What is coconut oil pulling? It is basically when you take some coconut oil (1\2-1 tsp) and swish it in your mouth for a little while (10-25mins). It has been extensively practiced in India - known as gandusha in Ayurvedic medicine - for sooo many years! This is a holistic approach to practicing good oral health without any harm from nasty synthetic chemicals.
I have been practicing this for a few years now and I find it very gentle yet effective, especially as my wisdom teeth are coming in. My gums back there get inflamed sometimes, and it is very soothing. As we all know wisdom teeth take ages to grow, and so what I didn’t realise was that food was starting to get trapped under the loose gums and starting to break down (ew)! So I decided to make myself a little (very easy) recipe to add two more ingredients to the coconut oil to ensure no bacteria was festering and to keep my mouth fresh!
Why not use normal store bought mouthwash?
· It can cause staining (if it contains synthetic colourants)
· The harsh chemicals can disturb taste buds
· It causes dry mouth (if it contains alcohol)
· Kills all bacteria including the good bacteria (if it claims to be antiseptic or antibacterial)
Benefits of coconut oil?
· A published 2017 study found it to be effective in controlling plaque levels in turn preventing cavities in a group of people
· It is antimicrobial and does not kill good bacteria!
· It reduces inflammation and improves gum health
· It reduces bad breath by killing harmful bacteria
DIY recipe
This is a simple recipe with only 3 ingredients!
The tea tree oil in this recipe is extremely effective as antibacterial and the peppermint oil is for that mouthwash freshness.
You will need:
· 5 tbsps. Coconut oil
· 5 drops tea tree essential oil
· 5 drops peppermint essential oil
· Glass/ stainless steel bowl
· Storage jar
1. First of all melt the coconut oil over some boiling water
2. Take off the heat and add the essential oils whilst the oil is still liquid and give it a good stir
3. Pour it into your storage jar and let it cool
The longer you pull and the more often you do it, the more effective it will be! Enjoy your natural safe homemade mouthwash.
Reference
Nagilla, J., Kulkarni, S., Madupu, P. R., Doshi, D., Bandari, S. R., & Srilatha, A. (2017). Comparative Evaluation of Antiplaque Efficacy of Coconut Oil Pulling and a Placebo, Among Dental College Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR, 11(9), ZC08–ZC11. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2017/26656.10563
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