There are many benefits of oil pulling. Oil pulling can help remove inflammation and bacteria in the mouth. It is a cheap, yet effective way you can boost your oral hygiene.
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Oil pulling is a super easy practice to add into your daily routine. The hardest part about oil pulling is remembering to do it! Or maybe that’s just me.
To oil pull, I simply through some coconut oil in my mouth and swish for 15 to 20 minutes as I go about my day.
After I am done oil pulling for the day, I floss and brush my teeth. You won’t believe how clean your teeth feel after doing all that! It feels like you just got out of a dentist office!
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What is oil pulling?
Oil pulling is the practice of swishing oil around in your mouth in order to rid your mouth of bacteria.
Your mouth harbors many strains of bacteria; some suggest up to 700 types.
There are many different kinds of oral bacteria, some beneficial some harmful. Oil pulling is known to help clear out many of the harmful strains of bacteria and to promote good oral hygiene.
Oil pulling works by ‘pulling’ the bacteria from your mouth by dissolving it into the oil. When the bacteria is dissolved into the oil, it is easy to get rid of it by spitting it out.
This makes oil pulling extremely helpful in boosting gum health, preventing cavities and boosting overall oral health.
Helps reduce bacteria
Oil pulling helps rid your mouth of harmful bacteria.
Plague, a sticky buildup of harmful bacteria, can cause damage to tooth enamel and even cause tooth decay.
It is important to get rid of as much plague as you can to limit the amount of damage done to your teeth and gums.
One of the benefits of oil pulling is that it helps remove plague by dissolving the bacteria (which makes up plague), making it easy to remove from your mouth.
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May prevent cavities
Oil pulling can lower your risk of cavities by preventing tooth enamel damage.
Cavities occur when plague eats away the protective layer of tooth enamel.
Plague is a coating in the mouth that is comprised of bacteria, saliva, and food particles. Bacterias in the mouth break down food particles which, in turn, creates an acid. This acid begins destroys tooth enamel and causes tooth decay.
Tooth decay will eventually cause a cavity, which is a hole in your tooth. If left untreated, a cavity can spread to other teeth and even into your jaw bone. This can result in brittle, broken teeth and other major oral problems.
Helps treat bad breath
Bad breath is caused by an over growth of bacteria, which oil pulling helps to get rid of.
Oil pulling helps get rid of bacterial overgrowth, which is a major cause of bad breath. Studies show that 50 percent of people have bad breath.
Bad breath isn’t a disease itself but can be an indicator of things such as infection, gum disease, poor oral hygiene and tongue coating.
Oil pulling is known to be as effective at treating bad breath as chlorhexidine mouth wash. You usually need a prescription to obtain chlorhexidine, where as, oil pulling is a natural, cost effective alternative.
![coconut oil on a wooden spoon](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/coconut-oil-gde70e89c9_640.jpg)
Promotes gum health
Gum health is important to keep your teeth protected.
Gums form a seal around your teeth to keep them protected from bacteria. Oil pulling can help lower the amount of bacteria present in the mouth and lower your risk for gum diseases, such as gingivitis.
Gingivitis occurs when too much bacteria and plague eat away at the gums and cause bleeding and inflammation. Oil pulling helps pull the bacteria away from the teeth and gums while also reducing inflammation.
![woman in a red shirt smiling because of the benefits of oil pulling](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/young-woman-gca09e58f2_640.jpg)
How to oil pull
You can reap all the benefits of oil pulling all while getting other tasks done around the house.
You can use sesame, coconut, or olive oil to oil pull. Sesame oil is the original oil used for oil pulling. Olive oil can help ease inflammation. Coconut oil is probably the most common oil used currently because it has a mild, pleasant flavor and is also anti-inflammatory as well as anti-bacterial.
- Place 2-3 teaspoons of oil into your mouth.
- Swish the oil through your teeth for at least 15 minutes and up to 20 minutes. This will ensure that you get as much of the bacteria out of your mouth as you can.
- Spit the oil into the garbage can. Do not spit the oil down a sink or a toilet, as the oil can build up in these and cause clogs.
- Finish up by flossing and brushing your teeth. After you do this, your teeth will feel like they were just cleaned by the dentist!
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Has oil pulling worked for you?
Let us know in the comments if you’ve used oil pulling before. What is your favorite oil to use?
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