So I've been using home made tooth paste. My recipe:

1 part coconut oil
1 part baking soda
just a smidgeon of dr bronners mint castile soap

Recently I've added oil pulling into my daily regime. there's a lot of alleged health benefits from using coconut oil for teeth, hair and skin--but I'm not trying to sell you of any of that--the information is easy to find if anyone is interested. My question:


Does anyone here know more about oil pulling then me perhaps? My girlfriend has amalgam filling. It has been widely accepted that amalgam fillings have the potential to leech out toxins, such as mercury. There has been concern that anyone with amalgam fillings might want to avoid using coconut oil, because it can cause toxins to leech out faster....Well, all I've found is speculation and internet rumour. Anyhoot, yeah--the info that I've found online is sparse and contradictory--it has been established that A) amalgams are a bad toxic idea and B) coconut oil pulls toxins from teeth and gums. Does that = C) people with amalgams should not swish with coconut oil?


OH, my teeth and gums feel and look better than ever.

Thanks

On the contrary, my instinct says if you have amalgam fillings then all the more reason there is to be oil pulling - assuming you're not swallowing any significant proportion of the oil. This is my opinion based on theory rather than experimental evidence. That is to say, if the oil is pulling out any mercury or mercury compounds, then this will result in a mercury depleted layer at the surface of the filling. This means there will be less mercury subsequently leaching out into the saliva.

What evidence is there that coconut oil leaches out any more mercury than saliva (and all one's food intake) does anyhow?

It's funny you mention it since we just discussed all this in the chat yesterday. I tried oil pulling last night for the first time so I can't comment on its benefits yet, apart from loving the taste of coconut oil

One more thing to mention is I've done this using olive oil and sunflower oil and they're both great.

I don't have any fillings, so I've never really considered this before I've heard fresh coriander leaf helps remove mercury from the body, but I've no idea if this works. Very nice in curries, although some people think it tastes like soap.

I'm intrigued by this oil pulling concept... I've never heard of this before. I'm reading into it right now and I might give it a try. Is this something that you do before brushing your teeth or after?

I think I did it before brushing... it's been a while. Perhaps it's time for me to start doing it again!

wow Doodazzle...you've just made my hairs stand on end when I came across your post. I was just going to write about it...mad synchronicity... I love the Nexus

I have a pot of homemade toothpaste of the same recipe in a glass jar next to my toothbrush. I made at the weekend. I just added a few drops of peppermint oil for freshness.

I've been pulling using organic coconut oil each morning for a week. I keep the oil in my mouth for 15-20 minutes, rinse then clean with my homemade toothpaste.

All good so far and my teeth feel really clean and I feel much better for using it than store bought toothpaste. It's good stuff. Recommended.

Thank you Doodazzle

Which oil is preferable? I use organic sunflower oil from cold pressing, but am curious to know if there's a more effective alernative. Coco-nut oil I read? I thought this is usually solid on room temperature...

In india, the traditional oil is sesame.

Coconut oil is usually solid at room temp. Melts in the mouth right quick, tastes good and plus I always have it on hand due to it's other uses. It's a great cooking oil, with it's own reputation for health benefits. Great for hair, great for skin. I shave with coconut oil and a straight razor, for example. Condition my hair with it a few times a year as well.

As for the fillings....idk, there's no real evidence of it being a problem. For the time being my g/f still brushes with coconut oil, but she's not spending 20 minutes swishing/pulling like I do.