Could oil pulling put you at risk?

by Meliors Simms | Cure Gum Disease, Oral hygiene, Reverse Tooth Decay, Toothache Remedy

Could oil pulling put you at risk?

Is oil pulling worth the risk?

Oil pulling can cause pneumonia

Researchers have found an association between oil pulling and the rare disease of lipoid pneumonia.

Lipoid pneumonia is caused by the inhalation of any oily or greasy substance into the lungs where it coats the surface of the lungs and inhibits breathing. It’s more commonly associated with putting butter or oil (eg Vicks Vaporub) in the nostrils, with fire eating, even with spending too much time around burning candles!

It’s also possible to aspirate oil while swishing it around in your mouth, and Dr Michael Greger points out the dangers illustrated by some recent cases of oil pulling leading to lipoid pneumonia.

Children are particularly at risk due to lack of muscle control to keep from inhaling particles of liquified oil.

Although lipoid pneumonia is rare, I would also caution that oil pulling may not be safe for adults who:

have a history of asthma or any other respitory condition
have persistant coughs or colds
smoke or vape
have a problem tooth or gum on the lung meridian (teeth #4, 5, 12, 13, 18, 19, 30, 31)
frequently oil pull for extended periods

What is oil pulling doing to your fillings?

Avoid oil pulling with amalgam fillings

Amalgam fillings are the metal fillings that look black after a few years in your mouth. They are made from a mixture of metals including mercury. Mercury is highly toxic and there is a risk that oil pulling can destabilize the mercury in amalgam fillings, to cause symptoms of mercury toxicity in your body.

There has been no definitive research to prove whether or not this is a real risk. (There has been almost no scientific research into any aspect of complementary or alternative oral health. It’s not where research funding goes.)

However, it is a theoretical risk. Given that oil pulling works because it draws out toxins present in the mouth and mercury is a toxin known to leach out of amalgam fillings as they age. As a precautionary measure I stopped doing it because I do still have amalgam fillings. My amalgams are very old and and I want to keep them as stable as possible until I’m ready to have them removed.

Mercury is known to cause neurological and cardiovascular problems, collagen diseases, immune system problems and allergies. I have seen a number of clients with amalgam fillings who have tried oil pulling and have symptoms of mercury toxicity including autoimmune conditions, viral infections, chronic fatigue and allergies.

I strongly recommend that oil pulling should not be practiced if you have amalgam fillings in place.

If you choose to take the risk of increasing your exposure to mercury by oil pulling please educate yourself about the symptoms of mercury toxicity and stop immediately if you notice those symptoms.

New composite fillings could be destablilized

There is some anecdotal evidence that oil pulling may also destabilize composite or ceramic fillings (the ones that look white in your mouth) particularly if the fillings are very new and haven’t had time to bond properly with you teeth. It may be a sensible precaution to wait a few weeks or months after getting a new composite filling before you start oil pulling.

Don’t enjoy oil pulling? Don’t do it!

Oil pulling is very fashionable at the moment, because of increasingly high expectations for white teeth. As more people start to recognize the long-term risks and ineffectiveness of conventional teeth whitening (with bleach) they are looking for natural strategies.

However only some people find it an effective teeth whitener (it might help with some stain removal but true whiteness comes from the health of the dentin inside the tooth).

Oil pulling may be a more reliable way for many people to relieve tooth sensitivity and may even help with short term management of infections and abscesses.

Advocates of oil pulling sometimes talk about it as though it’s an essential part of every oral health habit. I often hear from people who feel pressured into oil pulling even though they find it unbearable.

For example, having a gag reflex that is very easily triggered can make oil pulling feel very uncomfortable. Some people find that keeping a quantity of oil in your mouth for an extended period time can feel nauseating.

There is absolutely no reason to force yourself to oil pull if you don’t like it, or don’t want to, or feel that its just not the right thing for you.

Oil pulling may be helpful for some people, but it’s not essential to your oral health. There are many other things you can do to keep your mouth clean and healthy.

Ultimately, diet plays a far more significant role in your oral health than any approach to hygiene.

So, now that you’ve assessed your level of risk and understand the role oil pulling can play in oral health, if it’s something you do really want to include in your regular oral hygiene routine, here are a few tips for beginners.

