What Is Oil Pulling All About?

 Oil pulling is a traditional wellness practice that benefits oral health and overall well-being. Keep reading to discover the benefits of oil pulling. I will also share my personal experience with oil pulling.

 Every year, I attend a health and wellness event to learn about the latest trends and products in the natural market. For the past couple of years, I have stopped by a booth that offers samples of toothpaste and other oral care products. Each time I visit this booth, they always hand me a couple of samples of coconut pulling oil. 

When I get home, I always put the oil-pulling samples in my bathroom drawer with good intentions to try them. I admit that I have plenty of excuses for why I have not tried oil pulling. That all changed when GuruNanda sent me a box of several of their oral care products to feature on my holiday gift guide for health and fitness folks.

 I was experiencing gum issues on one side of my mouth, and I decided that I was going to invest more time into my oral health care routine. Poor oral health can affect the rest of your body and lead to health problems. There is a connection between oral health and wellness.

 I did some research and learned about how oil pulling can help with gum health. Regular practice of oil pulling reduces plaque buildup and symptoms of gingivitis, such as gum inflammation and bleeding. So I made a commitment to incorporate oil pulling into my oral care routine.

What is oil pulling?

 Oil pulling is a simple practice that involves swishing natural oils like coconut oil in your mouth. It’s a technique rooted in Ayurvedic holistic medicine that’s used to treat various oral health issues. Oil pulling is a more natural way to take care of your teeth.

How do you oil pull?

The first step to oil pulling is to purchase quality fractionated coconut oil. I like using GuruNanda's pulling oil as it has natural flavors in it to enhance the experince. Sure, you could use regular coconut oil, but the mint flavor in GuruNanda's pulling oil is more pleasant to taste and keeps me swishing longer. There are also additional essential oils in GuruNanda's pulling oil for additional mouth benefits.

Here is the short version of how to oil pull, which I found on GuruNanda's website.

 1. Start with 10 to 15 mL (1 tablespoon) of pulling oil in your mouth. 

 2. Swish the oil for 2 minutes if you're a beginner, and gradually work up to 10 minutes as you grow more comfortable. 

 3. Spit the oil into the trash, avoiding sinks to prevent plumbing issues.

 4. Brush your teeth immediately after oil pulling to help remove any impurities and debris. 

My oil pulling routine

To be successful with my oil pulling experience, to see results, I knew that I needed to establish a routine. So I decided to oil pull at night, after I detoxed in my home infrared sauna. I was using my infrared sauna nightly for the inflammation benefits. 

 When I was done spending time in my sauna, I put the coconut oil in my mouth and swished while I was in the shower. My shower time was around 10 minutes, so it worked well.

Benefits of Oil Pulling

One of the main benefits of practicing oil pulling is gum health, and it can especially help with bleeding gums. This was my reason to practice oil pulling, as one section of my mouth would bleed after I flossed my teeth. 

I am happy to report that after several days of using the pulling oil in my mouth, my gums stopped bleeding.

Oil Pulling Benefits

Here are some key benefits of oil pulling, supported by research and traditional practice:

   + May Help in Oral Bacteria Reduction: Oil pulling significantly reduces harmful bacteria like Streptococcus mutans, which is known for causing tooth decay

   + May Help in Enhancing Gum Health: Regular practice of oil pulling reduces plaque buildup and symptoms of gingivitis, such as gum inflammation and bleeding.

   + May Support Detoxification: Oil pulling may support the body's detoxification process by stimulating salivary enzymes that absorb toxins. This can reduce harmful bacteria in the mouth and contribute to overall health.

   + May Enhance Overall Health: Good oral hygiene is crucial for overall health, as poor dental care can lead to more serious conditions like heart inflammation. 

  + May Promote Fresher Breath: Oil pulling is equally effective as mouthwash in improving breath freshness. 

 + May Help in Cavity Prevention: Oil pulling may play a role in preventing cavities by reducing plaque and bacterial accumulation on tooth surfaces.

 + Teeth Whitening: Oil pulling is not a replacement for professional dental treatments, but studies have been conducted on products like GuruNanda that show teeth-whitening benefits.

References: https://gurunanda.com/blogs/oil-pulling/ultimate-guide-to-oil-pulling

FAQs

There are many questions about oil pulling. The above reference has the answers to many questions about oil pulling. I have decided to include several of the common ones here.

Q: How often can you oil pull?

A: Daily oil pulling is common and recommended. Consistency is key for noticeable results, but individual preferences and tolerances may vary.

Q: How long should you oil pull?

