From Mrs. Cog's Corner

The content on this page is for discussion purposes relating to health and well being only and is not intended to be medical advice. Links and sources provided are for informational purposes and do not represent an endorsement of a person, product or treatment.

Pulling toxins from your body and ridding your mouth and gums of bacteria by swishing? Really? Well it appears it's been done for thousands of years.

There is a wonderful ebook (115 pages) from oilpulling.com available here for free download with plenty of good information on the practice of oil pulling.

This is one of those natural practices that have almost zero clinical studies, except for a few supposedly "debunking" it, and several that are just from India, as if that somehow disqualifies them from being relevant. Since oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic tradition that focuses on whole body, mind and spirit wellness, it does not surprise me in the least that it is heavily downplayed in Western Medicine. Big Pharma can't patent swishing with a natural substance...yet.

In addition, quite recently the mainstream media has taken to an subtle attack campaign describing oil pulling as a quaint "fad" even as they acknowledge that it has been used for thousands of years lol. Here you can see some of those efforts at U.S. News & World Report, at the Wall Street Cheat Sheet, The Atlantic, and several from the Huffington Post here and here.  Naturally, the online "author-ities" for Big Pharma and the associated academic have chimed in with "lack of hard evidence" shpeel from the regulars at WedMD, at sciencebasedmedicine, and the ever reliable ABC News.

As seems common with most natural remedies and preventatives that I research, there are many opinions on the right way to do it and the correct oil to use. After reading over a hundred articles and publications I can summarize here.

People have had success with coconut oil, sesame oil and sunflower oils. Many claim the more pure, virgin and organic the oil, the better the results, but note that many people are blogging about their successes with regular refined, less expensive, off the shelf sunflower or coconut oils and seem to find them quite effective as well. Most agree that swishing for 20 minutes per day does the trick. Instructions say to always spit it out afterwards, as contains bacteria and toxins that you want to expel from your body, not ingest.

I have practiced oil pulling for over a year. I swish for twenty minutes beginning just before I get in the shower and spitting just after I get out when I can then brush my teeth. In that time my teeth are noticeably whiter, any sensitivity I had towards hot or cold food and drink has vanished, and I have had no dental problems at all.

My personal conclusion is that either this practice does indeed work wonders, or I have succumbed to a wonderfully powerful placebo effect which benefits me greatly.

Much more information:

The basic idea is that oil is swished in the mouth for a short time each day and that this action helps improve oral health. Just as with Oil Cleansing for the skin, the principle of “like dissolves like” applies, as oil is able to cut through plaque and remove toxins without disturbing the teeth or gums. http://wellnessmama.com/7866/oil-pulling-for-oral-health/

Clinical Study that shows oil pulling removes bacteria from the mouth and body: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18408265 and here: http://www.asiaph.org/admin/img_topic/6096Sroisiri.pdf  and here: http://www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2009;volume=20;issue=1;spage=47;epage=51;aulast=Asokan

Some practitioners feel that oil swishing has systemic effects and can actually help remove toxins from the body, thereby supporting all organ systems. I don’t have enough experience with oil swishing to have an opinion on this, but in trying oil swishing with a handful of clients over the past year, I can definitely vouch for its ability to reduce plaque, support healthy gums, and neutralize acids that contribute to dental cavities. http://www.wakingtimes.com/2013/09/09/oil-swishing-support-healthy-teeth-gums/

Its oil pulling (Kaval, Gandush) practice is claimed to cure about 30 systemic diseases. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21760690

Other oils such as extra virgin cold pressed  coconut, sunflower and olive oil have been used, although sesame oil is considered one of the best oils for this practice. I recommend alternating oils every couple of days to get the full benefit. Putting high quality organic oils into the mouth has a multi-effect outcome. http://www.foodmatters.tv/articles-1/oil-pulling-the-habit-that-can-transform-your-health

