Oil Pulling: Unlock Natural Oral Health & Detox Benefits

Since a week I have been trying this and I experienced these things. oil pulling reduces leg cramps, cracked heels and also gives great energy.

In the meantime, I do have some thoughts about your routine that you might consider.

You said that at the same time you started oil pulling that you also started to brush your teeth and floss after every meal. This may very well be the problem. This is a common issue, especially here on EC, where most people think that brushing immediately after eating or drinking something acidic (like the popular remedy Apple Cider Vinegar) will protect their teeth from the erosion of the acid. Wrong! It's actually the opposite. Acidic foods and drinks will actually soften your enamel, so that when you brush your teeth you then brush the enamel away. Kind of the worst thing you could do if you're trying to protect your teeth!

The remedy is to make sure that you alkalize your mouth before brushing to ensure that the enamel is protected. You can do this by swishing with a solution of baking soda in water, eating or chewing a mint/gum sweetened with 100% xylitol (or dissolving the pure crystals in your mouth), eating a piece of cheese, or swishing with a commercial product like closys mouth wash. Brushing with an alkalized mouth is very different from brushing with an acidic mouth. This might also happen even if you haven't eaten recently because things like overall diet, stress, medications, toxins, candida, mouth breathing, and hormones that affect the acidity of the mouth. You can buy pH strips to test this easily.

Another issue might be how you are brushing and flossing: it could be a case of doing too much rather than too little. Most people use too hard of a toothbrush and put too much pressure on it, thinking that they have to scour their teeth to make them clean, much like cleaning a dirty, caked on dish. This actually can do lots of damage to teeth and gums. Instead, you should use a soft toothbrush and gently brush the teeth while focusing on massaging your gums to bring much needed circulation to your gums (and letting your body help you fight infection this way).

Secondly, most people have never been taught to properly floss either, so they tend to mangle and cut their gums rather than wriggle food particles out. Your dentist or dental hygienist should be able to show you how to correctly apply both these methods without damaging your soft tissues with heavy-handedness.

My next point was a hard pill for even me to swallow. You see, I have been using baking soda and peroxide as my "toothpaste" for the past 5 years, trying to be as natural as possible and throwing out chemical, commercial toothpaste. I liked it and didn't like the alternatives. Even so-called natural toothpastes have unnecessary or unwanted ingredients (like glycerin, which prevents your teeth from remineralizing with your natural saliva). I, too, practiced good hygiene; brushing and flossing every day and eating a healthy diet, but my oral health still wasn't where I expected it to be.

When I stumbled onto Dr. Ellie's blog I was disappointed to see that she does NOT recommend baking soda because of the effect she's seen on her patients' gums. Her insights have thrown off some of my thoughts and arrogance concerning natural tooth care. In this post she addresses this issue: http://ultimateoralhealthguide.com/2009/03/20/home-made-toothpaste/ . I'll quote a few sentences that caught my eye regarding your condition-

"I have seen baking soda used without problems for a few days, but after repeated use (over months or years) the gums start to disappear. There is no pain or swelling associated with this recession just a loss of gum tissue. This problem can be very severe to the point of people loosing teeth because of this."

Sound familiar? The reason I bring this up is two-fold. First, the main ingredient of Ecodent natural tooth powder is baking soda (baking soda is also mentioned in the first article I linked as a possible cause of gum recession). Secondly, I wanted you to know that I am NOT one who would normally buy any commercial body care products, including fluoride toothpaste. Most of my friends call me a" hippy", as I use the information here on EC as my "health care provider". However, Dr. Ellie has written very compelling evidence for the reasons she has recommended the products that she does.

In the one week (! ) that I've faithfully applied her full program, I have noticed great improvements in the markers of oral health that I felt I was previously failing at. My teeth are whiter and stronger, my front bottom teeth feel "tighter" in the gums (they previously felt "loose"), and I no longer bleed while brushing or flossing. Now, I'm not saying that these things will all happen for you, as you seem to have a much more advanced case than I, but you might! She has many other testimonials similar to mine.

