Are you interested in the benefits of gargling with olive oil? Gargling oil is an oral health routine that involves swishing oil around in the mouth in a similar way to mouthwash, but for a much more extended period. Some refer to it as oil pulling. Gargling oil is an ancient, Indian folk remedy claimed to whiten your teeth, freshen your breath and greatly improve your oral health. The main benefit of doing this is that it reduces the amount of harmful bacteria in the mouth.
There are so many different types of bacteria in your mouth. While many of them are friendly, some of them are not and can be very harmful. The bacteria in your mouth create a biofilm on your teeth, a thin layer known as plaque. Having some plaque on your teeth is perfectly normal, but if it gets out of hand, it can cause various problems, including bad breath, gum inflammation, gingivitis and cavities. The whole purpose of gargling with olive oil is to get rid of the oil-soluble toxins in the body. The way gargling olive oil works is simple — when you swish the oil around your mouth, the bacteria get swept away and dissolve in the liquid oil.
Olive oil is a highly absorbable oil with several health benefits, including reducing inflammation and fighting harmful bacteria. It is also edible, so has few risks for oral use.
1. WHITENS TEETH
Your teeth are one of the first things people notice; they’re a sign of health as well as confidence. There is no need for chemical teeth whitening strips when gargling with olive oil works just as well! The oil possesses natural antibiotic and antiviral properties that brighten and cleans teeth, keeping them pearly white. Try it for two weeks and you’ll see what I mean, or just take a look at Gwyneth Paltrow’s smile. She is known to follow the practice each morning.
2. IMPOVED IMMUNITY
Boosting your immune system is the number one way to fight off colds and infections. The benefits of gargling with olive oil has traditionally been touted as a majorly effective detoxifying technique and immune booster. If bacteria that attacks our immune system are removed from the mouth, they can’t make their way down to the gut – where 80% of our immune system is located.
3. INCREASES ENERGY
Everyone is familiar with all-out energy drain. When our immune system is put to work in clearing out toxic waste from our body, it drains our energy levels. Removing the noxious culprits in the first instance by gargling with olive oil lowers the amount of work our body has to do to function, which leaves us feeling a whole lot better.
4. IMPROVED HEART HEALTH
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. A growing body of research shows that bacteria and inflammation in the mouth are linked to problems like heart attack and dementia. Scientists believe that inflammation caused by gum disease may be responsible for the link between the two conditions. Poor oral hygiene can also exacerbate existing heart conditions. The benefits of gargling with olive oil includes tackling that inflammation.
5. DETOXES THE BODY
The average person is exposed to more than 2,000 chemicals before he or she leaves the house in the morning. Foods, lotions, perfumes, cleaning products, even our clothes emit toxins that can be absorbed into the body and potentially harm us. The source of many health issues arise when these toxins build up in the body over years. Germs in the body are much like poison causing inflammation and leading to disease and illness in turn. The gateway to the body for such contamination is the mouth. Therefore, the benefits of gargling with olive oil in removing the toxins at the source before they get a chance to spread, the body undergoes a complete detox.
6. AIDS HORMONAL CHANGES
Hormonal imbalances occur when there is too much or too little of a hormone in the bloodstream. Because of their essential role in the body, even small hormonal imbalances can cause side effects throughout the body. Without having to compete with foreign substances, hormones can behave as they should, functioning to their best ability without being thrown off balance.
7. REDUCES HEADACHES
Headaches can be more complicated than most people realize. Different kinds can have their own set of symptoms, happen for unique reasons. When the body is under toxic stress, headaches and migraines occur. It is nature’s way of asking for some time out to recover. By eliminating bacteria from the body via gargling with olive oil, headaches can be avoided.
8. KEEPS THE SKIN CLEAR
Almost everyone struggles with not having clear skin. The benefits of gargling with olive oil even extend to your skin! Removing toxins from the body that would otherwise make it into the bloodstream means the skin has a chance to shine. Rashes and skin issues often reduce dramatically, or even clear up completely, when gargling with olive oil.
9. PROMOTES ORAL HYGIENE
Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping one’s mouth clean and free of disease and other problems by regular brushing of the teeth and cleaning between the teeth. It is important that oral hygiene be carried out on a regular basis to enable prevention of dental disease and bad breath. Gargling with olive oil is highly effective at reducing tooth cavities and at eradicating bad breath. Removing the Streptococcus mutant bacteria (an important player in tooth decay) as well as other microorganisms, gargling with olive oil is great for oral health. It also helps with plaque-induced gingivitis.
How to Gargle with Olive Oil
Gargling with olive oil is incredibly simple:
Put about a tablespoon of olive oil in your mouth
Swish the oil around your mouth for about 15–20 minutes
Spit out the oil, then brush your teeth
It’s best to spit the oil out onto a piece of paper and put it in the trash. Some people say it’s best to gargling with olive oil on an empty stomach, before brushing your teeth. Many do it while showering or bathing in the morning.
When you start gargling with olive oil, you might experience some of the positive effects immediately, or it may take a few days or even weeks. It will very much depend on the state of your health to begin with, and how compromised your immune system is. The benefits of gargling with olive oil are enormous and definitely worth giving a try.