A: The typical recommended duration for oil pulling is 15 to 20 minutes, minutes per session. Start with shorter sessions and gradually increase the time as you're comfortable. With GuruNanda’s formula of fractionated coconut oil with essential oils like tea tree and clove, a 2 to 10-minute session can suffice. 

Q: How long does it take for oil pulling to work?

A: The timeline for noticeable benefits from oil pulling can vary. Some people may observe improvements in oral health within a few weeks, while others might take longer.

Q: Does oil pulling help bad breath?

A: Oil pulling may help reduce bad breath as it targets the bacteria that primarily cause it and decreases their presence in the mouth.

Q: Should you rinse after oil pulling?

A: It is recommended to rinse your mouth with water after oil pulling to remove any residual oil. Additionally, brushing your teeth after rinsing is advisable for comprehensive oral hygiene.

Q: Where to spit oil after oil pulling?

A: Dispose of the used oil in a trash can instead of spitting it into the sink to avoid plumbing issues.

Making Oil Pulling a Part of My Healthy Habits

After experiencing the benefits of oil pulling, I decided to make it a part of my healthy habits. Every time I use my infrared sauna, I follow up this habit with oil pulling in the shower. This has been helping me stay consistent.

 I have been using my infrared sauna around 5 days a week, as it has been helping reduce the inflammation in my body from my allergy-induced asthma. This, in turn, has been helping with my sleep.

I have been swishing my pulling oil in the shower. Once I get out of the shower, I spit out the oil and brush my teeth. I love using these flossing toothbrushes as they work better than an average toothbrush. Then I floss my teeth.

Try GuruNanda's Pulling Oil today and take a step toward becoming the guru of your own wellness.

GuruNanda Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste Vs Fluoride Toothpaste

 Fluoridated toothpaste has long been considered the gold standard in oral health care but new research has many avoiding toothpaste with fluoride. Check out a toothpaste that has similar benefits but is made with natural ingredients.

 So many of us have grown up using toothpaste made with fluoride. It was the toothpaste that most dentists recommended for healthy teeth. We were told that fluoride toothpaste would prevent cavities. People loved fluoride so much that it was also added to drinking water. This mineral for decades was promoted as a proven method of preventing tooth decay. 

Many years later, after dealing with so many cavities, I ask myself, how did fluoride toothpaste help me? Was it the lack of education about brushing my teeth properly? Could my poor dental health be the effects of a processed food diet on the teeth or was it the fact that I never went to the dentist as a kid? 

I was the kid who ate plenty of sweets that were loaded with sugar. I had a rough childhood and I don't remember much about my dental routine. My mom was dealing with plenty and did not have the time to make sure that I was brushing my teeth. I also never went to the dentist. 

What I do remember as a kid, was learning in school about how to brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste. I remember the dentists who came to the classroom gave us a toothbrush along with samples of fluoridated toothpaste. I also remember all the toothpaste commercials. 

 Since I had plenty of cavities as an adult, I made sure that my kids brushed their teeth. I also made regular appointments to the dentist. My kids also had a better diet than I did as a kid. I made sure to teach my kids about the importance of good dental hygiene. 

 Many years later, my family stopped using fluoride toothpaste after I discovered that my youngest son had a toothpaste allergy.  My son was allergic to several ingredients in regular toothpaste. It was the ingredients in the toothpaste, like SLS, glycerin, and fluoride, that gave my son mouth sores.  

 Around the same time that I discovered my son's toothpaste allergy, I also learned about the disadvantages of fluoride toothpaste +, so I stopped buying fluoride toothpaste for the rest of the family and instead purchased toothpaste made with natural ingredients. Back then, there were not many options for natural toothpaste.

GuruNanda Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste Vs Fluoride Toothpaste

 Nine years later, as dental care progresses, there are so many more choices for fluoride-free toothpaste and GuruNanda hydroxyapatite toothpaste has many benefits for dental health. It is a fluoride-free toothpaste that not only cleans the teeth but also aids in remineralization.

+ Disadvantages of Flouride Toothpaste

 - Overexposure to fluoride in toothpaste can lead to dental fluorosis, which causes white spots and discoloration on the teeth.

- Some individuals may have allergies or sensitivities to fluoride and may experience adverse reactions.

What Is Hydroxyapatite?

 Hydroxyapatite is a naturally occurring form of calcium. The primary function of hydroxyapatite in toothpaste is to help remineralize your tooth enamel. This helps protect your teeth against dental decay. 

