What is it with all this Coconut Pulling anyway ? Well I know this may be way down your to do list at this time of year but actually it really is something to consider doing in the winter months. Coconut pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that has been around for years and aside from the fact that it could give you a dazzling white smile for all those up coming social events there are actually some useful health benefits too.
It is said that coconut pulling draws bacteria away from the mouth and gums – something worth considering with all the bugs floating around at this time of year .
Coconut oil kills the germs that cause bad breath – just as effective as mouthwash but with no nasty chemicals.
There is some evidence out there that claims coconut pulling aids recover from hangovers and possibly helps with migraines too but I am not holding my hat to that.
Here’s how to do it:-
Upon waking and before eating or drinking, put 1 tbsp of organic extra virgin coconut oil in your mouth. Let it melt and then swish it around your mouth for 10-20 minutes making sure you pull it though your teeth and move it all around, tongue, gums etc.. then dispose of the oil by spitting it out into the rubbish bin or into loo roll and disposing of that in the bin (do not spit it down the sink as it will clog your plumbing up and no-one will thank you for that come Christmas Day). Then clean your teeth as normal. Easy as that.
N.B. Do not smallow the oil as it will be full of toxins from the pulling.
I have to hold my hands up and admit, I was sceptical. Whilst I am sure there is already plenty of science out there to say that it is a load of baloney I did give it a try. Every morning for two weeks I gave it my best squelchy shot, sleepwalking my way around the house mute for the first 20 minutes of my day (nothing short of a miracle my family might say) pulling the coconut through my teeth and around my mouth and tongue. It actually wasn’t that unpleasant in fact I quite enjoyed the peace and quiet. The long and the short of it was that when I went for my annual dental check up my Dentist gave me a clean bill of health, said I had no need for a scape or a trip to the Hygienist (hell on earth in my opinion), there were no nasties lurking anywhere and that I should continue what I was doing. Well what can I say I fair skipped out of the dental chair and on my merry way.
I must point out that obviously it is not a miracle cure, I do keep my teeth in fairly good nick but my view is that it is fairly cheap and easy to achieve and it ain’t going to do you any harm in moderation. At this time of year when our schedules are out of whack and we may not be getting up as early, having a few extra days off at home for example, it is worth giving it a go (who knows it may help with the red wine stains on your teeth if thats what you lean towards of an evening!).
Have a great week ahead full of goodness and festive cheer.
