I’m a detox junkie. Ok, not really. Well, maybe. But I do love practices, foods, and other things (like this) that help me feel my best and keep my system firing on all cylinders. Particularly those things that naturally remove some of the nasties that are picked up on a daily basis simply by living and breathing.
When I first stumbled upon the practice of oil pulling, I was intrigued. Particularly, since it involved my bestie, coconut oil. We’re inseparable. No really.
What is oil pulling?
In a nutshell, it’s an ancient Ayurvedic practice for detox and rejuvenation where you swish oil in your mouth for a set amount of time and then spit it out. Anedcotally, the benefits I read seemed worthy of a try. People gushed over improving dental health, sinus problems, allergies, skin breakouts, arthritis, headaches, and hormone imbalances, among others. What the hell, right?
Old school oil pullers traditionally used virgin sesame oil or sunflower oil, but more mainstream peeps seemed to tout coconut oil as a better option, simply because of its inherent antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and enzymatic properties. This provides the added benefit of killing any unwanted bacteria that may be residing in your mouth. Plus I’m addicted to the stuff and the taste is muuuch more pleasant than the others.
What are the benefits?
Now while there are all kinds of health claims around oil pulling, from weight loss to curing diabetes, I’m a facts kind of gal, and prefer to see these claims backed up by data. Naturally, the studies that I was able to locate centered around vastly improving dental health. Of course, a healthy mouth is directly correlated with a healthy bod, so all of the anecdotal happy endings have some validity.
Here’s what the data told me about oil pulling:
- It kills bacteria: In this study, published in 2008, oil pulling using sesame oil caused a reduction in the number of Streptococcus Mutans found in the plaque in as little as 2 weeks in 20 adolescent boys. Streptococcus Mutans is the primary cause of plaque buildup and tooth decay.
- It reduces plaque and gingivitis: This study compared oil pulling and chlorhexidine mouthwash (which is loaded with chemicals) in adolescents with plaque-induced gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). Both oil pulling and chlorhexidine were effective against gingivitis. Now I ask. Which one would you choose?
- Improves stinky breath: This seems like the most obvious result. Many times, bad breath is linked to bacteria that have taken up residence in the mouth. When you reduce the bacteria, the incidence of bad breath goes down. This study proved just that in – you guessed it – 20 adolescents.
How do you oil pull?
Step 1
Spoon ½ to 1 tablespoon of oil in your mouth and begin swishing. If it’s cold, it will melt. This is the step that wigs people out the most. I cannot tell a lie, it feels weird at first but you get over it.
Step 2
Swish the oil around your mouth for 5-20 minutes. Yes, 20 minutes is a long time and your mouth does get tired. Start with 5 minutes and work your way up to 20. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Neither was your amazing new found dental health.
Step 3
Spit the oil in the garbage (not down the sink drain – it will solidify and clog – trust me) and brush your teeth. Don’t swallow it. Remember, it’s “pulled” all of those nasties out of your mouth – you don’t want to ingest that.
Step 4
Carry on your merry way.
How to Supercharge Your Oil Pulling With Essential Oils
Get more mileage by adding therapeutic-grade essential oils to your oil pulling routine for an added oral health boost. I only use Young Living Essential Oils (learn why here).
Here are some of my top essential oil choices for oil pulling:
- Lemon: Helps to whiten teeth
- Peppermint: Freshens breath and supports gum health
- Thieves: Has purifying properties and supports gum health
- Frankincense: Eases mouth discomfort and supports gum health
- Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree Oil): Has purifying properties and supports gum health
- Oregano: Has purifying properties
A little goes a long way, so one drop of essential oil can really go the distance. Start with 1 drop of essential oil to 1 tablespoon of coconut oil. If that’s too strong, dilute it to 1 drop for every 3 tablespoons. I like to pre-mix in a glass jar like this ahead of time so there’s no early morning mixing involved. One less thing to do is always a good thing.
Now the thing to remember is this…not all essential oils are created equal. Many that you get in the health food store or Amazon could potentially be cut with synthetics – which is why the prices vary so greatly. This not only sucks because you THINK you’re getting something super awesome (and you’re not), BUT it can also be really dangerous. I’ve heard horror stories (including a very close friend of mine) of people having reactions to essential oils purchased from “reputable” sources.
Like my food, I want to know exactly where my oils are coming from – especially since I’m using them on my children, on my body, and for therapeutic purposes – not just to make my dish soap smell nice. This is the only brand of essential oils that I trust and use with my family. The bonus – I get them at wholesale – a whopping 24% off!
