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Should You Begin An Oil Pulling Routine?
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Posted on 4/20/2019 by Todd Jorgenson |
Oil pulling may sound like a kooky new age thing, but it's actually been around for a very long time, and guess what? It's actually very beneficial to your oral health! Today we'll look at what exactly oil pulling is and how your oral health can benefit from working this habit into your daily hygiene regimen.
What is Oil Pulling?Oil pulling is the practice of swishing oil in the mouth, through the teeth and around the gums, for a prolonged period. Generally, 5-20 minutes. We suggest placing a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth and gently swishing it around for 5 minutes when you first start oil pulling. Gradually, over a few weeks, increase your time as you become accustomed to the feeling of the oil in your mouth.
Be careful not to swallow the oil, and if you find that you don't like the taste of coconut oil, you can try sesame oil or some other oil that is organic and cold pressed. After you've finished with your oil pulling, spit out the oil and brush your teeth like normal.
Benefits of Oil PullingThere are some things that oil pulling cannot do, like whiten teeth, cure TMJ or other diseases and it certainly doesn't replace your daily brushing and flossing. But what it can do is greatly reduce your risk of developing periodontal disease (gum disease) by reducing the plaque in your mouth. As a matter of fact, it also kills cavity causing bacteria that can lead to dental caries.
Oil pulling can also help remineralize teeth. What this means for you is that some small cavities can actually be addressed and corrected by oil pulling. Your teeth are alive and they're designed to rebuild themselves, oil pulling can help with this.
At your next checkup, ask our dentists about oil pulling, we're happy to teach you how!
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