Dating
back thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine, oil pulling may seem like an
unlikely curative miracle due to its simplicity. Yet practitioners of the
therapy laud its effectiveness in healing everything from AIDS to diabetes,
heart disease to leukemia. Testimonials aside, scientific research has shown
oil pulling can vastly improve the condition of the gums and teeth by reducing
dental bacteria, viruses and fungi - which in turn fosters overall health.
Oil pulling basics
Oil pulling is a technique where a tablespoon of oil (sesame,
coconut, olive or sunflower) is moved around the mouth and through the teeth
with a swishing motion for 20 minutes, one to three times per day. The premise
behind the therapy is that oil attracts various pathogens in the mouth which
are then suspended within the liquid and subsequently spat out. The oil also
seeps into hard to reach pockets below the gum line where damaging bacteria
tend to thrive.
