How I wished to know about Oil Pulling earlier in my life! Everyone in my family was born with a small jaw and big, strong teeth. Make it a perfect formula for an overcrowded teeth issue.  Unfortunately, Overcrowded teeth were also the problems for a lot of people in my country.  Back in the days, to go to the dentist is everyone’s nightmare. Not only that the whirring sound is so off-putting, but it was also extremely expensive to fix any problem with the teeth.  

Aligning our teeth on our teenage years was not an option for my siblings and me. We grew up with a feeling of insecurities.  Luckily, as an Asian in general, it doesn’t stop us to smile, but it is always there in the background.

I have only had a chance to align my teeth now in my 30s.  It is still crazy expensive now, but I wanted to be able to smile freely without having negative self-judgment whenever I do it.  Insecurity is not the only problem I have due to my overcrowded teeth; it was also hard to clean.  As a result, I am prone to have cavity issues.

I found a Solution

I am still on the process of aligning my teeth, and during these period my teeth moved a lot and most of the times there will be gaps between the teeth.  Not only it looks strange, it is almost impossible to clean it properly.  That is why I started to look for another way to clean my teeth better. When I found about this “technique”, I couldn’t have been more grateful.

When I read about Oil Pulling and its benefits to help with the oral hygiene, I tried it right away. I have been doing this for a year now, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to have healthier, whiter, and stronger teeth.  The benefits of this ancient technique don’t stop there, keep on reading if you want to know more.

What is Oil Pulling

Oil Pulling is an Ayurvedic dental technique called “Gandusha” or “Kavala Graha”. In which people swish oil in their mouth for oral and systemic health benefits.  This technique is Famous in Ayurveda as a cleansing technique. It claims to have various health benefits from whitening the teeth, detoxification, to Hormone regulations.

Celebrities such as Gisele Bundchen, Gwyneth Paltrow, Miranda Kerr, and many others swear by its benefits.

How Does it Work

There are too few studies on oil pulling to proof its health benefits.  However, the principal idea behind this technique is that Toxins (amma in Ayurveda) is bound by the oil in the mouth. Swished it long enough can pull “oil soluble” toxic by-product out of the tissues, hence the name.  

Plaque, those nasty things in our mouth is actually “Oil Soluble” and not “Water Soluble.”  Brushing our teeth and doing Mouthwash often are not enough to get rid of the plaque, and I am the living proof of it.  Ever since I started oil pulling as part of my morning routine, my dentist scheduled my cleaning from every trimester to quarterly.  That is one less dentist visit and one scaling cost I have saved.

Health Benefits

Do you know that a dysbiotic oral cavity increase our risk of developing chronic diseases such as Heart disease, Cancer, and Dementia?  Oil Pulling is one of the easiest way to maintain our oral hygiene, and it’s inexpensive.  Apart from a general oral hygiene as a benefit, oil pulling also used as a remedy for 30 disease such as :

• Prevents Bad Breath
• Radiant Skin
• Anti-Inflammatory 
• Whiter Teeth
• Healthier Gums
• Headache / Migraine
• Asthma
• Prevent teeth decay
• Crack Lips

How to Do Oil Pulling

Take a tablespoon of plant oil such as Coconut, Sesame, Sunflower oil and swish it in your mouth for around 15 — 20 minutes.  It is best to do first thing in the morning, because while we sleep toxins and bacterias accumulates in our mouth.  Makes sure not to swish it for more than 20 minutes, and not to swallow it.

Do it at least once a day as maintenance, and for those of you who wants to treat oral issues do 3-4 times a day.  Always consult with your physician if you want to try something besides your current treatment.

Tips :

• Use an increases essential oil to enhance the antimicrobial benefits from the process. Do Not use more than one drop of essential oil as it can aggravate your teeth and gums — Anti Microbial Essential oils such as Oregano, Lemon, or Tea Tree oil.
• Continue with brushing your teeth afterward.
• Spit the oil into the waste paper, avoid sinks or toilet bowl as the oil can solidify and it might block your drainage.

I recommend people to incorporate oil pulling into their morning routine. I can feel that my teeth are much cleaner than before.  Let me know in the comment if you have also started the benefits of Oil Pulling, and for those of you who are interested to try do let me know.