Trending Now: "Oil Pulling"

You've seen it on the news, you've read about it online - but, you're still confused about what oil pulling actually is, right? Rest assured, you're not alone - so we've decided to break down what we found out about this ancient wellness practice for you, '101 style' below.

What is Oil Pulling?

Oil pulling, also known as "kavala" or "gundusha," is the ancient Ayurvedic dental technique that involves swishing a tablespoon of oil in your mouth on an empty stomach for around 20 minutes. This action supposedly draws out toxins in your body, primarily to improve oral health, but also to improve your overall health.

Oil Pulling's Potential Benefits:

• Whiter teeth
• Cavity and gingivitis prevention
• Better breath (halitosis sufferers also reported greatly improved morning breath)
• Stronger teeth and gums
• Less jaw pain (TMJ sufferers noted great improvement), sleep problems and sinus issues
• Alleviation of headaches, hangovers and skin issues (reports have shown improvement in acne, psoriasis and eczema)

How to Oil Pull - Step-by-Step:

1. Pick an oil. Most people use coconut oil as it also has strong antibacterial properties, but you can use any other vegetable-based oil.
2. Take a tablespoon of oil of your choice and swish it around your mouth for 20 minutes.
3. Remember to swish gently, unlike you would with morning mouthwash.
4. Be wary! The oil will increase in size once it's inside your mouth, as it draws in toxins and saliva.
5. Do not swallow the oil. Otherwise, you risk ingesting said toxins. Just what you DON'T want to do!
6. When your 20 minutes are up, spit the oil out into the trash (not your sink, where the oil may solidify and block up the drain) and swish your mouth with warm salt water.
7. Lastly, brush and floss your teeth as you normally would.

Note: We're going to try Oil Pulling ourselves in the next coming week. We'll post our thoughts and experiences on Facebook. We invite you to do the same. We're curious if this really works, aren't you?!