While it’s vital to maintain scrupulous oral hygiene habits, such as brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily, consider adding an ancient practice to your modern oral hygiene routine: oil pulling.
What the Heck Is It?
Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice, which has been used for thousands of years in India to maintain good health and oral hygiene. This practice, which can reduce inflammation and detoxify the body, involves the swishing or swirling of coconut, sesame or olive oil in the mouth for about eight to 15 minutes.
What Are the Potential Benefits?
Gingivitis reduction
One 30-day study revealed that with oil pulling using coconut oil, a statistically significant decrease in the plaque and gingival indices was noticed from day 7.
A decrease in bacteria
Another study showed a decrease in Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium that causes dental caries.
It’s inexpensive
The oils used are inexpensive and widely available, making oil pulling an affordable addition to your oral hygiene routine.
May freshen breath
This alternative medical practice may also reduce the amount of harmful bacteria in your mouth and reduce plaque, gingivitis, and bad breath.
Type of Oil to Use
While you can use different oils for this practice, we recommend using the virgin cold-pressed coconut oil that hasn’t been processed at all or frozen. The oil is squeezed freshly from coconut shavings.
How to Do It
Measure one tablespoon of oil.
Swish it around in your mouth for 8-15 minutes, being careful not to swallow any.
Spit the oil into a trash can when you’re done.
If you’d like to improve your oral health and potentially overall health, consider making this ancient practice part of your contemporary oral hygiene routine. For more information about oil pulling or to make an appointment, contact First State Health & Wellness today!