A Top-Rated Tomball Dentist’s Take on How to Make the Most of Your Smile
Whether you’re hunting for a reputable dentist in LA or for a “Tomball dentist near me”, an annual trip to the dentist is a must. But there’s more you can be doing to promote oral health than just attend your yearly dental checkup. A reputable dentist serving the community in Tomball, Texas says that there’s one practice in particular that is making a splash in the world of dentistry: oil pulling.
Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice hailing from India, and it is still extremely common among Eastern cultures. But what is it exactly, and how can it promotes healthier teeth and gums? More importantly, can oil pulling actually make a difference when it comes to oral health, or should this ancient practice be long forgotten?
The Basics of Ancient Ayurvedic Health
It is important to have a basic understanding of ayurvedic medicine before getting into the specifics of oil pulling. WebMD says that “Ayurvedic medicine (“Ayurveda” for short) is one of the world’s oldest holistic (“whole-body”) healing systems. It was developed more than 3,000 years ago in India. It’s based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit.”
The entire belief behind Ayurveda is that health can be achieved holistically, even when it comes to oral health. There’s no need for bleaching teeth whitening agents, root canals, or fillings when Ayurveda is incorporated into a healthy daily routine. This is actually one of the reasons that the dental community keeps the Ayurvedic practice of oil pulling under wraps. Dental experts fear that holistic practices might put them out of the job.
Oil Pulling Basics and Procedures
The main purpose of oral oil pulling is to literally pull toxins and bacteria from the mouth and get rid of them through the use of oil. In order to oil pull, you’ll need to swish pure oil around the mouth for at least 10 minutes. A lot of oil pulling experts say that 20 minutes is much more beneficial and that 10 is not enough, but start off with 10 and then work your way up.
As you swish a spoonful of oil around your mouth, the idea is that the oil will begin to extract toxins from the tongue, teeth, gums, and cheeks. Once 10 to 20 minutes is up, you’ll simply spit the oil out (never swallow since this oil is now riddled with the bacteria that was pulled from the mouth).The best type of oil for effectively pulling toxins is organic, cold-pressed, unrefined food grade oils like coconut, olive, or sunflower. Sesame oil also works well, and it is believed that the ancient Indians used sesame for oil pulling. Whatever you do, avoid the cheap oils that are used for frying foods, like canola and vegetable oil blends. The higher in quality the oil is, the more effective it will be at ridding the mouth of toxins and bacteria.
