Siberian Shamans are said to have been doing it for over a century. And British rapper Tinie Tempah does it every morning. Oil Pulling – where you swish a spoonful of natural vegetable oil (usually coconut, olive or sesame oil) around in your mouth for 10 to 20 minutes before spitting it out in the bin – is a health trend that’s actually thousands of years old. Traditional Ayurvedic doctors in India have been prescribing Oil Pulling to their patients for thousands of years.
“I just started Oil Pulling,” said Gwyneth Paltrow recently. “And it’s supposed to be great for oral health and making your teeth white. It’s supposed to clear up your skin as well.”
Why Oil Pulling?
Oil Pulling is said to rid teeth of plaque and bacteria and fans claim it whitens their teeth, freshens their breath, strengthens gums and reduces tooth sensitivity. But the benefits aren’t limited to your mouth and teeth. A daily swishing session is said to also make your skin glow, improve digestion and even make your hair grow thicker and longer. How? Done an empty stomach Oil Pulling triggers the release of enzymes in the saliva that help sweep bacteria and toxins from the lymph fluids and blood. Your mouthful of oil draws out any partially digested scraps of food and dead cells that are clinging to the inside of the mouth.
How To Oil Pull
Perform it first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach. Swirl your spoonful of oil around the inside of your mouth, swishing it through and around your teeth. Dental plaque is fat soluble rather than water soluble and oil has the power to dissolve it. Do not swallow. If you do, you’ll be ingesting all that bacteria and plaque you’ve just ‘pulled’ from your teeth and gums. Yuck! Instead, spit the pulled oil out into the bin as spitting it into your sink could clog your pipes. Next, rinse your mouth with cold water, and gently brush your teeth. Smile!
