Coconut Oil for Your Teeth

There’s a new craze around coconut oil and many people are just learning about its health benefits and a lot of people are starting to use it for cooking. But the effectiveness of coconut oil can reach far beyond using it in your favorite dish. As a matter of fact, over the last few years, it’s becoming apparent that it is great to use for your teeth. It turns out, coconut oil is good to use as a toothpaste for daily oral hygiene. It is also one of the best oils to use for the time proven practice of oil pulling which carries with it a long list of health benefits.

Benefits of Using Coconut Oil for Your Teeth

It can be extremely beneficial for your health and the health of your teeth to use coconut oil regularly. It can be used just like a toothpaste for daily brushing; or it can be used for oil pulling. Both of these practices using coconut oil yield a whole host of health benefits.

Possible benefits for your mouth may include:

Reduce bad bacteria and fight the common gum disease, gingivitis
Reduce or eliminate bad breath caused by bacteria
Whitens the teeth when used over time
Reduce yeast in the mouth to help prevent a wide variety of dental issues
Prevent tooth decay
Soothes dry throat
Moisturizes dry and cracked lips
Helps prevent bleeding gums
Strengthen the jaws

History of Oil Pulling

The practice of oil pulling comes from some of the ancient principles in Ayurvedic medicine. In Ayurveda the most natural options are used for treating and preventing many common diseases. Coconut oil has long been recognized as having natural healing elements and is used for many purposes. Oil pulling with coconut oil is encouraged as it can help prevent tooth decay leading to cavities and many conditions associated with the mouth, teeth and gums.

How Do I “Oil Pull”?

Oil pulling is a simple process that is done by putting a teaspoon or two of coconut oil in your mouth and swishing it around for about 20 minutes. Once you have swished it for 10-15 minutes, just spit it out into the trash can. In the mouth coconut oil is absorbed into the body and adheres to all the toxins in the mouth. It collects all the bacteria and toxins in the mouth, and holds on to them until you spit them out when you are done. This should be done 3 or 4 times each week to achieve the maximum effectiveness.

Brushing Teeth with Coconut Oil?

Brushing your teeth with coconut oil is very beneficial. First of all, you are not exposing your body to the chemicals big corporations put in toothpaste. Instead, you are using a pure and simply made toothpaste for brushing your teeth. To make toothpaste with coconut oil, just mix these ingredients together: ½ cup of coconut oil, 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda and 25 to 30 drops of your favorite (consumable) essential oil. These mix together very easily and can be stored in a small air tight container. Read more…

Research About Oil Pulling

Over the last few years, more research has been able to prove the health benefits associated with oil pulling. In the US, the National Center for Biotechnology Information has published studies that concluded oil pulling is beneficial for reducing gingivitis, eliminating bad breath and improving one’s overall oral health. The Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine reported oil pulling to be the most effective natural solution for maintaining good oral health.