Oil pulling for beginners

Take it slowly

If you are new to oil pulling start with a teaspoon or less of oil and swish for 2-3 minutes. Build up your tolerance gradually to find your ‘sweet spot’ which may, or may not, be the ‘tablespoon of oil for 20 minutes’ version that is commonly recommended.

Go gently

Oil pulling involves swishing vigorously but don’t feel like you have to push the oil around with your tongue to get it inbetween your teeth. Keep your mouth moving continuously but gently. You will gradually build up more strength in those mouth muscles, but it’s just like at the gym where it’s counterproductive to try and lift the heaviest weights on your very first visit.

Spit wisely

Never swallow oil after pulling. Spit it out into the trash or outside, but not down a drain. I have cleaned a shower drain clogged up by someone else’s oil and it is very unpleasant.

Are your teeth trying to tell you something that you can’t quite make sense of?

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How to tell the difference between oral health symptoms and the underlying causes
Understand the metaphysical meanings of your teeth and gum issues
Practice a simple way to tune into your teeth that you can use any time

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Has a dentist told you that your cavities or receding gums are your fault because you are drinking too much Coke, you don’t floss enough or you need to stop breastfeeding your baby? And you know that isn’t true!

I’m not going to blame you or shame you.
The underlying causes of your oral health issues are not your fault!

Nature or nurture, ancestry or environment, free will or systemic oppression, unconscious emotions or the degraded food system

These are the factors that make your teeth and gums vulnerable to disease.

Even though your tooth decay and gum disease is not your fault, it is within your power to change.

You can turn your oral health around with natural strategies and healthy habits.

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Relax your jaw for teeth relief

by Meliors Simms | Cure Gum Disease, Reverse Tooth Decay, Root Canals, Toothache Remedy

Relax your jaw for teeth relief

Why relax your jaw

There’s almost no teeth or gum problems that can’t be helped when you relax your jaw!

Carrying tension in the jaw is so common that it’s almost universal.

Are you one of the millions of people who use a night guard to try and prevent jaw tension from damaging your teeth and gums? It’s what most dentists recommend when they see the symptoms of clenching or grinding.

You may not even be aware that your jaw is tense until someone else points it out to you, or you experience the contrasting sensation of relaxation.

I didn’t know that I was clenching, and perhaps grinding, my teeth in my sleep until my dentist pointed out that my molars were cracking from the pressure.

Chronic jaw tension may be caused by a mineral deficiency or intestinal parasites. If that’s the case you can address the problem with diet and supplements.

However, just by spending a few minutes on some simple exercises most people can easily retrain their jaw to relax naturally and find almost instant relief from toothache as a result.

In fact there’s almost no situation where relaxing the jaw won’t improve your wellbeing!

Not only does it relieve tooth clenching and grinding (bruxism) but it can sometimes help relieve pain and inflammation in the roots of your teeth.

It can also be helpful for sinus problems, mouth breathing, snoring, posture, migraines (and other headaches) and much more.

Some people find that their acute toothache disappears within minutes of massaging their jaw, other people notice gradual changes occurring as they consistently incorporate jaw massage into their bedtime routine.

Long term benefits of relaxing your jaw

There are long term benefits for your teeth and gums beyond the (often instant) pain relief that a jaw massage can provide.

There is less friction wearing away at your teeth enamel so your teeth are more resilient to decay.

With less pressure, your teeth are less likely to crack and chip.

Receding gums can stabilize and sometimes even start to regrow without the constant pressure and friction of clenching and grinding teeth in their sockets.

Blood flows more easily, carrying nutrients and oxygen to your teeth and gums so your body can express its natural inclination to remineralise your teeth and regrow your gums.

Although sometimes professional interventions (eg cranial oesteopathic or chiropractoric treatments or myofacial therapy) may be required, most people notice substantial improvement when they persist with the self-help techniques I share with my clients and Teeth for Life members

Practiced regularly, you can retrain your body to default to a relaxed jaw, even in stressful situations.

If you are considering professional intervention or buying a bite guard, learning to relax your jaw will enable those treatments to work more effectively so you’ll get more value from the investment.

Take the pressure off your teeth and gums right now by trying a jaw massage video for free, as a preview of Teeth for Life membership.

Cracking or chipping teeth?

Receding gums?

Do you clench or grind in your sleep?

Try this simple jaw massage for free today, and see what a difference it can make.

Relax your jaw

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