I'm treading lightly here, as I have been amazed at the success I've found, but am very much aware of the dissonance this might create here in EC. Her system uses a series of mouth rinses and a commercial fluoride toothpaste, as well as timely application of xylitol products. She approves of very specific products and goes into detail about why they work. Yes, you read that- fluoride However, if you really take the time to understand the information she presents (across her whole blog), you may just decide to follow her program as well. If you are at all concerned about fluoride, like I am, start with this page:

http://ultimateoralhealthguide.com/2013/03/27/the-fluoride-debate-two-sides-to-every-story/

My recommendations are to look at the links I've posted, do some digging, and find out what will work for you. I know that if I was in your position that I would try to avoid surgery at if all possible (which you seem to as well). Also, I echo another poster in advocating the use of essential oils, especially clove, to deal with your mouth pain. Garlic, too, has seemed to help many others on this forum. Use the search bar above to find relevant posts. If anything, xylitol is also an excellent tool to explore using for dental health, with decades of research backing its efficacy in Europe.

I do not believe that oil pulling is what has been causing your recent discomfort, however I do not know that for sure. You might consider changing your oil to some other oil (maybe you're allergic?) as well as practicing good dietary habits. Drink an appropriate amount of water (coincidentally most people drink too much and flush their body's electrolytes away-see The Water Cure for more info), eat enough protein (since your body needs to build up your gum tissue and repair it), and be kind to yourself!

Good luck, and I hope that I've given you some useful information to help you. Give us an update if you can!

I've been oil pulling off and on for over a year with sesame/sunflower oil. Extreme tooth sensitivity (hot, cold, and warm) completely gone, toothaches from 1 troublesome tooth completely gone, teeth ridiculously clean smooth (stains tartar are gone). I dont think im ever going to the dentist again! I use in combination with a few drops of oil of oregano as i no longer use toothpaste (tried every brand/type of toothpaste, they all aggravated sensitivity and toothache and don't do squat for healthy teeth (in my opinion)).

Dont believe the drug pushing drug companies. GOD gave us everything we need. How do u think other cultures survived for thousands of yrs? why was evoo, and herbs etc considered currency? EVEN BEER! Modern medicine is yesterday news. They try diff things but then 10yrs later u always see that people have lawsuits due to drugs they took. ESPECIALLY Now! DETOX first, then inflammation will go away, then restoration occurs. All diease comes from inflammation and cellular degeneration. Oxidation is also important. BUT THE MOST BY FAR- IMHO- is normalizing/testing regularly ur Ph. of BOTH the BLOOD/URINE. EVERYone is finding that acidosis is the main contributor of cellular degeneration. Check it out.

INSTRUCTIONS:

First thing in the morning, before brushing your teeth, eating or drinking, take 1 TBSP of either sesame or sunflower oil. Put the oil in your mouth, tilt your chin up and slowly swish, suck, chomp and pull through the teeth. Do this for at least 10 minutes. 15 - 20 minutes is better. You want the oil to become a thin, white foam when you finally spit it out. If it's still yellow, you haven't done it long enough.

You can do this 2 more times during the day if you want to detox faster. Make sure you do it on an empty stomach, however. Spit it out in the toilet when your mouth is full and rinse your mouth out well.

Follow by drinking 2 - 3 glasses of water.

DO NOT SWALLOW THE OIL.
It now contains parasites and bacteria!

DO NOT GARGLE IN THE THROAT -- THE OIL IS MEANT TO BE SWISHED IN THE MOUTH ONLY.

DO IT SLOWLY.

HOW IT WORKS:
The oil pulls all mucous, bacteria and toxins from your body through your saliva. According to Ayurvedic medicine, mucous is a poison that must be removed.

Note #1:
Keeping the chin tilted up makes sure the oil gets to the back molars.

Note #2:
The old school says that only sesame and sunflower oils produce favorable results. However, our readers report success using other oils too.

Note #3:
If after meals, wait at least 4 hours before you Oil Pull. After drinking, wait 1 hour.

Note #4:
A worsening of symptoms is an excellent indication that the disease/ailment is being cured.

Note #5:
Do not stop Oil Pulling if you feel aggravated symptoms or heightened side effects after a day or two. Your body is healing.

