Oil Pulling: Unlock Natural Oral Health & Detox Benefits

Hi, I read somewhere earlier that taking apple cider vinegar in orally could help with Sinus issues. Search on sinuses and ACV and see what you find...

It's possible you are allergic to the sesame oil. That could be causing your weakness, lethargy, etc. Might try a different oil.

Sesame seed oil has distictive smell which is wood burning smell as you described it. If you are not fond of it, you can perhaps switch to another oil. Although sesame oil is the oil to do the job. Hope it helped.

I would also like to hear from people who have had no issues with their fillings - I have not done it due to reading the posts on the amalgams where people have had problems. I have a mouth full of amalgams darn it. Anyone? Thanks. Carly

Hi Carly and Dee, I did oil pulling for a few months last year and have a mouth full of fillings and two caps. One is gold and one is porcelain. I didn't have any problems at all with any of them while oil pulling. Perhaps, the problems were pre-existent for those who had trouble and the oil pulling brought light to that. By the way, the fillings are from when I was quite young and the gold cap is from when I was about 12 and the porcelain about 3 years ago. Hope this helps in your decision to try this procedure.

Dee, I had a root canal over a year before I started having problems. I think that it was a coincidence that the filling started falling a while after I started OP. The dentist kept laughing and filling the tooth again and again (and we kept paying for it.... ). When I went there the last time because I started feeling a funny sensation when I would eat or drink and was prepared to tell him that he had to find a solution for my problem the tooth was broken from so much work done to it and had to be pulled. It was a big shock as I have great teeth, to lose one at 53.... Afterwards I discovered that the tooth could have been saved if he had put a crown on it on time.... But he didn't! Was it the OP? I think that somehow that was a coincidence but I will never know. Anyway, he should have done a better work. We are going to write him a letter and see what he says. This is going to cost us a lot of money and bother because now I need an implant. It took me maybe two weeks to start to accept what had happened. Would I have done OP if I knew what I know now, even if it had nothing to do with what has happened... I don't know but I should have been more alert and have gone somewhere else for a second opinion and I would surely still have my tooth. What OP does for me is to prevent me from feeling pressure on my down teeth which is very annoying. For the rest I have never noticed anything. Once in a while I mix a drop of clove oil to give my mouth a good clean. I do have a few old porcelain filling, no problems there! My verdict and actually the one of the dentist... OP can't have had anything to do with it. After all it is nothing more than swishing a bit of oil in your mouth! What consoles me is that root canals are not always a good thing because if you have an infection and don't feel it they can cause a lot more problems without you knowing where they come from but... Implants can give infections as well and they are so awfully expensive...

Hi Carly - I have several amalgam fillings, several porcelain fillings, two root canals and my husband has crowns but neither of us have experienced any problems at all with oil pulling. I've been oil pulling for over a year now, usually with sesame oil but I've also used coconut and olive oils.

Totally off the subject, but another thing I do for oral health is massage my gums (thumb on one side of the gum, forefinger on the other) - massage with light circular motion. It strengthens and brings circulation to the gums. I do it in the shower, because it can get a bit "drooly" - hope this helps! Cheers.

Hi Bessie, Thanks for your answer, I feel better knowing that and would love to hear from even more people still. Thanks to you all, Dee

Hi Francisca, Many thanks for your reply. Do you have any amalgam fillings at all? Dee

Thank you Bessie, Francisca, and Lisa. Your input has been helpful. I think I just may have to give oil pulling a try! Much appreciation. :-) Carly

Hi Lisa, Were those old fillings you have in your mouth amalgams? I hope so cause that would make me feel even more reassured. Dee

Hi Dee, In regards to my fillings, yes, they are silver amalgams and they are over 40 years old! Strangely enough, my fillings have held just fine over the years but, two of the teeth have crumbled off around them! Thus, that is why I have the one porcelain cap. The other tooth I just left alone because it is the very back one and doesn't bother me. Honestly, I don't think oil pulling will do anything to your teeth in a negative manner. Hope that helps.

Hi Lisa,

I really appreciate your reply and feel even more reassured now. I will keep at the oil pulling. My lower molars are all mainly amalgam and I have had them for many years too. All the best, Dee

Hi Dee, no, as I used to be a photographer and travel writer I had my fillings changed to modern ones a few years ago as the dentist was afraid that I would get problems due to my many flights.

