Oil Pulling: Days five and six

Forgot to post a blog yesterday so here is a double shot

So I've managed to make it a full 20 minutes.  During the week I think it helps having the morning routine of taking the spoonful of oil then going about my morning business.  By the time I'm done with my shower it's been 20 minutes (no I don't shower that long). I've also been using a wet toothbrush to help get the extra stuff off my teeth and stimulate my gums.  In all I've noticed that my gums do feel healthier and there is less sensitivity to hot and cold.  Still no unicorns waking me up in the morning though but one can still dream.

I think after this first week I will make weekly updates and there isn't much day-to-day change.

Oil Pulling: Day four

Well still no major changes. Think I'm going to start using a toothbrush just as a little bit of a scrub and using my flosser again. My gums are feeling a little different, somewhat cleaner I guess. Gonna continue on this path :-)

Oil Pulling: Day Three

    Still not a whole lot of change from the past couple days. My lips are super smooth. I do notice my gums are feeling different probably from pushing the oil between my teeth. My mouth does feel clean though so I guess that's something. 

Oil Pulling: Day two

    Well day two and my complexion seems to be clearer and softer and I'm noticing less joint pain. 

    Just kidding.  Really no difference from day one. Breath was clean and my teeth felt clean. Thinking there won't be big changes, if any, for a little while. So enjoy the short post and go back to your coffee. 

Oil Pulling: Day one

Oil Pulling?
    So I recently came across an article posted to Facebook about Oil Pulling.  Basically this is the act of rinsing your mouth with oil for up to 20 minutes and in doing so all the bacteria and grossness in your mouth gets collected and dissolved in the oil.  After reading the first article I decided to start looking for other articles on the subject because the first article made a lot of lofty claims.

• whiter teeth
• less bad breath
• reversal of gingivitis
• better complexion
• clearing up of skin issues
• clears up sinus congestion
• gets rid of a cold
• cures AIDS
• cures Cancer

     Ok, the first three I can get from just brushing and flossing.  The next three I could wrap my head around, but seemed a little odd.  And the last three, yes these were actual claims in some articles, are just pure fiction.  But still, I went and read several more testimonial articles, even read some articles criticizing it.  To the critics defense, there is a big lack of solid scientific studies on the process.
    I did read a few papers done in the mid-2000's and there was directional support for the first three claims above.  But there was no evidence of oil pulling's miraculous anti-cancer properties.  Never-the-less I was still intrigued by some of the more realistic testimonials like better skin, and clearing up sinus congestion.  I decided to give it a try so on my way to the cabin I picked up a jar of coconut oil.

How do you do it?   
    Now there were a lot of varying directions on how to go about it.  Some consistencies were; no longer than 20 minutes, use sesame, sunflower or coconut oil, and for God's sake don't swallow the used oil.  And many of the stories said they used the coconut oil as it just had a more neutral taste.  One thing that I couldn't determine was what about actual brushing? 
    Some articles said the oil pulling replaced their brushing regime, others would follow the oil pulling with a once over with a wet toothbrush, and others still just brushed like normal.  In the last case I can't really see how the oil pulling is then benefiting the individual, but without a study of significant quantity between the three I'm left to just guess so I'm starting with the first of replacing brushing with oil pulling.  If I don't notice any of the supposed effects within the first week or so then I will follow the pulling with a brushing with a wet toothbrush.

Day One
    So I got up this morning and before starting my morning routine I took a teaspoon and grabbed a glob of coconut oil.  Now coconut oil is solid at room temp and I don't mean thick and u can scoop it like margarine, no, very solid and kind of flaky.  I looked at it and popped it in my mouth.  There is no flavor really so that part was alright, it was the consistency of chewing on the oil to soften it up and turn it to liquid that put me off at first.  I'm sure this can be fixed by softening it first, but I was eager to get started.
    I began working the oil and hit the timer on my phone for 20 minutes.  It broke up fairly quickly and as it mixed with my saliva it turned into a mouthwash.  I swished and swirled, pushed and pulled.  Made some coffee, used the bathroom, played some games on my phone all while working this stuff over every part of my mouth and between my teeth and on the gums.  I check my phone and only 10 minutes have passed!!!
    It felt like my mouth was overly full and that I was about to start swallowing some of this toxin fill oil.  I spit it out into a wad of paper towel and threw it out as directed since spitting it down the drain could cause clogged pipes.
   The first thing I did notice was how soft my lips felt.  D'uh! Coconut oil is used in a lot of lip balms so naturally having it in my mouth it would get on my lips.  Second thing I noticed was that it felt like I had just flossed.  Okay, yeah I was pushing a thick fluid through my teeth so It should feel like I had something between them. 
    The next thing was a little more surprising in the my teeth felt smooth.  I rubbed one thing it was just coated in the oil but nothing came off.  So without vigorous scrubbing some of the plaque that was on my teeth had managed to get pulled off.  That was pretty cool.  And the last thing that I noticed was that my breath was very neutral and I had some wicked dragon breath before I started.
   So first day and there seems to be some benefit to this.  I'm going to give it 2 weeks and see how things progress.  Stay tuned!