What the Heck Is Oil Pulling?

Pinterest has blown up with all these pins about people chewing on various types of oils, because- health. I thought it was extremely gross sounding and not really something I was on board to try. Then the winter air rolled around and my tooth sensitivity shot through the roof. I was broken down to trying just about anything if it were to give me some relief.

So after much internal debating, I oil Pulled.

Let’s start with the basics:Oil pulling, also known as “kavala” or “gundusha,” is an ancient Ayurvedic dental technique that involves swishing a tablespoon of oil in your mouth on an empty stomach for around 20 minutes. You “chew” on oil, commonly coconut oil,and it is suppose to clean your teeth and draw out toxins. I say chew because at room temperature it is a solid, and once in your mouth turns to a liquid. Once in liquid form you can swish it around, and pull it between your clenched teeth. There is even a nifty brand that flavors the oil for you, so it gives you the sensation it is just regular old mouth wash instead of nasty oil.

Swish like you would a mouthwash, no need to get aggressive with yourself. Once you start to swish you notice your mouth feel fuller. That is because the oil pulls saliva and toxins out. DO NOT SWALLOW the oil, spit it in the trash after your 20 minutes. Then you can go brush your teeth and floss like normal.

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MY EXPERIENCE

The first day I gagged the second the oil got in my mouth. It tasted weird, but not bad and had a gross mushy/hard texture. Once I got over that, it was fine. My teeth felt slightly oily ( duh) when I was done, but it wasn’t unbearable.

After about a week I noticed I had not gotten a head ache since I started, and my tooth sensitivity was completely gone. I mean 100% gone with hot and cold things. It was fantastic. I also noticed cosmetic things like my teeth looked whiter, my skin looked healthier, and my lips were no longer dry and flaky.

I now have been doing it religiously and it continues to amaze me. I had no idea using this ancient method could actually be good for me, but it is the easiest thing I could have changed, and it has made the largest impact. I am not exactly sure how other oils will effect you, but I know you can use pretty much any consumable oil to do this.

If you have not given oil pulling a try, I highly recommend you try it. If you have a favorite oil, or brand let me know in the comments below.