Everything You Need to Know About Oil Pulling For a Fabulous Smile

Experts share how swishing a mouthful of coconut oil can help you brighten up your grin.

26 May, 2020
Everything You Need to Know About Oil Pulling For a Fabulous Smile

Do you know what actor Mindy Kaling, supermodel Elle Macpherson and the Kardashian and Olsen sisters have in common? Well, apart from being phenomenal women, all of them are the proud owners of a megawatt smile!

And of course, they are all fans of coconut oil pulling.

Oil pulling is an Ayurvedic practice that has been around for a while and has often invited mixed reviews among its practitioners. So, while oil pulling is great for your oral health, do not swap it for your regular brushing and flossing routine. 

"Oil pulling is an alternative health practice gaining traction in recent times not only for oral health but also as an immunity-boosting measure. Your mouth is home to millions of microbes including bacteria and the oil pulling process helps get rid of these bacteria. Swishing the oil for a prolonged period in the mouth and in- between the teeth cleanses the mouth and decreases the bacterial load. Not only does this promote oral hygiene, this technique aids in overall health and well- being," says nutritionist Sheryl Salis.  

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Sheryl advises taking a spoonful of cold-pressed virgin oil (preferably coconut) and swishing it in your mouth for about 5 minutes before spitting it out as you would with a mouthwash. "Do not swallow the oil as you will ingest the toxins with it as well. You can end the process by rinsing the mouth with warm water and brushing your teeth as per usual. Repeat the process 3-4 times a week," she says. 

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Not only is oil pulling a great oral detoxification regime, it can also be a great addition to your daily morning ablutions. Author and wellness advocate Vasudha Rai suggest a natural routine, "For a complete detoxification regime, have 5 freshly blossomed Neem leaves on an empty stomach for three weeks with warm water to detox your liver. The other thing you can do is to apply pure Manuka honey or the raw honey on your face, the first thing in the morning and then go about your day. The purer the honey, the better the results will be. Honey is a good anti-bacterial and you can keep it on for hours because it does not dry out your skin. Oil pulling is really good for your mouth. Just take a sip of coconut oil, swish it in your mouth and spit it out into a dustbin. Then you can use a good quality steam distilled rose water (NOT the essential oil rose water) and spray it directly in your eyes to instantly feel refreshed. These are beautiful morning reituals to include in your regime." 

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