We’ve just started a new tooth cleansing practice at my house and it is really amazing! It is technically called “Oil Pulling” but “Coconut Oil Swishing” is what it is all about. Here’s how you do it:
Put about 1/2 teaspoon (estimate) of high quality coconut oil into your mouth first thing in the morning (right out of bed, before drinking or eating), and you can do it before each meal if you want. Once a day is great. If you are really motivated to heal cavities, before each meal will keep your mouth really clean! The first moment feels a little weird as the oil melts, but then it mixes with your saliva feels fine. Just swish, swish, swish—sucking it back and forth through your teeth.
If you can keep at it for 5 minutes, great! 10 minutes, better— and at 20 minutes, you win the prize! Stop, spit the foamy white stuff out on the grass (or in the trash, but not in the sink or toilet where it can eventually clog pipes). Do not swallow! It has germs in it.
Now rinse your mouth with warm water a few times—you can spit it out in the sink or toilet. The coconut oil will actually soak up bacteria in your mouth from your saliva, gums and teeth. A microscopic slide of coconut oil before and after swishing shows a scary collection of bacteria and other undesirables.
The downside: you can’t talk for 5-20 minutes. This can be a pro or con, depending on whose voice is turned off. And it gets your lips greasy, which is okay if you are used to using lip balm anyway, of which coconut oil is often an ingredient!
The benefits: your teeth will be amazingly clean and whiten with each swishing. Stain is often caused by bacteria and I noticed a whitening difference within 3 days. Many people claim oil-swishing softens built-up tartar, which eventually slides off the teeth, greatly reducing the need for dental cleanings. Removing toxins from your mouth improves the pH of your mouth, which is he big plus—facilitating healing of dental caries.
It’s easy, cheap and effective—just my kind of cure!
Please leave a comment here. Thanks!!!
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I'd sure love to hear your comment!
Diane,
I thought I remembered reading a different article about natural dentistry, teeth healing on your site, but am unable to find it. Can you help me in my search?
Hi Diane,
I am intrigued by this method. Coconut oil for sure is anti fungal. I'm not convinced that it is also anti bacterial and anti viral. I am very much interested since I am a dental hygienist who would LOVE it if this actually worked. Would you share the name of your dentist so I can really dig into this?
It doesn't matter if you swallow it. Coconut oil is good for you! It is good to spit it out because it soaks up toxins, but you drink and swallow what is in your mouth all day long, so no harm done. You don't have to let it melt first. It will melt quickly in your mouth. The first moment is a bit strange feeling, but it mixes with saliva soon enough and feels fine.
so what happens if one accidentally swallows it?
also, so when we buy the CO we need to let it melt before we do the mouth swishing correct? I have noticed that my coconut oil that I already have tends to alternate between a solid and a liquid depending on the temperature in the house…if it's solid how do you get it back to liquid fast to swoosh it in your mouth? i wouldn't want to microwave it.
I do it in the shower. This encourages me to do it a bit longer, perhaps 15 minutes. We keep small Dixie cups nearby to expectorate. Works out well.
I'll ask my dentist about this. That sounds like a great suggestion!
Hi Diane,
This sounds WONDERFUL!
One of my sons has really yellow teeth even though he faithfully brushes them each day. This is definitely worth a try. With a family of 8, how long do you think 16 oz will last? (I guess you'll have to throw in the reality part of the family of 8—how many would be willing to try this new idea? the baby probably wouldn't do it–due to lack of know-how and/or coordination, etc… and for how long? Once? more than that?…and for how many times a day? probably once… this is where the "math" comes in: in the figuring…).
I'll check your catalog to see if you sell coconut oil. If not, then I'll check one of the local natural stores in the Des Moines area…
Thanks so much for this tip–I simply LOVE help like this. You better believe I'll pass the word along… ;->
Have a SUPERB day!!!
My research told me that oil pulling had to be done with sunflower oil. Can't remember why right now, but that's what I've been using for a few months. My mouth feels much cleaner, but my next visit to the dentist will give me a better feel about whether my teeth and gums are healthier. I definitely brush right after spitting out the oil paying special attention to the gum line to help break up and remove any bacterial colonies that the oil has loosened.
I would love to add food grade peppermint to
The coconut oil…just a half or Quarter drop.
It would feel so fresh. Would that be possible to
Use the coconut oil as the carrier oil?
I do the oil swishing first thing in the morning, right when I wake up. Then I brush with tooth soap as usual, and floss as usual, after each meal. If you want to do the oil pulling again in the evening, that is good too. I just keep the same toothbrushing routine, and add this in at times when the mouth is most toxic (first thing in morning).
Best success!
I too, am wondering how you actually incorrporate the oil pulling with using the teeth soap. It sounds as if you use the oil first of course but is there a time limit as to how long you should wait before brushing? This is all new to me but wish that I had had this information 25 years ago. Thank you so much for sharing.
Blessings,
Debbie
Thank you so much for this suggestion. I was wondering what to do for my daughter who has very yellow teeth. Can't wait to try this natural method.
Yet another amazing way to use high-quality virgin coconut oil! Thanks for sharing, can't wait to try it. We use it for EVERYTHING – cooking, skin care, eating it, you name it.
I wondered about adding something to it. What oils do you use? How do you tell if they are food grade?
This is a great thing to do. It works even better if you add essential oils to it. Just make sure the oils are food grade first.
Thanks!
Get the kind that is labeled "Virgin" Coconut Oil, which means it is the first pressing of fresh, raw coconut without the addition of any chemicals. It should be snow white when solid, and clear when liquid, which indicates purity. It has a very low melting point, so it will turn to liquid on a warm day (over 76 degrees). Taste and aroma should be <em>mild</em> coconut. The higher priced brands are generally of good quality, and will cost $12 to $20 for 16 ounces, whereas the cheap stuff you can get at Walmart for $3 (not recommended).
By the way, you can use other oils such as olive or sesame for swishing as well. The benefit of coconut oil is that it is anti-microbial and antibacterial.
Yes, we still brush and floss our teeth. This is just an additional way to cleanse the mouth and teeth.
Will you share how your sister-in-law uses charcoal? I'd love to hear!
Do you still brush your teeth? I've used this as a remedy for a cavity but not as a substitute for brushing. It arrests the decay and stops hurting in a couple of days no matter how bad it's been. I use about 1 t for about 5 min, then spit it out and repeat. It gets too nasty longer than that and thins out too much to feel useful.
My SIL uses charcoal on her teeth in addition to the oil pulling. I'm not sure what all she does, but I know she's stopped brushing, does those two things, and doesn't eat refined foods. She said it's terrific!
Thank you for sharing. I have a question though, what are the qualities of a good coconut oil?
This is great! I'm going to try it today. Any tricks to get little ones to participate?
Do you brush? I really just feel the need to brush
With this method too.
A natural dentist told us about it!
;0 )
Diane
I have never heard of this. Amazing! Was this your own discovery? If not, where did you learn it?
So glad you're sharing this method! I hope lots of people try it after reading your blog. ^_^