I don't know about you but I would sure love to keep my original teeth for a lifetime. Well for me it will be my original teeth minus one. Unfortunately I had to get a tooth pulled last year (I would never get a root canal but that will be for a different post 😉). I had a cavity that eventually turned into a hole in my tooth from not getting it taken care of soon enough. I vow for that to be my first and LAST tooth pulling. Ironically I have only had 2 cavities in my entire life (yes I'm only 37 but it's still my entire life up to this point). My father was really strict on us about brushing our teeth every night before we went to bed and I'm so glad he was. He always said "that sugar you ate today will eat at your teeth all night if you don't brush it off." YIKES 😳

We All Eat Sugar At Some Point

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I mean life is full of sugary drinks, candies, cakes, snacks...oh sorry I got a little happy there. Then there are those natural sugars in fruits, veggies and dairy. All of these things I grew up enjoying caught up with me a few years after high school. I used to chew gum almost everyday and I “WAS” a sugar addict (okay I tried to emphasize was but I'm guilty I still struggle with the love of sugar 😏). I was one that was terrified of going to the Dentist because I didn't like the idea of them putting things in my mouth and playing around in there. Thus, I remembered what we were taught growing up and I brushed my teeth every night as well as in the mornings.

What is Oil Pulling?

I came across an article about oil pulling and have been doing it ever since. Have you ever heard of it? Oil pulling is when you take a tablespoon or less of oil and swish it around in your mouth. You squeeze it through your teeth on the top and bottom and you try to get it to the front and backs of your teeth. The goal is to do this every morning before you eat or brush because those that might have a weak stomach will do better if it's empty. I shoot for 20 minutes but sometimes finish at 15. As long as you swish the oil and pull it through your teeth for at least 15 minutes you should benefit from it. You DO NOT want to swallow this swished up oil. The oil will be carrying toxins and bacteria and you do not want that in your gut and body. You will feel all the gunk coming out from the oil pulling and floating around in your mouth as you swish. You won't believe how much stuff the oil will pick up. You'll think

I had all that crap in there? 😷

When you discard of the oil you'll want to do so in the trash. If you discard in your sink or toilet you could risk clogging up those pipes. After you discard the oil you rinse your mouth out with warm water and then brush and floss as regular.

So Why Oil Pull?

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Brushing and flossing your teeth are both great practices of keeping your teeth strong and healthy. However there are just some hard to reach places no matter which method you use. When you oil pull you are maneuvering the oil through your entire mouth and it picks up dirt, plaque, build up and bacteria everywhere it hits. As you pull the oil through these places it catches those nasty unwanted toxins in your mouth and takes it away from its resting place. The oil is literally detoxifying your mouth. It also helps rid bad breathe, strengthens your gums and jaw, whitens teeth, heals sore gums and prevents gum disease, tooth decay and overall helps boost your immunity for better health.

Did you know that most disease and illness begins in the mouth? Yep it's true! Our mouths are the gateway to our health. If you have a mouth full of germy bacteria, you are making yourself vulnerable for allowing sickness and virus to enter into your body. The tongue is connected to many organs in our body such as the lungs, liver, kidneys, heart and stomach. Just the opposite is true. If you keep a clean, detoxified, bacteria free mouth, then you will not be as vulnerable to get sick. There wouldn't be all that gunk in your mouth to sneak into your body to cause havoc. So as you can see oil pulling is not just for oral health but it is a benefit for your entire system.

Which Oils To Use?

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I will start with the oil of my choice...Coconut Oil! I choose to oil pull with organic unrefined virgin coconut oil because this oil already has antibacterial, antimicrobial and anti-fungul properties. It also balances blood sugar levels as well as hormones. I feel that I get the added benefits when using this oil. I also prefer coconut oil because of the taste. I cook with this oil and also use it on my skin and hair so I am very familiar with the smell and taste of it (yes this is a very versatile oil). This is the most preferred oil for oil pulling.

Another oil option is Olive Oil. Olive oil is full of fatty acids, antioxidants and it is anti inflammatory. Studies have shown it helps prevent heart disease. This is another oil I enjoy cooking with as well as using it occasionally on my hair and body.

Lastly another option is Sesame Seed Oil. Sesame seed oil is antibacterial and antiviral and it contains antioxidants. This oil has been used in Ayurvedic (whole body healing system) medicine for many of years. It is also widely used in China for culinary and medicinal purposes. While this oil can help remove toxins from your mouth it doesn't taste as pleasant as coconut oil.

It really just boils down to personal choice. I suggest you try all three oils and see which one you prefer. I also add in Young Living essential oils (I recommend only using therapeutic grade essential oils that are ingestible). I add on 2 drops of either Thieves, Tea Tree or Peppermint to enhance my oil pulling experience (see first image). Sometimes I might do a drop of each essential oil.

Let’s recap:

1) Choose an oil to pull with.
2) Use 1 tablespoon (you can start with 1 teaspoon and then work your way up).
3) Add on drops of essential oils if using.
4) Swish the oil around in your mouth for 15-20 minutes pulling it through the spaces in your teeth. Focus on all areas in your mouth, top and bottom front and back. Focus on cleaning your gums as well. DO NOT swallow any of the oil.
5) Discard the oil into the trash.
6) Rinse your mouth with warm water.
7) Brush and floss as regular.

Done!

After you oil pull you will notice a squeaky clean feeling on your teeth. Your breathe will be refreshed and you will have a sense of overall cleanliness and wellness.

Have you ever tried oil pulling? If so please leave me a comment and share your experience and thoughts about it.

Caution: If you have metals in your mouth please do further research before proceeding. Thank you @buckaroo!

Thanks for reading~

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