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Oil pulling at night has been a practice used for centuries, but it has recently seen a resurgence in popularity. You oil pull by swishing oil around in your mouth just as you would mouthwash. Coconut oil is one of the most popular oils for pulling because it has a pleasant taste.<\/p>\n
Oil pulling is safe and can be very effective for \u201cpulling\u201d residue off of teeth, but can it whiten teeth<\/a>, too?<\/p>\n According to advocates of oil pulling, the practice removes toxins and bacteria that build up on teeth and gums. Getting these impurities out of the mouth improves oral health and prevents other issues, too. After all, how can removing toxins from the body ever be bad?<\/p>\n Unfortunately, some people tend to oversell the benefits of oil pulling. It can be an effective way to maintain dental health at home, but it shouldn\u2019t be used as a substitute for brushing or for twice-yearly dental health checkups. It isn\u2019t a miracle solution,and it\u2019s important to still work with a professional dentist to ensure your oral health is in good order.<\/p>\n Oil pulling is a bit of a commitment \u2013 at least more so than brushing your teeth or using a mouth rinse as part of your daily oral hygiene routine.<\/p>\n To oil pull, you take a small amount of oil \u2013 about the amount you\u2019d take for using mouthwash. Swish the coconut oil<\/a> around in your mouth for 10 to 20 minutes (Gandusa oil pulling). This might not seem like very long, but many people find it difficult to keep something in their mouth for this long, so it\u2019s best to start on the lower end and work your way up to more time.<\/p>\n Some oil pulling advocates state that you only need to oil pull for about four minutes<\/p>\n two times per day (Kavala oil pulling), so you might want to try that method in the morning and at night and see if you\u2019re happy with the results.<\/p>\n To learn more about the difference between Kavala and Gandusa oil pulling, check out this information<\/a>.<\/p>\n Keep in mind if you aren\u2019t used to oil pulling at night the taste and texture of coconut oil might trigger your gag reflex. Most people find the taste relatively pleasant, but it might take some getting used to, especially if the texture is not lumpy because the oil is cooler.<\/p>\n Whether or not oil pulling is effective depends on who you ask. Some people swear by it, while other people have seen no difference at all. Others have never tried it but assume that it isn\u2019t going to do much more than rinsing out your mouth in any other way.The American Dental Association states that no evidence proves oil pulling is an effective replacement for routine dental care and also cautions that many of the claims made by advocates of oil pulling are likely exaggeration.<\/p>\n Since it\u2019s safe and inexpensive, your best bet if you\u2019re curious about oil pulling is to try it for yourself.<\/p>\n There is some evidence that oil pulling does offer benefits. It can take a commitment of a few months of doing the practice,and it\u2019s important that a person have decent oral health to get the results needed. For instance, if it\u2019s been awhile since your last dental cleaning, your best bet is to undergo a cleaning and then begin oil pulling. It can help you maintain the results of your professional cleaning longer than brushing<\/a> and flossing alone.<\/p>\n A few small studies have shown oil pulling offers a few benefits, including reducing plaque and bacteria<\/a> and reducing a person\u2019s risk for gingivitis. There\u2019s also evidence the lauric acid present in coconut oil contains antimicrobial properties and can fight off bacteria, yeast, and viruses.<\/p>\n To learn more about coconut oil and its benefits, check out this information<\/a> from Organic Facts.<\/p>\n As effective as oil pulling can be for maintaining dental health, there are a few things it won\u2019t do.<\/p>\n Despite the research, some dentists don\u2019t believe the practice does much of anything. Others believe it doesn\u2019t do any more than rinsing the mouth with mouthwash or plain water. They acknowledge oil pulling won\u2019t harm dental health unless a person uses the practice to replace their routine dental visits or other activities in their oral hygiene routine. Adding it to an already comprehensive dental health routine won\u2019t hurt, but it might not do much to improve things.<\/p>\n There is some mild concern that oil pulling can cause excessive thirst, encourage a dry mouth, or cause loss of sensation in the mouth. Some have also experienced muscle stiffness and TMJ symptoms after jumping into Gandusa oil pulling without working their way up to the full 10 or 20 minutes required.<\/p>\n Still, the biggest risk of oil pulling is the impression it can give to some that it\u2019s a cure-all. Anyone who chooses not to brush or floss his or her teeth and oil pulls instead is making a mistake. The same is true if you stop visiting the dentist. Oil pulling cannot \u201ccure\u201d gingivitis or fix a cavity or achieve anything else some advocates claim. The oil won\u2019t remove tartar, which requires a visit to the dentist for a deeper cleaning.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also advised that when you oil pull you use a quality oil that is food grade. This way if you accidentally swallow some of the oil \u2013 and chances are you will \u2013 you don\u2019t need to worry about ingesting anything harmful. Pure coconut oil is actually quite healthy, so it\u2019s probably not going to be a big deal if you swallow any, but you want to be sure it\u2019s as safe as possible.<\/p>\n Livestrong provides information about the various types and qualities of coconut oil here<\/a>.<\/p>\nHow Do You Oil Pull at Night?<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nDoes Oil Pulling at Night Work?<\/h3>\n
What Oil Pulling at Night Won\u2019t Do<\/h3>\n
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