You’ve probably heard of the many wonders coconut oil can do for your body. It can whiten your nails, heal scars, cure infections, and it’s great for your skin as well . Also, if you’re one of those people who are not huge fans of dental floss, then you’d be happy to know coconut oil is actually fantastic for your teeth and gums, too!
Known as “oil pulling,” this incredible use of coconut oil to support your oral health has been around for thousands of years and is actually an Ayurvedic Indian tradition.
Oil pulling is as simple as simple swishing a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth, “pulling” it between your teeth for about 20 minutes.
Here are few important things to remember when oil pulling, courtesy of Natural Healthy Concepts:
1. Do not gargle with it – that’s some nasty stuff in your mouth and you don’t want to swallow it!
2. Don’t over-do the swishing or you’ll get a sore jaw.
3. When the time is up, spit it out – remember it’s full of germs, so spit in the toilet or a bag in the garbage.
4. Rinse with baking soda water. Take a cup of pure water mixed with a 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and swish it around in your mouth. It’s okay to gargle now! The baking soda water restores the pH levels of your mouth.
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A number of oils can be used, but sesame, sunflower, and coconut oil are the most common. If you’re going to use coconut oil, be sure to use unrefined, virgin coconut oil.
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Coconut oil is preferred by many as it also has anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties that combats hidden bacteria and removes plaque which is at the core of many cavity-causing problems.
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According to Dr. Joseph Mercola:
“Ancient Ayurveda texts claim that oil pulling may cure about 30 systemic diseases and even today, it’s widely discussed as a tool for detoxification of your whole body. These uses are controversial and I can’t vouch for their validity. However, in your mouth,oil pulling does have significant cleansing and healing effects, which are backed up by science.”
In addition to the significant benefits of oil-pulling listed below, a clean and healthy mouth would also mean less visits to your dentist. So, yes, savings!
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That does sound like a pretty good deal. All thanks to the humble coconut oil!
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H/t Mercola