maximize results. Like most things in life, something is better than nothing, so even 5 minutes is worth doing!)
I like to rinse with warm salt water to rid my mouth of any remaining oil, then off to brush my teeth. Pretty simple right?!
There are two super important things to remember when you are some with the swishing:
- Do not swallow the oil – you have just pulled bacteria out of your body, swallowing them would put that junk into your body, no good.
- Do not put the oil down the sink – the oil over time will clog the pipes. I find the toilet works well.
So what do ya think, will you be trying it? Have you tried it? I’m toying with the idea of dry brushing too. Tell me your thoughts on either of these, or anything else crunchy!