Even with the best dental hygiene, germs can still get the upper hand over health. When our oral condition is in bad shape, it effects every system of the body. Take for instance cognitive decline. According to GreenMed Info, periodontal disease has been linked with stroke and cognitive impairment in numerous studies. Attikon University Hospital in Greece showed a clear correlation between periodontal disease and stroke. Likewise, the University of Alabama School of Dentistry discovered in a 9,853-participant study that tooth loss was strongly connected to cognitive decline. http://www.naturalnews.com/040293_oil_pulling_cognitive_decline_home_remedies.html

Long-term oil pulling has, for instance, also been linked to healthier hair, clearer skin, whiter teeth, elimination of parasites, improved body odor and the easing of joint pains. It is, in short, a full-body cleanse, and anyone with $5 to spare on good-quality oil can reap its health benefits. http://spiritfoods.net/oil-pulling-routine-for-detoxification/

Ancient Ayurvedic health practitioners believed that oil pulling could reduce more than just diseases of the mouth and throat. Today, many holistic practitioners tout its use for a variety of health concerns. It is believed that these oils help the lymphatic system of the body as harmful bacteria are removed and beneficial micro flora are given with a healthy environment to flourish. Because of this holistic perspective, oil pulling has been used as a preventative health measure for many other conditions. http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/oil-pulling/#3

Swishing activates the enzymes, and the enzymes draw toxins out of the blood. More specifically, lipids in the oil help to extract toxins from the saliva of the mouth. As you swish the oil around your mouth, teeth, gums, and tongue, the oil continues to absorb toxins while later turning thick and white. At this point, the oil becomes toxic; this is why spitting the oil out instead of swallowing it is an important last step, as you don’t want to reabsorb the toxins. http://naturalsociety.com/oil-pulling-benefits-what-is-oil-pulling-anyway/

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic method for detox and rejuvenation. It’s a simple practice, with quite remarkable results. Many have heard of it, but never actually dove in to try it. It definitely has a mystical and exciting vibe around it, which made me eager to try. But what exactly is it? What does it do? http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-7857/why-you-should-start-oil-pulling-today.html

Leslie Laing, associate professor dentistry at the University of Toronto, decided to do an informal experiment to see if oil pulling has any real results. She prescribed oil pulling to 12 female patients who suffer from Sjogren’s syndrome, an immune system disorder that results in dry eyes and dry cheeks that have to be “peeled off their teeth” when they wake up in the morning. Laing’s patients did oil pulling for 20 minutes every night for three weeks. The results were surprising to Laing. The patients’ mouths were moister, their teeth glossier. Cavity-causing bacteria were reduced, as was the yeast that causes oral thrush. The Star reports: “Reducing these yeast levels can have help with bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, headaches, and even depression.” http://www.treehugger.com/health/does-oil-pulling-actually-work.html

Plaque accumulates along the base of your teeth, causing little pockets to form under your gums. These pockets become home to harmful bacteria. The bacteria produce toxins (real ones, not “woo woo” mystical ones) that irritate your gums, causing inflammation and bleeding. This is gingivitis. It’s basically a factory of toxicity in your mouth, happily tucked away up under your gums, overloading your immune system with bacterial exotoxins and endotoxins every single time you swallow. And how does oil pulling fit in? Well, that’s an interesting question. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/oil-pulling-heals-gums-whitens-teeth-naturally.html

Dr. Karach explained that his method could heal a disease at the root, and also act as a preventative. His belief was also backed by experience; he healed himself of a chronic blood disease that had troubled him for 15 years. He even reported to have cured his acute arthrosis by oil pulling in just 3 days’ time. His belief was that humans were only living to half of their life capacity because of unnecessary disease, and that man should live easily to 140-150 years old. http://www.youngandraw.com/oil-pulling-to-naturally-whiten-teeth-reduce-inflammation-and-detoxify-the-body/

Studies are on-going, but the procedure is gaining more and more popularity as people are finding success and positive results with oil pulling.  We will explain the details of oil pulling later in this article, but the basics involve pulling and swishing 1 tablespoon of Coconut, Olive, Grapeseed or some other quality oil around your mouth and through your teeth for up to 20 Min., then spitting.  The therapy is simple and completely harmless, as you do not ingest medication or drugs. http://www.everythingessential.me/ApplyingOils/OilPulling.html

The content on this page is for discussion purposes relating to health and well being only and is not intended to be medical advice. Links and sources provided are for informational purposes and do not represent an endorsement of a person, product or treatment.

