A good friend of mine, and my DoTerra Consultant, told me about oil pulling recently. I found this absolutely fascinating and had to research it to find out what exactly it was, how it worked and the science behind it. I was AMAZED at what I found and could not wait to share it with you!

This amazing process will relieve chronic sinus issues, gingivitis, sensitive teeth, bad breath, receding gums and even acne concentrated on your chin. Seriously! It’s so beneficial even Dr. Mercola recommends it.

So What Is Oil Pulling?

Oil Pulling is when you basically use oil as a mouthwash. Not just any oil though. Traditionally, sesame oil is used. Many people use virgin coconut oil due to it’s extensive list of health benefits, which I will explain one of these benefits in just a sec.

Why Is it Helpful?

So we all have good and bad bacteria in our bodies all the time. When they get out of whack, we suffer consequences. In our mouth, we have both good and bad bacteria. When we eat a lot of processed foods and sugar, the bad bacteria gets more food than the good bacteria. The bad bacteria becomes plaque on our teeth, causes sinus issues and also can cause strep throat. (I know right!) So, the oil pulls the bad bacteria out of our mouth and feeds the good bacteria. Literally, the oil that we spit out has trapped all kinds of bacteria and viruses and if we were to swallow it, we’d become VERY sick.

The lauric acid in coconut oil has been shown to kill a bacteria, Staphyloccus Aureus (a very dangerous pathogen), Streptoccus Mutans (the main culprit behind plaque buildup, gingivitis and cavities), and the yeast Candida Albicans. Every time you oil pull, you’re trapping them in the oil and removing them permanently from your body. Pretty awesome right?!

By removing all these bacterias, yeasts and other bad things you will experience less:

• sinus problems
• strep/sore throat
• plaque
• gingivitis
• tooth decay
• toothaches
• have whiter teeth

There are so many more benefits as well!

How Do You Do It?

This part is easy. It is pretty weird for the first couple seconds. Once it mixes with your saliva, it feels like mouthwash. Until then, it’s a weird sensation. So right after you wake up, before drinking any water or eating, you will:

1. Take a small spoonful of virgin coconut oil and put it in your mouth. (If it’s hard, give it a second and the warmth of your mouth will melt it.)
2. Swish it gently all over your mouth. Do not gargle! This is full of dangerous and disgusting bacteria and yeasts, You don’t want it touching your throat. Ideally, you want to pull the oil for 15-20 minutes. However, take your time building up to that. Start with 5 minutes and go from there.
3. Spit it out into the trash can. You don’t want the oil to clog your drain (gross).
4. Rinse with water a couple times.
5. Brush your teeth.

A couple tips. I like to do this while I shower. My showers are usually 10-15 minutes long. So I pop the oil in, hop in the shower, get out and spit it out into the trash can.

I’ve been doing this for 3 weeks and have noticed less plaque on my teeth, better morning breath, whiter teeth and no more tooth aches! I am truly amazed by the benefits of oil pulling and am so happy to share something so beneficial and easy with you.

photo credit: myblessedlife.net