If you want an easy, natural way to improve your oral wellness in the comfort of your home, I encourage you to channel your inner king or queen and try oil pulling. Though it may feel unusual at first, I have come to see it as almost a meditation that helps me calm down and get grounded as well. To be clear, oil pulling is not a replacement for regular visits to a dentist, but it can be an amazing preventative procedure. This easy addition to your morning ritual can support your oral health so you face the world with a smile. Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic tradition that involves swishing an oil through the teeth for up to 20 minutes. As Marc Lowenberg, DDS, cosmetic dentist at Lowenberg, Lituchy & Kantorin NYC, once explained to Well+Good, oil pulling "has been shown to reduce inflammation by combining the fat-soluble toxins found in the mouth (a byproduct of bacterial dental plaque) with sesame, sunflower, or coconut oil. Results of oil pulling include fresher breath, whiter teeth, and reduction of bleeding gums while flossing.” This change of mind return policy is in addition to, and does not affect your rights under the Australian Consumer Law including any rights you may have in respect of faulty items. To return faulty items see our Returning Faulty Items policy. I’ll be updating this in a week or two when I finish the bottle (I know a lot of people say this and never do, but you can bet on it). For now? Five stars.

Another unwanted side effect is that it causes easy weight gain and complicates weight loss because your body does not easily give up the toxic fat it has stored. The body then places water around the toxic fat as its self-defense mechanism causing even more inflammation. Oil pulling involves swishing a tablespoon of oil, usually coconut, in your mouth. It is said to be a powerful detoxifying treatment that helps rid the body of harmful bacteria and toxins and improve oral health. Oil pulling works by breaking down the biofilms that house bad oral bacteria and toxins from your teeth, gums, and even your tongue. If you don’t break down these biofilms, they become plaque and tartar. So oil pulling is incredibly preventative. I like to oil pull when I’m in the shower each morning–it’s a great way to get two things done at one time, and oil pulling is most beneficial on an empty stomach. Since most people sleep with their mouths open, which creates more biofilms and dry mouth, oil pulling in the morning may help with this as well. Just be careful not to swallow the oil; it’s safe but not as pleasant as swishing. Once you finish oil pulling, spit the oil into a trash can, not into the sink or the drain (you don’t want to clog your pipes). Then rinse your mouth with water, brush your teeth–a very important step, to ensure the bad biofilms in your mouth are fully broken down--and enjoy your day. Did you know you can do more than brush your teeth, floss and use mouthwash to maintain good dental hygiene? I didn’t either. An ancient practice called oil pulling is also beneficial. According to Healthline, oil pulling is an ancient Indian folk practice that helps to freshen your breath and whiten your teeth, but there’s more to it than that. Then, simply pour in 1 tablespoon into your cup, place it into your mouth and swish away for 2-3 minutes, working your way up to 15 if comfortable! Once you are done swishing, spit the oil out into the trash can, not the sink, rinse out with some water, brush your teeth and then you are done! Really make sure to brush after you swish to get the toxins off of your teeth that were extracted.

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First of all, what is oil pulling? It is one of the core practices of Ayurveda, the oldest holistic wellness system in the world (the term Ayurveda means the science of life ). Ayurveda was popularized among ancient Indian kings and queens before spreading more widely, so every time I oil pull, I like to imagine I am royalty too! Reveal your most dazzling smile naturally with GuruNanda Natural Mouthwash! This Ayurveda-inspired formula is a safe and natural alternative to synthetic chemical mouthwash. It contains only the highest-quality natural ingredients: fractionated coconut oil, peppermint oil, spearmint oil, clove, tea tree oil, cardamom oil, oregano oil, fennel oil, vitamin E, vitamin D, stevia, and vitamin K2. Simply swish in your mouth for up to 10 minutes daily for fresher breath, happier gums, a brighter smile, and a more balanced oral microbiome. Spit oil into the trash can after use, not the drain. This change of mind return policy is in addition to, and does not affect your rights under the Australian Consumer Law including any rights you may have in respect of faulty items.

