I’ve been asked several times this week at what age did we start taking the kids to the dentist. Around age 5 is when we chose Their pediatrician checked their teeth, tongue tie, and overall oral health prior to that.

Oral health is so very important to me. 👏🏻 I’ve heard it explained as your mouth is a window into the health of your body. Heart disease, gut issues, respiratory function, pregnancy and birth complications can show symptoms in the mouth.

For this reason we practice oil pulling at home, brush teeth with non toxic (fluoride, SLS, and dye free) toothpaste, and use a homemade mouthwash. (You should floss too! We aren’t perfect there. According to every dentist and hygienist, you should also floss daily.)

public.jpeg

Oil Pulling… what’s that?

Short answer: Using a fat soluble oil (coconut oil is our choice) as a mouth rinse for 15 minutes daily has helped us heal cavities and mouth sores and overall increased the health inside our mouth. (Thus leading to a slew of other health changes!)

Now, before you think I’m selling you a cure all for complicated mouth issues based solely on personal experience, let’s look at the history: 3,000 years ago, Ayurvedic practices prescribed oil pulling (actually holding sesame oil in the mouth for 5 minutes) to help with mouth sores and other extensive ailments like allergies and headaches. Later in the 90’s, it wasn’t brought back into popularity but with the spotlight being on cold pressed coconut oil being used.

Nowadays you’ll hear of it more often. Ask your dentist about it. Better yet, show him your results! Most recently I have been adding in a drop of Thieves Vitality essential oil to help my body fight something off. My seven year old has had a troublesome sore, so lavender Vitality has been a much needed soother added to the coconut oil!

Give it a shot! What can it hurt to try out? My family’s twice yearly dentist visits have proved helpful without cavities for 11 years of having 3 kiddos and many years for myself given that I used to have chronic cavities (like every dentist visit!).

If your current smile isn’t a picture of health, you can still make changes!