Adventure in Oil Pulling

I am trying, ahem, oil pulling. It is a way to clean your teeth.

The term oil pulling sounds disgusting. I do not know who named it. It is like "chamber music" -- there could be better names. However this is the name we are stuck with. And so, oil pulling.

All it means is you take a teaspoon or two of coconut oil and swish it around in your mouth for 20 minutes or so.

It does take a little getting used to. Particularly the time involved. You have to find something to do while you are swishing that oil around. You can read or I guess you could putter around the kitchen. Or you can do a drawing, or work on a book you are writing. It gives you an excuse to carve out the time for any number of activities.

So. After a few days of this, I have to say, I like it. Coconut oil tastes good. It is almost a pity you do not get to swallow the coconut oil when you are through. Organic unrefined coconut oil may be had at Albrecht Discount for $6 something. Up from $5 something not long ago, but still. That is my Aldi jar of coconut oil pictured up above. Remember our discussions of great Aldi brand names? The coconut oil has a good one: "Simply Nature."

I will say this, this coconut oil treatment makes your mouth feel really clean. You do not wake up with what your parents used to call "puppy breath." 

 As far as what other benefits to expect, I am not sure. It is supposed to clean between your teeth better than flossing -- well, people argue about that, and sure I am still flossing, however this oil does seem to get the job done. Some people say it whitens your teeth. Who wouldn't want that? 

However again, it is hard to get a read on that.

Adding to the confusion, my friend Andrea who is a dental hygienist got all upset when I mentioned it. 

She said, "All it is going to do is give you a greasy mouth!"

I said, "Well, it is not going to hurt me, anyway, is it?" And she admitted it would not.

And so forward we go, Aldi coconut oil in hand. And in mouth.

I will report on how it goes!