Note #6:
Will your dental fillings fall out? It's possible but highly unlikely unless there is pre-existing damage or loose fillings.

The oil will start to thin out after a few minutes because saliva is constantly being mixed in and swished about.

I discovered oil pulling on this website in 2014. I am so very thankful for the countless people around this world who are generous with everything they share on here. A woman in 2014 wrote about O.P.. She advised everyone to thoroughly rinse their mouth after O.P.. She also advised everyone to wait one hour before brushing their teeth . She said the oil softens the enamel on your teeth from O.P.. She said you should wait one hour after you're done oil pulling to let the enamel harden before you brush your teeth . I've been following her advice since I started O.P.. I wonder now if it's necessary . Please tell what you think .

Thank you!

Well here's the thing, I used to be much higher than that! When I was working overseas I was in a fairly high-stress occupation in arduous conditions and not on an ideal diet. I had the occasional trip to see my favourite Indian Homoeopath, who lived on the tenth floor of this dilapidated, old building in which the lift had broken down way back in 197?, so I had to climb all the stairs. She insisted on taking my BP when I reached the top and started to tut tut her way through my diagnosis. She recorded my BP in a card system only she could operate. It was indexed by First names I think, like the telephone book in that country. I would have been listed as "Mr. Michael" had I had a land line. The Indians have a finely tuned sense of humour. I pleaded for ten minutes by her fan after braving such a climb and the 45 degree centigrade heat outside. Never mind.

To-day I have just returned from a visit to the A & E Department of our local hospital which is an hour away from here. Although there were only a few people waiting (I made sure I got there at opening time) we had to wait almost two hours to get as far as the Good Doctor. In the mean time the nurse had checked my BP and filled in the usual form. She seemed genuinely surprised to see that my BP was 136/81 for an older guy who might be expected to be above that. Not the BP of a twenty year old but still not too bad. The two hour wait, reading articles on the British Royal Family's scheming and in-fighting, as well as the various and many latest disappointments of Jennifer Aniston, must have served to calm down my fevered brow from my usual agitated state. Tough love is the story Jennifer.... if I may be so bold. I was a naughty boy and tossed my dummy and my BP pills away about a year ago and vowed to henceforth lead the Monastic Lifestyle to boot. Although not World Famous for being consistent (more like a butterfly really), what I have done is the Oil Pulling with Coconut oil in the morning first thing for many months now. That and doing the early flush with Lemon / Lime juice, the ACV, then the ACV AND Bicarbonate of Soda, Molasses drink, MSM, Alfalfa, a broad-spectrum Multi-Vitamin, plus occasional Magnesium Chloride Liquid and two or three Vit. C tablets (1000mg) per week and Ted's Borax Protocol.

I usually take weekends off to give the bod a rest......!! ( I was tempted to change to Sesame Seed oil instead of CO but all they had at the local health food store was toasted stuff so I steered clear of it). I too have suffered from Sinus problems my whole life. I seem clear at the moment but I am waiting for the wet weather, when I might have to use the Nettie Pot again. Alfalfa tabs have really helped "unclog me". Try them for a week. Sensational relief for me. I was interested to learn about the swishing with Salt and BS. Might try that one. Is there any harm in just swallowing the CO after one has been doing this pulling for a few weeks I sometimes wonder? Pity to waste such good stuff!

Moral to convoluted diatribe above? None! Only (1) that the CO may have helped to lower the BP. I admit to taking a spoonful whenever I remember to do it. Also, (2) thanks to M to M for the Turmeric poultice recipe and I tried Avocado oil, Turmeric and Black Pepper as a paste. Gave relief on the knee overnight. Whoopee! I will be running soon. And (3) Try the Alfalfa to unclog the Tubes. Hooray. More from Down Under from one who is not yet "Down Under"!

Cheers, Michael

I can personally attest to the benefits of oil pulling. Definitely whiter teeth, at least two shades whiter and the oil removed the majority of stains within the first two months of use from a past history of having smoked for many years. No tartar ever since I started. The other thing it definitely does is remove particles of food which become lodged at the back of the mouth and tongue which can be missed when brushing the teeth and tongue .. oil pulling can also dislodge tonsil stones which you never knew you had. All these things can be missed and contribute to bad breath. Other things to note, while oil pulling, it will bring up phlegm which can also contribute to bad breath.

