Body Love: Oil Pulling

One of my favorite ways to channel self love is to take care of my body. As an athlete, nurturing a healthy and strong body is key to my career; but cultivating body love is just as important to my lifestyle as a 20-something who struggles at times to love herself.

Do you prioritize your health and wellness when you think about self love? Do you connect a healthy body with a healthy image and sense of worth?

There are a trillion things we can do to care for our bodies and not everything works for everyone. I’m terrible at using cleansers and makeup, but I do love to experiment with various “natural” health and beauty trends. One of my current favorites: oil pulling.

Before you gag, hear me out.

I first read about oil pulling from Design Mom and was immediately fascinated– this is the kind of thing I’m into (I’m not “hippie,” but I’m curious about handmade and homemade and living naturally). I immediately went out and bought a jar of coconut oil from Whole Foods and got to it.

When you oil pull, you’re supposed to put a spoonful of room temperature coconut oil in your mouth, let it melt, then swish it around for twenty minutes. When time is up, you spit it out into the trash can (because the oil will clog the sink if you spit it there). Voila! Teeth cleaned and mouth healthier.

I stuck to it pretty regularly for two months, oil pulling once a day, but still brushing my teeth (I couldn’t pull the trigger on totally quitting toothpaste). I traveled with a little tupperware of oil and freaked my teammates out by going mute for 20 minutes each morning swishing oil in my mouth. Unfortunately, when I went over to Europe for a month, I dropped off the routine, and haven’t picked it back up until recently. But it’s something I’ve really enjoyed and plan to keep it in my healthy living repertoire for good!

So what’s the point of oil pulling? To summarize, oil pulling is a natural form of tooth care. Coconut oil is anti-bacterial and essentially pulls toxins from your teeth and gums while you swish. Because it’s a liquid, it really gets in the tiny parts of your mouth, which is why it’s a good alternative to flossing (plus, it’s easier on your gums!). Not only does it do the normal healthy teeth things– whitening, reducing plaque, cleaning– it supposedly reduces sensitivity and (some people claim) prevents cavities. Seems too good to be true, right?

I’ve been blessed with a healthy mouth and have never had a cavity– so I haven’t noticed any major steps forward. I always want whiter teeth (I don’t have too many stains, but I’m a regular coffee, wine, and tea drinker, so I’m sure they could be whiter) and oil pulling is a great alternative to chemical-heavy whitening strips. And, of course, I’m the worst at flossing– so if oil pulling can help keep my gums healthy, I’m in!

Have you tried oil pulling? Love it? Hate it? Do you have any quirky natural health habits that helps you love your body more?