Studies suggest that oil pulling may have many benefits. It may help reduce bad breath, cavities and tooth decay, plaque and tartar build-up, and even inflammation in the mouth. Many people I know who suffer from dry mouth tell me that oil pulling helps increase salivary secretion for them as well, and others have even told me about teeth-whitening benefits. If you would like an all-natural alternative to mouthwash, oil pulling could be a great practice for you. In GuruNanda's mouthwash, the oil used comes from coconut. “Coconut oil, when pulled, acts as a ‘soap’ and cleans teeth and gums from unwanted buildup,” says holistic and functional dentist Dmitry Dolgov, DMD of The Dentist Lounge in Santa Monica, California. “Peppermint has antibacterial/antiseptic properties that will help fight harmful germs and bad breath.” Spending most of your time in front of computers or steering wheels in artificially air-conditioned environments. The act of swishing the oil around pulls the oil soluble toxins and harmful microbes residing in the mouth from the fat cells. When practiced regularly, oil pulling can reduce inflammation because, as the level of toxins in the toxic fat decreases, the body withdraws water around them and reduces inflammation. The acts of exercising, eating right, drinking water, and breathing facilitate weight loss and promote better health. I’ve been using GuruNanda now for 45 days. I quite like it for oil pulling. I like the ease of use with the little cup. The peppermint removes any nasty properties from the other oils, although that has never been a factor for me. I’ve used sunflower and coconut oils and have preferred coconut oil prior to using this product. The oil works perfectly well for pulling. Upon spitting into the toilet bowl after 15 minutes of use, the oil has turned a cloudy white, which is what you want to see. I have nothing negative to say about how this oil feels, tastes or works.Over time, all of the above can create a vicious cycle of toxic build-up that can clog the body’s lymphatic system, which affects every organ and cell in the human body. An unhealthy lymphatic system cannot easily absorb or discharge unwanted body fat, carry away excess body fluids and toxins, or heal inflammation of the body’s muscular, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, endocrine and nervous systems. This dysfunction is what leads to health problems such as weight gain, migraines, aching joints, constipation, energy loss, mental fog, mental confusion, mood change, insomnia, restlessness, muscular spasms, a weakened immune system and nausea. We’ve all heard about it, but how many of you have actually tried oil pulling? I’ve done it a few times, but I haven’t been able to keep it up daily, despite really wanting to. I recently came across these GuruNanda single servings of mixed oils that make it easier to do each day, so, I am hoping to give this another whirl to really monitor the benefits now that half of the work has been done for me. Time to step up my oil pulling game in hopes to rid my body of the toxins that accumulate in me each day! While any coconut oil can be used for oil pulling, I recommend the GuruNanda brand because it is safer, better-tasting, easier to use, and cheaper than conventional coconut oil. GuruNanda Pulling Oil with Coconut and Mint is made with 100% pure and ethically sourced coconut oil and peppermint essential oil for maximum oral wellness benefits and a great fresh taste. Unlike other brands, our Pulling Oil contains no alcohol, preservatives, fluoride, or artificial flavors.

As someone who loves the feel of a fresh mouth but admittedly dreads the process of achieving such, I’m always on the lookout for innovative oralcare to liven up the experience. In the past year alone, I’ve gotten a fancy electric toothbrush and flosser, upgraded my toothpaste and even tried an LED whitening kit.

Some things to keep in mind

Among all the many “ifs” in my life, “if I’d found oil pulling earlier” easily hits the top three given the benefits it’s shown my body and overall health. I first discovered oil pulling at least a decade ago from a friend who lives in Arizona and was knowledgeable in a variety of naturopathic remedies. Oil pulling was merely a side note in a conversation we had one day; one that I immediately Googled when I hung up the phone. I found the whole idea fascinating. It wasn’t a week later I had myself hooked up with cold-pressed, unrefined sunflower oil from PPC and had dived right in. Because the oil-soluble toxins and toxic fat are surrounded by water, it becomes extremely difficult for the body to burn off the fat. This is similar to how a balloon filled with water put over a flame such as a candle will not pop or burst. Now that you understand that toxins are oil soluble and the science behind it all, you can move on and understand how oil pulling works!