If oil pulling is done regularly and consistently with diligence .. properly .. swishing around the mouth for at least 15 - 20 minutes every night before bed you never wake up with bad breath in the morning. Gums are definitely healthier and pinker and has relieved mild tooth pain every single time.

My oil pulling regime has been done while I shower in an evening before bed and every morning when I wake up. Alongside oil pulling I have been using my homemade toothpaste. Sometimes I take my home made toothpaste and add it to my swishing mixture in my mouth which further adds to my oral hygiene routine. I am sure there are other things which have improved or that I have benefited from since I have been oil pulling which I have forgotten to add, for now this is my year long experience.

Note .. tongue brushing must be included in oral hygiene routines for good oral and dental health.

Thank you also earthclinic for having such a wonderfully diverse and informative site which helped me immensely in my journey towards better health.

I've tried oil pulling for the last 3 months and I have only seen benefits. I have noticed my energy has soared and my breath is better, teeth are whiter and no more bleeding gums. I don't feel the need to smoke as much nowadays. Suppressed appetite, and I'm able sleep better and much deeper. I will now and forever keep oil pulling.

After 20 minutes I spit the oil into a little plastic bag with tissues, tie a knot in it and dispose of it. Then I brush my teeth with a toothpaste containing bicarb and other goodies, but here's the thing I have been wondering about: I get a strong taste/smell of ammonia in my mouth during and after brushing, until I rinse with propolis tincture. Any comments anyone?

PS My eyesight has improved so much I've had to replace my spectacles. And I don't need any glasses at all for reading now! My optician was amazed. he clearly didn't believe me until he had tested me.

You didn't mention how much DE you were taking per day and that would be very useful information for people who are thinking of taking or are currently taking DE.

In a clinical study that used only 750 mgs per day, DE was shown to lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and have lasting effects, so the multiple tablespoon dosing that is typically seen on the internet may be a little over the top for some people.

Art

Started OP about 7 days back. The first 3 days I used sunflower oil for OP. During that time, had excruciating pain for the first 2 days near one of my molars (the one which had root canaling done; I have 2 root canals ). The third day with sunflower oil was smooth and no pain.

Ran out of sunflowerr oil, so started using olive oil. Again, absolute hell with the headache and mucous for 2 days.

On the positive side, my teeth feel cleaner, no more bad breath and my gums seem to have firmed up. Will continue oil pulling to see how my cavities and dental decay fare.

Only concern being I have a lot of metal fillings- my dental health has been pathetic throughout my life-hope OP helps me cure that.

I was diagnosed 10 years ago with a tumor/goiter on the right side of my thyroid that was noticeable in size. Oddly enough the left side is trying to compensate for it so my specialist and I decided to just leave it be and I would monitor its size and my well being (noticing any changes to my health) so after several years of blood tests etc.... I am now on yearly monitoring. Seems to be fine but the size has never changed. No matter what kind of cleanse or supplement I did. I just thought it was my little pet to carry around with me. Now I need to mention that I eat very healthy clean whole foods as I am sensitive to a lot of things (thanks goodness my body has a natural defense to all the bad stuff, makes it easier to say no! ). And then I decided to try oil pulling!!!!!!!!!!! The first day I had an awful metallic taste in the back of my throat. From the second day on I would expel a considerable amount of phlegm a few times after I had spit out the oil, IT'S SHRINKING!!!!! I have also had a slight breakout on my chin that happens to line up with my thyroid and only on the affected side so I know its pulling upwards. I honestly think that the doctor may even miss it if I had a routine check up. Not to mention my teeth are so much whiter! I am honestly telling everyone I love because this is so easy! I am fortunate to have seen direct results so I am absolutely convinced that this is another practice that I will incorporate into my daily regime for the rest of my life! Just try it..... Sesame oil, 2 tsp, empty tummy, 20 min and swish-n-spit away your potential future diseases down the drain!