By Aspen Dental
Oil Pulling
You may have heard of oil pulling recently, but did you know it is not just a new trend? Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic dental technique to improve oral health and people have been using it for thousands of years. Some even believe it can be used to cure or treat conditions like asthma, eczema, diabetes, migraines, and arthritis. While there’s no evidence that it can cure these conditions, however, it has been proven to improve oral health.
How to Oil Pull
Step One:
Place a tablespoon of coconut, sesame, or sunflower oil in your mouth. It is best done first thing in the morning before eating anything because your body naturally produces more saliva when you are hungry than when you are full. The more saliva you can produce, the more effective it will be.
Step Two:
While sitting or standing upright, swish the oil around in your mouth, pulling it back and forth through your teeth. This pulls all of the toxins and bad bacteria out of your teeth and gums and into the oil. On the first day, do this for 5-10 minutes and slowly work your way up to 15-20 minutes of oil pulling each day as you become more accustomed to the technique.
Step Three:
Spit the oil into the trash. You should not spit it into the sink or toilet because the oil can eventually clog the pipes as it hardens.
If you have pulled the oil correctly and for long enough, the oil should now be a milky color, because of all the bacteria it has collected. Oil pulling can decrease the risk of gingivitis, fight cavities, kill bacteria, reduce oral thrush symptoms, and beat bad breath. For more information on oil pulling, call us at Aspen Dental!
