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
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!
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