By the way, I want to thank all the advice I got here after losing my tooth. I have chose to do an implant but I will do it in a very good clinic in Switzerland since we found out that I lost my tooth (which had had a root canal and the filling replaced a lot of times) only because the dentist here in France didn't care to cap the tooth. We don't know why he didn't do it yet but we have written him a letter. All the dental treatments cost a lot of money, so did pulling the tooth and now the implant is going to be awfully expensive, all for no reason! Be careful and if you don't trust some treatment get a second opinion, it may be worth the money!

I've been oil pulling on and off for about three years (thanks to Earthclinic) and didn't know till today that you weren't supposed to do it if you have amalgams. I have one amalgam, one cap and have had no issues to date. I had an implant put in last month in Thailand - which has already broken, but that was due to my bite rather than oil pulling. I did stop oil pulling for a few weeks after the tooth was put on though as the implant felt pulled at with the swishing - I guess the jaw was not used to any kind of pressure or movement since the actual tooth was removed some years prior. I'll continue to oil pull as I really don't think it's anything other than beneficial. I alternate between olive oil and coconut depending on my mood. I think olive oil whitens better and you can spit it down the sink (yes, I know you're not supposed to!).

I have been looking for a reason not to OP because of amalgam filings. What is the harm? I've been OP for awhile and I don't think I recognize any problems. Are there certain early warning signs?

I have the same question about porcelain crowns. I have several of them. I have been oil pulling for around a year now and I don't want them to fall out or start to come unglued. Any help with this would be appreciated! Yoli

Hi, I was wondering if it is okay to do oil pulling with lots of golden fillings and a crown? No more amalgam fillings left though! Thanks!

Hello Eveline, from Toronto:

Didn't see any mention of MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) in what you are using and this is good for keeping down inflammation and those joint pains. If you have a farmers co-op store there, check the animal section for it in crystal form and you will probably get it much cheaper than buying capsule form.

Now for that gum infection, having seen hot epsom salts compresses used 4 times a day pull infection out after a red streak was running up the arm, we know that it will heal infection. Since we also know that your body needs magnesium, it is not likely to harm you by using it in your mouth. Hot compresses might prove a little difficult to manage in your mouth but fortunately you can make like oil pulling, only using a supersaturated solution of epsom salts instead of oil. The only downside likely to occur from this is a bad taste in your mouth, but rinsing with water should remove that immediately. Another thing you might want to add to this solution is a small amount of ground cayenne pepper as it also has some anti-inflammatory as well as pain relieving actions.

To make a supersaturated solution of epsom salts, bring 4 ounces of water to a boil. Add epsom salts until no more will dissolve. If you can take the heat, add 1/8th teaspoon of cayenne pepper. As soon as your solution cools enough to hold in your mouth, use it swishing it around in your mouth. You might want to keep it in a jar sitting in a pan of hot water to keep it warm until finished using it. Doing this 3 to 4 times a day should get rid of that gum infection.

Hello Eveline

I don't know if this will help or not...but its worth a try. Its been helping me to reduce a severe infection in 2 teeth (it could only be from 1 tooth, but the nerves sending pain on to the other tooth)

I put 1/2 - 1 tsp Sea salt (I tried table salt..& it made it worse) dissolved in 1/2 a glass of warm water (never hot).
I very gently swish and hold water around the infected area 2-4 times, 3times or more a day. Make sure to spit it all out, I believe to swallow this would only introduce the infection into the body (although I could be wrong)

Don't forget to do the areas on either side too. It may just stop the infection from spreading.

From what I've read in the past... the sea salt helps to draw the infection out. Make sure to rinse with plain warm water afterward too. I'm not so sure leaving any kind of salt in the mouth is a good thing.

Anywhere from a 10 mins to an hour later I can really feel the difference. Either the pain is gone or significantly reduced.

I really hope this does help you.
Good luck to you ..sincerely

it may help to add a few drops of Oil of Oregano into the oil of choice. Not to knock oil pulling too much but I feel many of the claims are placebo effect. Also, flossing would be my 1st choice for oral/gum health. You could even rub a little diluted oregano oil on the floss.

Also use a gum stimulator to get blood flowing into the area. re: pulling...I doubt the notion that it "pulls" toxins from the body. (has anyone ever measured this in a lab. etc) That is not to say it may have health effects beyond placebo.. perhaps it stimulates one of the many glands in the face, neck area..perhaps it provides fatty acids sublingually or ?? but to speak in absolutes without proof is just...sorry to say...religion.

