Coconut Oil Pulling: Why + How

 OK, so you have probably figured out by now that we are big ‘coconut’ advocates. From drinking them to putting the oil on our hair/face/body, we are undoubtedly nuts for coconuts. And just when we thought the multi-talented super food couldn’t give us any more reasons to love it, we discovered ‘Coconut Oil Pulling’.

What is oil pulling:

Oil pulling has been around since ancient times and was originally an Ayruveda concept for holistic dental care. It’s pretty simple actually – it involves swirling and squishing cold-pressed oil in and around your mouth for duration of time. Before you jump to the informative conclusion ‘GROSS’ just hear us out! Your immune system is constantly under attack by germs and bacteria, though what you may not know is the majority of these pathogens enter via your mouth (food, air, drink). While a lot of bacterial will be killed naturally by your body’s stomach acid, many stick to your gums. This in turn triggers all types of mouth related issues; from gum infections to tooth decay etc. This is where oil pulling comes into play. Oil is believed to be a secret, yet viable weapon for cleansing your mouth. The feel of oil is actually very sticky; thus by swirling it around in your mouth, the bacteria gets stuck and dissolves and eventually kills off the bacteria that live there.

When your mouth has no living bacteria, it allows your immune system to be free and divert its full attention to focus on problems elsewhere in your body. This means your immune system will spend time dealing with other more serious threats happening in your body, as oppose to putting all of its energy into your oral health.

The primary believed benefits of Oil pulling (it differs per individual)

• Whitens teeth
• Strengthens your gums, teeth & jaw. 
• Prevents cavities & gingivitis.
• Helps get rid of various skin issues (acne, eczema, psoriasis)
• General body detox.
• Helps deal with migraines and headaches.
• Helps with sleep issues.
• Clears out your sinuses & helps allergy sufferers.
• Good for those who suffer from bad breathe.
• Helps with general pain issues.
• Promote a healthy hormonal balance in women (reducing the risk of hormonal disorders)

How to oil pull:

Oil pulling works best on an empty stomach, as this means it can focus purely on the bacteria and not try and rid your morning breakfast. Place 2-3 tablespoons of coconut oil in your mouth. Swish and “pull” the oil all around the inside of your cheeks and in between your teeth (covering the entire mouth). We're not saying this is a very ‘fun’ exercise so it's also good idea to keep yourself distracted and continue with your daily routine (whatever that may be). Finally, you MUST NOT we repeat MUST NOT swallow the oil or else you will be simply swallowing all the nasty toxins. Spit the oil into a garbage bin as it can block your drains. To get the most out of your oil pulling it’s also advised to swish your mouth out with salt water.