Natural Teeth Care: Whitening and Oil Pulling

I've heard about oil pulling a couple years ago, and 2 years ago I posted a blog article on that (link to that article HERE). Oil pulling is a method where you take some coconut oil in your mouth, swish it for a period of time, and spit it out. It's supposed to pull out bad bacteria from your teeth and mouth making teeth healthier and whiter. I was curious to try it, but I didn't stick to the routine as I have a strong gag reflex, so having oil in my mouth felt too uncomfortable (with 20 minutes of swishing in original method). I adjusted the method and did it for a shorter time, but I didn't really see/feel any difference. However, recently I came across two products that seemed to be a great combination of working together, and I gave oil pulling a second chance.

The first product that got into my hands is Keeko Oil Activated Coconut Charcoal Power* (link), which is a multi-use product. It can serve as a teeth whitening powder that you can use by itself or with your regular toothpaste, or you can make other things with it, such as detoxifying face mask, spot treatment, bath soak, paste to relieve itching from mosquito bite or bee sting, natural deodorant. Search engines provide endless possibilities to benefit from activated charcoal, but today I will concentrate on teeth whitening. I've only tried Keeko's powder for that reason even though it has other great ways to use it. It sticks to a wet toothbrush well, and there's enough powder for the duration of brushing. It can also attach to teeth, especially between teeth, so make sure to rinse your mouth well. Like with any whitening product that is not instant, I believe that you have to give time for it to work properly. However, at least visually this coconut charcoal powder shows the effect right away, and in the long run I think it will make a difference. However, even though it feels gentle and not abrasive, it is still an abrasive product, so if you have sensitive teeth you might want to use it less often or even discuss with your dentist if that's something you can use. Keep in mind that it is charcoal and it is easy to get surfaces dirty, so be careful when using it. I accidentally spilled some on my counter and floor, and it took some effort to clean the mess. Also, if you're a person who splashes around when brushing teeth, be careful about that too as you'll find charcoal dots on your walls, counters, mirror, etc.

Next product that I'll introduce is pulling oil from Masigi* (link). The original method that I told about 2 years ago required to use 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and swish it in the mouth for 20 minutes. Like I mentioned earlier, I have a gag reflex, and that amount of oil and time period were too much for me. When I saw Masigi pulling oil I was intrigued as it comes in single use packets, which makes it mess free and easier to use it. The directions tell to knead the package, open it and squeeze into the mouth. After 5+ minutes of swishing, spit it out. It is very important not to spit it in the sink!!!

This pulling oil comes in 2 flavors: Fresh, which has minty flavor, and Boost, which has a blend of grapefruit, ginger, cinnamon and peppermint essentials oils. The box opens up conveniently making it easy to store this product in your cabinet, on the counter or in a drawer. Also, single use packets are great when traveling as you can continue your habit and not to worry about a jar of coconut oil. The first day I decided to try FRESH, and a few moments after I got oil in my mouth, I was ready to spit it out. However, I started thinking about other things, went on my phone, checked some websites, did some news reading, watched some youtube, and time went by easily. In fact, I even kept swishing for around 7 minutes. My only problem was spitting it out as that's when I got my gag reflex again (though sometimes I get it with regular toothpaste and mouth wash as well). Next day I tried BOOST, and was ready to spit it out before I even squeezed the whole packet in my mouth. That's because I don't like ginger, and that was the only thing I could taste, but like before, I calmed myself, concentrated on other things, and 5 minutes passed by without a problem. My tip is to keep the head bent a little forward and not go crazy about swishing in the back of the mouth (at least that helps with my gag reflex). I try to do a lot of little things to occupy my mind during that time, so I watch some youtube video and get dressed at the same time, I brush my hair, watch TV, read something, pet the dog, etc. Most of the time goes easily though there are moments when swishing comes to my mind and I have to re-concentrate on other things, but so far this oil pulling method is working for me. I prefer Fresh for taste as it reminds of regular mint toothpaste, but I enjoy using Boost too (after a few times I quite like its taste) as I almost don't taste coconut oil in it and somehow that makes my swishing easier. Of course, it's too early to talk about results, but I'm already happy that I can stick to the routine.    




* marks PR samples received complimentary