Thanks everyone for your feedback on the tooth infection. I am pretty sure I can get rid of that localized problem. I like to use Neem tincture and will definitely get back to that and work with some of the other remedies mentioned as well. I have no pain or any symptoms of this infection so it was a surprise when the hygienist mentioned it. What I am more concerned with is that there infection at all. It has to mean there is something going on IN my body. Along with the knee pain and stagnant blood diagnosis, I am just flummoxed about what is going on. I oil pull, I take good cleaning supplements, I dry brush massage, I use a rebounder, I do a lot of things that seem right, eat a pretty healthy diet, don't drink coffee, eat dairy products, work at staying off wheat etc. and then I still feel like I'm not winning at having a really healthy body. The knee pain makes me feel like I'm very old and I'm not.

However, I will get to the bottom of this and I thank all those who replied and will definitely get that gum infection gone. Many happy days in this Chinese New Year to all.

Eveline

To The Phoenix from Townsville

Hello and thanks for your input on my issue with the joint pain and tooth infection. I have also been quite dismayed that my healthy lifestyle has not protected me from this incapacitating problem with my knees. Mind you, in 2000 I was in an accident and think that perhaps some of this stems from that situation.

I also have been concerned about the bioavailability of supplementation so will definitely check out your suggestion on borax/boron.

I take it you are referring to F--e's Detox book? I have done so many detoxes in my day, but I am also always still open to learning more and more. Thanks again. Eveline

Dear Phoenix

Thanks again for a very informed response. I see that you completely understand my feelings of somehow failing with regard to being healthy and appreciate your sharing your experiences. I'm with you. I don't want to do any extreme measures, fasting or denying myself. My metabolism is too sluggish to do any fasting. That slows it down even more. With my Naturopath I am exploring the low body temperature, the blood stagnation with Chinese Medicine and I do hope to be feeling pain free again before too long.

This morning I used VCO for oil pulling and I must say it was a very different experience than using other oils. Not sure that it was as satisfactory. I wonder if you would recommend using VCO for the topical application to joints as you would the PO? I know I did about 10 days with castor oil packs on both knees, which is also very hard to remove and gets on everything, but that seemed to do nothing. I'd be willing to work with the PO however.

You certainly seem to have a font of knowledge and I do appreciate your input on this forum. Thanks again.
Eveline

Good Morning The Phoenix, how are things in Townsville? Have been offline for a couple of weeks (traveling) and was pleased to get your response and further encouragement.

I have been considering the toxic overloads most of us are living with and while I have had all my amalgams removed (which I 'm sure was helpful) we still live in a polluted world. So I'm thinking to somehow get rid of those toxins, without that drastic fasting or detox protocols that are often prescribed. I found a volcanic rock powder called zeolite and have started taking it in the last week. It's easy to take, doesn't have a taste really, has some logical sounding explanations about why it will work and of course, the requisite testimonials. Also it's not expensive. However, I've not seen any info on EC about it and since you are admittedly the health researcher I wonder if you have a view on zeolite? I did search for it here on EC and while there are google pages that show it referenced, I've yet to actually find anything about it here. (it feels like looking for a needle in a haystack.) I would think it belongs on the Remedy page if it's as good as reported.

I appreciated your views on the acid/alkaline balance, giving a thoughtful response to the desire for the perfect pH. It's letting me feel less errant about what I eat. I know I eat better than the average person and so can relax about eating that banana or mango instead of limiting myself to only grapefruits or lemons.

Always great to read your responses and again thanks for your continued encouragement. I am off to give myself a Moxabustion treatment and then I'm going to massage with CO! I haven't continued oil pulling with it as I bought a nice bottle of sesame oil and am working with that this month. I will switch to CO next month and then liquify it first!! LOL that was a weird experience letting it melt in my mouth.

Have a great day.
Eveline

p.s. would love to hear from anyone else who has had experience taking this volcanic powder with it's unique molecular framework.

I highly doubt that all these testimonials are "placebo effect, " especially since so many of them had already tried other remedies without success (why didn't they have a placebo effect with those?). I've just started this treatment (yesterday), so I can't say anything about its effectiveness. But I can say that everything I've read says at least 10 and more often 15-20 minutes. If you've been doing it 4 minutes, you may not be getting any significant therapeutic effect (like gargling with Listerine for 15 seconds won't kill bacteria while 30 seconds will). As far as "toxins reabsorbing"--that sounds a little farfetched to me--either the oil "pulls" them out or it doesn't. It can't pull them out and then let them go back in, can it? Anyway, I don't think ayurvedic medicine says anything about this idea of reabsorption--maybe if you really overdid it, but I think you should try 15 minutes 2x a day before you decide whether it works for you or not.