Benefits of Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste

 Hydroxyapatite toothpaste is safe and poses no risk of dental fluorosis from overexposure. GuruNanda hydroxyapatite toothpaste is great for those with sensitive teeth. This natural toothpaste effectively cleans your teeth and aids in demineralization. It also freshens your breath. Some studies have shown that hydroxyapatite toothpaste can be just as effective as fluoride toothpaste in remineralizing teeth and preventing cavities

GuruNanda hydroxyapatite toothpaste contains extracts of neem, jasmine, clove, cardamom, oregano, & spearmint oils, with Vitamins D3, E & K2. This toothpaste is non-GMO, free from harsh chemicals like SLS and Fluoride, and is highly recommended by dentists for sensitive teeth & gums.

GuruNanda Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste is a healthy addition to my dental routine

 Dental health is important for overall health and now that I know the advantages of Hydroxyapatite in toothpaste, I have added GuruNanda Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste to my dental health routine. I like that this toothpaste cleans my teeth with a nice minty taste. I also like that my teeth are getting remineralizing benefits. I am excited that this toothpaste will prevent future cavities in my mouth.

Of course, the most important part of dental health is brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing, and eating a healthy diet. I also use a water flosser as I love how it gets the food particles off your teeth. 

GuruNanda Concentrated Mouthwash is Good For The Planet

 Looking for a healthier mouthwash that also is better for the planet? Check out this simple mouthwash that is made from essential oils and is also friendly to the earth and your budget.

I received a sample of GuruNanda to facilitate this post

 For the longest time, I have not used mouthwash in my daily oral care routine. While the health of my teeth has been fine, my breath has not been that fresh. Why did I stop using mouthwash? I stopped mouthwash for many reasons with the main reason being the ingredients in that bottle of mouthwash. Most traditional mouthwash has artificial sweeteners and dyes as well as chemical ingredients that I did not want in my mouth.

 I was using natural toothpaste, so I could avoid toxic chemicals in my body, so why would I continue to use a mouthwash that was loaded with chemicals. I also was avoiding mouthwash due to the fact that most mouthwash has mouth-burning alcohol in it. That strong fresh breath feeling that most people think means a cleaner mouth is really alcohol burning your gums and that may not be healthy for the health of your mouth.

Natural mouthwash has disadvantages

While there are plenty of options for a mouthwash with safe natural ingredients, natural mouthwash has plenty of negative effects. I have used natural mouthwash and I have felt that they were helping keep my breath fresh, I did not like the expensive price that came with that bottle of water with small amounts of breath-freshening ingredients. I also did not like the impact that plastic bottles were having on the environment. So I discontinued my use of mouthwash and started using more minty toothpaste.

A natural mouthwash that is good for the environment & wallet

 I discovered a mouthwash that made me smile. When I heard that my favorite essential oil brand had a mouthwash product that was environmentally friendly, I had to check it out. GuruNanda Concentrated Mouthwash is an earth-friendly mouthwash that will change the way you use mouthwash.

 This two-fluid oz bottle of mouthwash may be small but it is also a powerful mouthwash in so many aspects. This small bottle is filled with a concentrated mouthwash. A single bottle makes ten 16-oz bottles of mouthwash! That alone is ten fewer plastic bottles that could harm our planet. Even the bottle is made from recycled plastic. That means less waste and a smaller carbon footprint.

 We all know that single-use, plastic water bottles have a huge, negative impact on the environment and especially the ocean. But what about other products typically packaged in plastic, like mouthwash? And it isn’t just the bottles these breath fresheners come in. Most commercial mouthwashes are reformulated with chemicals that are threatening to marine life.

This small bottle contains an essential oil-based formula that is so simple to use. No more swigging mouthwash from that big bottle. Instead, you just dilute a few drops of the concentrated formula into a small amount of water. The GuruNanda mouthwash comes with a small dosing cup that fits on the top of the bottle. After you mix the mouthwash drops into the water, you simply swish it in your mouth. Then spit it out to discover fresh breath without having to experience that mouth burn, as there is no alcohol in the GuruNanda Concentrated Mouthwash. Just breath-freshening natural essential oils.

This planet-friendly product contains no alcohol, fluoride, preservatives, gluten, or toxic chemicals and it is not tested on animals The small bottle is also super portable and TSA-friendly. So now you can pack your mouthwash in your carry-on luggage. So enjoy fresher breath and a healthier mouth all while helping the planet.

GuruNanda Mouthwash is

+ Fresher breath in 1 minute a day 

+ Dentist-recommended 

+ 4 drops of concentrate + water = 1 wash 

+ Each bottle contains 300 uses 

+ Eco-friendly 

+ Formulated with 100% pure and natural essential oils, sustainably harvested 

+ Designed by a team of Western and Ayurvedic oral care experts 

+ Never tested on animals  

+ No preservatives, artificial colors, or fluoride

Check out GuruNanda products on Amazon