What does your daily dental routine look like? For the majority of us, it usually involves brushing your teeth twice a day: after breakfast, and before bed. But is this really enough to maintain a bright smile and overall health?
In Ayurvedic medicine, oral health is considered to be integral to the overall health of your body. Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic dental practice also known as “kavala” or “gundusha".
Oil pulling is very simple to do, you swish oil (traditionally coconut oil or sesame oil) in the mouth for 10-20 minutes, making sure to spit and rinse at the end. As simple as this seems, oil pulling helps draw our impurities and bacteria in the mouth, whiten the teeth, freshen breath, and improve your overall health. Dr. Bruce Fife, nutritionist and naturopathic physician, says that oil pulling can help relieve asthma, allergies, chronic fatigue, diabetes, migraine headaches, PMS, and chronic skin problems. Other studies have shown that oil pulling supports a healthy immune response, healthy gums & plaque levels. The Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine published a paper in 2011 reviewing holistic approaches to oral health. Their findings indicated that oil pulling is one of the most effective natural solutions known to prevent tooth decay and loss:
“Oil pulling is a powerful detoxifying Ayurvedic technique that has recently become very popular as a CAM remedy for many different health ailments. Using this method, surgery or medication could be prevented for a number of chronic illnesses. The oil therapy is preventative as well as curative. The exciting aspect of this healing method is its simplicity.
Ayurveda advises oil gargling to purify the entire system; as it holds that each section of the tongue is connected to different organ such as to the kidneys, lungs, liver, heart, small intestines, stomach, colon, and spine, similarly to reflexology and TCM."
Other Benefits Include:
- Whiter Teeth
- Fresher Breath
- Improved Digestion
- Reduced Headaches
- Cleaner Tongue and Mouth
- Better Immune System
- Healthier Gums
- Reduced Plaque
- Clearer, Softer Skin
- Improved Skin Conditions (Eczema, Psoriasis etc)
- Balanced Hormones
How Does Oil Pulling Work?
Oils are lipophilic, meaning that they attract other oils or fats. The fat in your body is a well known dumping ground for fat soluble toxins and heavy metals. Some examples of fat soluble toxins that we are regularly exposed to are: heavy metals, parasites, pesticides, preservatives, additives, and hormones. Oil pulling works by attracting toxic fat molecules, literally pulling them out of your body through your mouth. If you think back to chemistry class, you might remember that "like dissolves like". Simply put - substances with similar chemical characteristics will be attracted & dissolve one another. This is how oil pulling works to pull fat soluble toxins out of the body.
Have you ever thought about the amount of chemicals that are found in conventional toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, and teeth whiteners? It's crazy to think that we are putting these things in our mouth, where these chemicals can so easily be assimilated into the body. Oil pulling is a great way to avoid using products that are full of chemicals, and actually detox the body from toxins and heavy metals at the same time.
Dr. Josh Axe, doctor of naturopathic medicine, suggests using coconut oil for the best results, because of the benefits associated with coconut oil alone! To name a few, coconut oil is known to:
- Balance Hormones
- Kill Candida
- Improve Digestion
- Moisturize Skin
- Reduce Cellulite
- Decrease Wrinkles and Age Spots
- Balance Blood Sugar and Improve Energy
- Improve Alzheimer’s
- Increase HDL and Lower LDL Cholesterol
- Burn Fat
CoCo Rinse Oil Pulling Kit
Coco Rinse is a 14 day coconut oil pulling kit, made in Vancouver BC by Kismet Essentials. Coco Rinse is made from certified organic + cold pressed + fair trade coconut oil.
This month I put Coco Rinse to the test with their 14 day oil pulling kit, as they were kind enough to send it to me for free! Read on for my review, and a promo code at the end for 15% off at Kismet Essentials!
My Coco Rinse kit couldn't have come at a better time. I was having some sensitivity in my gums and teeth, and was excited to see if the oil pulling would help. I have practiced oil pulling before for short periods of time, but always forget to do it after a couple days. This kit makes it easy to oil pull on a daily basis, with little packets that are ready to go & pre-measured. Coco Rinse is super easy to use, you can either put it directly into your mouth in solid form, or run the sachet under warm water so that it liquidizes. Swirl the oil through your mouth, gently pulling it through and around your teeth.
Results
After just 7 days, I started to feel relief from the sensitivity I had been experiencing in my teeth and gums. It didn't take long at all, and it was so easy to incorporate Coco Rinse into my morning routine. If you find it hard to keep the oil in your mouth for too long, I suggest trying oil pulling first thing in the morning (on an empty stomach) as you take a shower. This way you will be occupied, and it's easy to let 10 minutes go by without talking while you're in the shower!
What I also found really handy about Coco Rinse was that it was easy to take along when travelling, and I also remembered to do it every day. Sometimes its hard to keep up on your health routines, especially if you have a number of rituals and a busy work week! Coco Rinse definitely made it a lot easier for me to remember to do my oil pulling, and much more consistent.
This is a great kit for anyone who has a hard time with the taste of coconut oil, as Coco Rinse is infused with peppermint essential oil. Personally, I love both peppermint and coconut, so this product couldn't get any better for me!
What I liked best about Coco Rinse was the convenience, their commitment to organic & natural ingredients, and the fresh minty flavour.
Would you try oil pulling? Comment below with your opinion/ feedback if you've tried it!
Shop Coco Rinse
Thinking of giving Coco Rinse a try? Head over to Kismet Essentials and use the code: WILDGREENLIFE for 15% OFF !
* I received this product for free, however this post is not sponsored and all of the opinions expressed above are my own!*
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