Coconut Oil Pulling

Natural remedies have grown in popularity over the last decade, with many people trying new fads to improve their health. Coconut oil pulling is one of the latest fads that involves swishing a tablespoon of coconut oil in the mouth for twenty minutes. While this trend is being touted by celebrities as a popular beauty trend, coconut oil pulling actually dates back 2,000+ years as an ancient oral health therapy.

Oil pulling is a traditional Indian therapy that has been used to treat various oral health conditions. In fact, this traditional therapy is actually scientifically proven to help fight gingivitis, clear plaque from the teeth, and improve bad breath – all by pulling microorganisms from the mouth. Microorganisms are single-cell organisms that are covered in a fatty membrane. When these cells come into contact with oil, they naturally adhere to each other.

Using coconut oil pulling pulls the unwanted microorganisms from the teeth, gums, and oral tissues. The mouth is home to millions of harmful bacteria each day that are the cause of cavities, gum disease, tooth decay, and infections. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which is well-known for its anti-microbial agents that kill microorganisms and inhibit their growth.

Of course, coconut oil pulling is never meant to be a replacement for brushing and flossing your teeth. Oil pulling is just an added step in protecting the mouth and promoting a high level of oral health. Coconut oil pulling should be done before you brush your teeth. You simply use a tablespoon of liquefied, organic coconut oil and swish it around inside the mouth for up to twenty minutes. If twenty minutes is too long at first, you can simply start with five minutes of swishing to begin gaining benefits of oil pulling. It is important not to swallow the coconut oil due to the number of bacteria that will be pulled into the oil, and do not spit it down the drain because it can cause your pipes to clog. Simply spit the oil into a trashcan before brushing your teeth. Some people like to rinse their mouths out with salt water before brushing to help get rid of the oily residue, but this is not a necessary step.

At Family & Cosmetic Dental Care, we want all of our patients to desire a beautiful and healthy smile. We never want you to neglect brushing, flossing, or your regular dental appointments, but adding coconut oil pulling to your oral health routine is a great supplemental therapy that can benefit your mouth.

Posted by Mitul Patel DDS, Family & Cosmetic Dental Care
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