Learn how to use coconut oil to protect your dental health!

While brushing and flossing have been the standard method to clean your teeth, people have used oil pulling methods to cleanse their teeth and rejuvenate their gums for thousands of years. Dr. Beata A. Carlson and Associates recommend incorporating coconut oil pulling into your regular hygiene routine to reduce inflammation in the gums and prevent tooth decay and gum disease.

Benefits of coconut oil pulling

Oil pulling is the practice of swishing oil around your mouth and sucking it through your teeth. The lipid membrane that protects bacteria is naturally attracted to oil, and it can draw bacteria from within the tiny crevices in your teeth and below the gum line, places your floss or toothbrush may not reach.

While the mechanics of oil pulling will work with any oil, coconut oil is famous for its pleasant taste and the high levels of lauric acid, which is particularly effective at inhibiting the bacteria primarily responsible for decay on your teeth.

Oil pulling is not a replacement for your regular brushing and flossing routine, but some studies have demonstrated that it is a highly effective supplement to your oral health routine. Patients report cleaner feeling teeth, as well as improvement to gingivitis and bad breath. Appropriately done, oil pulling can significantly reduce bacteria and the toxins they produce from your mouth.

How to incorporate oil pulling into your routine

Oil pulling works best at the start of the day before eating breakfast or brushing and flossing. Take approximately one tablespoon of oil and put it into your mouth, and take time to swish it around your mouth, over your gums, and pull it between your teeth. While some people recommend doing it for up to 20 minutes, other people prefer to do it twice a day for 10 minutes.

As the oil moves around in your mouth, it will become frothy and viscous. Because the oil quickly becomes concentrated with bacteria and toxins, you must remain still and comfortable to avoid swallowing or aspirating the fat. Once you have done it, spit the oil into the trash to avoid clogging the sink. Rinse your mouth with water or saltwater, and once the oil is cleared, you can brush and floss your teeth to maximize the results.

Natural Dentistry is an advocate of natural products as an alternative to traditional toothbrushes and toothpaste that minimize the damage to your tooth enamel and gums and maximize your home hygiene routine’s cleansing effect. We offer “The Secret Kit,” which utilizes antimicrobial colloidal silver and baking soda. These products prevent tooth decay by killing bacteria and neutralizing the acids in your mouth to make it less hospitable. When combined with oil pulling, these tools can reduce tooth decay and gum disease even in patients that are at higher risk, such as people with diabetes or pregnant women.  

Oral bacteria and your overall health

Your mouth is connected to the rest of your body through your bloodstream, and as bacteria infects the soft tissues in your mouth, it can reach the bloodstream and spread throughout your body. The bacteria and toxins that cause gingivitis and tooth decay have been found in arterial plaque in people with heart disease and in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Preventing infections in your mouth will reduce strain on your immune system and prevent the bacteria from spreading throughout your body, as well as keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Preventative care through holistic therapies

Dr. Beata A. Carlson and Associates at Natural Dentistry focus on holistic therapies and techniques that minimize your body’s impact and boost your natural ability to heal. We advocate for practices such as oil pulling and ozone therapy to avoid the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and fluoride that can have a variety of unwanted side effects.

At Natural Dentistry, we have over 20 years of experience as biological dentists. We design personalized treatment protocols using biocompatible treatments and materials to restore your oral health and give you the confidence to show off your healthy, beautiful smile. Contact our office in Clearwater, FL, today at 727-888-6929 to learn more about oil pulling and other techniques to protect your teeth.