Dr. Reese, being an Indianapolis holistic dentist, along with several other dentists, believes in the beneficial health effects coconut oil pulling can do not only to your teeth but to your overall health as well. Ever since we have recommended coconut oil pulling to be part of one’s oral hygiene, we have encountered several questions on the process, what coconut oil to use and how long until they see its effects or benefits. One of the most frequently asked questions we get is, “Is it safe to oil pull with amalgams?” According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a dental amalgam, sometimes referred to as “silver filling,” is a silver-colored material used to fill (restore) teeth that have cavities. Dental amalgam is made of two nearly equal parts: liquid mercury and a powder containing silver, tin, copper, zinc and other metals.
Issues concerning its safety have been raised. When amalgam fillings are placed in or removed from teeth, they can release a small amount of mercury vapor. Amalgam can also release small amounts of mercury vapor during chewing, and people can absorb these vapors by inhaling or ingesting them. High levels of mercury vapor exposure are associated with adverse effects in the brain and the kidneys. The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), where Dr. Reese is a member, advocates for mercury-free fillings.
Since mercury vapor is considered dangerous, and oil pulling can “pull” or remove harmful substances from the oral cavity, questions about the safety of oil pulling when one has amalgams have been brought up.
Is it safe to oil pull with amalgams?
Yes, it is safe to oil pull with amalgams.
Much of the mercury from amalgams may have been absorbed directly through the tissues of the mouth and into the many nerve endings that serve the region, from where the mercury tracks into the central nervous system. Regular oil pulling may help to reverse this process causing the mercury to progressively be pulled out of the nerve endings (and ultimately the CNS).
Oil pulling works on the “like vs. like” mechanism. It dissolves fat-soluble toxins such as elemental and organic mercury. As these toxins are pulled from the mouth and expelled, more fat-soluble toxins are progressively mobilized and redistributed from around the body, ready for another pulling.
Oil pulling benefits are felt almost immediately, but chronic problems may require a few weeks or several months or more of diligent use.
Dr. Reese Recommends Skinny Coconut Oil
We recommend a raw, extra-virgin coconut oil like Skinny Coconut Oil because the more pure the coconut oil is, the more toxins it can pull from your mouth during the pulling process. Place 1 full tablespoon of coconut oil into the mouth (if it’s cold, allow the oil to melt) and then push, swirl, and pull the oil between your teeth, around your gums, and allow it to touch every part of your mouth except your throat. Do not gargle the oil as it is now considered toxic and could further infect your throat. Spit it into the trash or toilet rather than the sink as the oil could clog your sink drain over time. We have them as one of our dental products.