Every morning, the first thing I do when I wake up is go into the kitchen and open up my big jar of coconut oil. I take a tablespoon of oil, put it in my mouth and swish it around for the next 20 minutes. Then I spit it out and brush my teeth. If, for whatever reason, I don’t get to do it, I definitely “feel” it and miss that clean feeling it leaves me with.
Now if you’ve never heard of oil pulling, this all might sound super strange to you. You may wonder what the heck that is and why one would do such a thing. But read on and you might even want to give it a try!
Where Does Oil Pulling Come From?
Oil pulling comes from ancient Ayurvedic medicine and is a dental hygiene and detoxifying practice. It is a great detoxification tool with added benefits. By swishing the oil around in your mouth first thing in the morning, it pulls out all the toxins and bacteria in there that have accumulated over night and a toothbrush is not able to get to
What Are The Benefits Of Oil Pulling?
A habit of regular oil pulling can have many great advantages for your health, appearance and well-being. The most important ones are these:
- Removes bacterias and toxins in your mouth built up over night
- Whiter teeth (my teeth have never been whiter; no need for bleaching anymore, yay!)
- Clean/fresh mouth and teeth feeling
- Minimizes bad breath
- Prevents cavities
- Healthier gums
- Improved skin conditions like acne, rashes or eczema
- Better sleep
- Cure hangovers
How To Do It The Correct Way?
In order to reap all the great benefits of oil pulling listed above, you should make sure to execute it properly. Follow the subsequent guidelines if possible.
- Do it every day if you can.
- Do it first thing in the morning before drinking and eating anything and BEFORE you brush your teeth.
- Keep the oil moving in your mouth, i.e., swish it from one side to the other and draw it through your teeth in order to remove as many toxins as possible.
- Use organic, unrefined oil (I prefer coconut oil but you can also use other oils – read more in the next paragraph).
- Use an amount of oil that feels good for you. It shouldn’t be too much nor too little so that you’re able to move it around in your mouth comfortably. I typically take a level tablespoon of coconut oil.
- Spit it into the trash. Don’t use the sink because it can clog your pipes since the coconut oil solidifies (seriously, don’t do it; I made the mistake in the beginning).
- Brush your teeth after discarding the oil.
- Make sure to not swallow any of the oil during the whole process.
What Oil Should I Use?
Regardless of what oil you end up using, you should always make sure to use organic, unrefined oil. The preferred oil to use is coconut oil and it’s also my preference. I really like using it. I like the taste and it gives me a clean feeling. However, you may also try sesame seed oil or even olive oil.
What Are Some Tips For Newbies?
Some might be opposed by the thought of putting a tablespoon of oil in your mouth AND keeping it in for 20 minutes. I get it. So here’s some advice that can help you ease in to your new routine and get over that first icky feeling you might have:
- Start with 3-5 minutes and work your way up to 20 minutes.
- Experiment with the type and maybe even brand of oil you’re using until you find your favorite.
- If you’re using coconut oil that is solid, chew it first until it gets liquid and then you can start swishing and pulling it through your teeth.
- Commit to doing it for 14 days in the beginning. Sometimes if we don’t like something at the first try, we never give it a second chance. But you can only truly judge a new habit and how it makes you feel if you give yourself some time and practice. If after 14 days you decide it’s not for you, at least you gave it a try!
- Put the jar next to your bed (or anywhere you see it immediately after waking) so that you don’t forget.
- No time to do it? Try to incorporate it into your morning and do other things in the meantime (e.g., take a shower, get dressed, make coffee/breakfast, read the newspaper, etc.).
Tips When Traveling
You can certainly bring a jar of your preferred oil with you when you’re traveling. But if you’re like me and prefer to travel light and with carry-on luggage only, it can get a bit tricky. Yes, you could certainly transfer your oil into several smaller 3.4 oz jars. But who has time or the patience for that?
There’s another option that is way more convenient. At Trader Joe’s they sell organic, virgin coconut oil packets that are the perfect solution in my opinion. For those of you who don’t live nearby a Trader Joe’s, there’s also a few brands out there that offer similar packets that you can order online. Just do your research. There’s more and more brands offering those little packets.
Do you already oil pull? Or do you want to give it a try? Let me know, I’m curious to know!