Alternatives for dental care, contrary to everything mainstream dentists and media tells us, can be a daunting subject to approach. But in the arena of questioning everything...

Why do people who have turned to holistic or alternative dental care seem to have such healthy and white teeth? Teeth can't really grow back or form new enamel, can they? What about plaque and killing germs? Why not just stay with the routines we have been taught?

If indeed I am questioning everything then I might start with asking why are so many people are so adamantly opposed to fluoride? This is another polarizing issue that seems to trigger an absolute certainty from those who are pro-fluoride (the entire mainstream dental practice as well as the government and academia) vs. those who are anti-fluoride (generally the same "greenies" who oppose GMO foods, SRM aerosols and vaccines). Increasingly, I find myself in the latter camp.

Some very interesting information I have come across:

From 50 Reasons to Oppose Fluoride: No disease, not even tooth decay, is caused by a “fluoride deficiency.”(NRC 1993; Institute of Medicine 1997, NRC 2006). Not a single biological process has been shown to require fluoride. On the contrary there is extensive evidence that fluoride can interfere with many important biological processes. Fluoride interferes with numerous enzymes (Waldbott 1978). In combination with aluminum, fluoride interferes with G-proteins (Bigay 1985, 1987). Such interactions give aluminum-fluoride complexes the potential to interfere with signals from growth factors, hormones and neurotransmitters (Strunecka & Patocka 1999; Li 2003).

There is a common belief today about cavities that once you have tooth decay, that cavity can NOT be reversed or healed. Then the only solution is to have part of your tooth drilled out and filled with a synthetic material. But according to a study published in the British Medical Journal cavities and tooth decay could potentially be healed or reversed with diet. http://www.wakingtimes.com/2014/01/31/naturally-reverse-cavities-heal-tooth-decay/

Statements by a former Nobel Prize winner, former President of the AMA,  a senior toxicologist at the EPA and many more that fluoride is NOT a good thing. http://www.nofluoride.com/  and more: http://www.nofluoride.com/quotes.cfm

Clinical studies of adverse reactions to fluoride: http://www.fluoridation.com/adverse.htm

A recently-published Harvard University meta-analysis funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has concluded that children who live in areas with highly fluoridated water have "significantly lower" IQ scores than those who live in low fluoride areas. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mercola/fluoride_b_2479833.html

There are many signs in recent years that indicate growing skepticism over fluoridation. The New York Times reported in October 2011 that in the previous four years, about 200 jurisdictions across the USA moved to cease water fluoridation. A panel composed of scientists and health professionals in Fairbanks, Alaska recently recommended ceasing fluoridation of the county water supply after concluding that the addition of fluoride to already naturally-fluoridated reserves could pose health risks to 700,000 residents. http://www.globalresearch.ca/fluoride-killing-us-softly/5360397

In the 1950s, within the United States, the fluoridation propaganda machine was in full swing. Television commercials brainwashed an entire nation into believing that a toxic (cancer-causing) substance would make children "healthier and happy". Now, as people are waking up to the lies, politicians and the conventional dental industry are shaking in their boots. http://www.naturalnews.com/040461_fluoride_IAOMT_oral_medicine.html

Fluoride ingestion has been associated with adverse health effects such as IQ deficits in children, depression, weight gain and heart disease. The "Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics" reports that "high fluoride intake has a damaging effect on intellectual ability," and human studies from China, India, Iran and Mexico found that elevated levels of fluoride in children resulted in reduced performance and impaired development of intelligence. The U.S. National Research Council has also found that fluoride affects normal endocrine function, which may contribute to hypothyroidism, or reduced activity of the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism can lead to fatigue, depression, weight gain, hair loss, muscle pains and heart disease. http://www.livestrong.com/article/133760-side-effects-fluoride/