My oil pulling results
Since I began oil pulling about 6 months ago, I’ve noticed an improvement mostly in my dental health, primarily:
- Vast reduction in plaque build-up
- Whiter teeth, sans Crest White Strips (side note: don’t use those – they’re chock full of chemicals)
- Less gum bleeding
And the bonus…clearer skin, baby!
Not too shabby for something you can do while doing a million other things (for your multi-taskers, out there). Well, besides having a conversation. That’s hard, unless you know sign language or don’t mind random oil spills throughout the house. My loves know better than to pick my brain during the first 20 minutes of my day when I’m in the zone.
I kinda like it that way. Silence is golden.
Have you tried oil pulling? If so, what results have you noticed in your health? I’d LOVE to hear! Please leave a comment.
I LOVE OIL PULLING ! Since i started pulling, i’ve noticed some of the “normal” affects like bowel regulation, lower cravings, deeper sleep etc, BUT…some of the other things i’ve noticed are a JOY especially because i live in the desert ! My dry and cracked heels from walking barefoot too much are GONE ! My skin doesn’t require lotion everyday since pulling either. Living in the desert can be challenging but oil pulling has helped tremendously ! love, love , love
Wow Tracy, you’ve had some amazing results! Much better than I! :) Thanks so much for sharing!
I have tried this a couple of years ago but found that over time it was making me feel physical sick; i would start to feel as though i was going to vomit (did a few times). eventually i just stopped all together and now i am very weary of coconut oil as just the smell alone makes me want to gag. am i alone on this?! i’ve been trying to figure out what my problem is! i use to love the stuff but now can’t stand it :( Do you think it is because my body was in the process of detoxing while pulling that it made me feel this way?
Revel – this is INTERESTING! It very well might have been your body detoxing – some are more sensitive than others. And yes, the ‘memory’ of all the gagging/vomiting has literally left a bad taste in your mouth for coco oil. That’s too bad – YOU are the lady that introduced me to this amazing stuff! :( Hope you and the family are doing well! This ‘more than one kid’ thing is a ball buster! How do you do it with three!??
I hate the smell of coconut oil and the taste makes me want to gag! I’ve tried to add peppermint oil to it but I’m still struggling against the gagging reflex… I’ll have to try a different oil.
Thankfully my dogs LOVE coconut oil so I can use it up with them!
Hi there! I just wanted to tell you that I use avocado oil as it’s benefits are amazing, plus no taste! I have been pulling now for 3 days. I am a very complex person with many ailments that produce symptoms such as rashes, digestive disorder, brain fog, inability to heal normally. I was desperate after getting into POISON SUMAC (Turns out I’m very allergic) and it has been 3 weeks. The rash spread in places where nothing should be knocking to come on in! So then I got a secondary fungal infection, right in with the SUMAC. So, I can honestly say after using avocado oil, 1 Tbl with added CPTG essential oils of 1 drop protective blend, 1 drop melaleuca, 1 drop oregano, 1 drop lime and 1 drop cinnamon. The rash is now finally less angry especially the breakout on my face. I also used a dime size natural lotion with 1 drop oregano to rub on effected areas. It brought great relief and I have stopped using nystatin creme. I believe if you use another oil than coconut, you will be very happy with the results. Do it for the full 20 minutes. Best of luck to you!
how many times a day can i do the oil pulling’ can i do it when I feel my mouth dirty? can i do it 4 times a day or is too much?
Hi Yvette! Great question – You can oil pull up to 3 times a day, but in my humble opinion, really only necessary once a day, provided you’re doing it for a good amount of time and really swishing. Good luck and enjoy! :) Thanks for the comment!
Hi, Kristen,
I haven’t tried this yet, but I have been brushing my teeth with homemade toothpaste made of coconut oil and baking soda. My teeth have never felt so clean.
AWESOME! Yes, coconut oil is FREAKING amazing stuff! And homemade toothpaste is so much better than store bought! I’ve made some with a little peppermint essential oil and a drop of stevia and it’s so good! So glad it’s worked for you too! Thanks for the comment, and YES – do add oil pulling to your ‘to do’ list – your teeth will be glowing white! ;)
Hi!
I’m new to the whole concept of coconut oil; I haven’t tried it at all! I have diabetes and poor oral health, so I’m anxious to go buy some coconut oil. Anything specific I should look for? I was vegan all last year, then it fell apart at Christmas, and I’ve been eating very unhealthly junk food, mostly. (Also going through a divorce this year) But I want to get back to that great feeling I had when eating healthily! I think I’m ready to start again!
To “Simple Tips to Starting a Natural Lifestyle”: no matter what I do, only the left half of your page comes up… Is this a problem on my end, or are you having some kind of technical difficulty?
Thanks!
Hi Sonia,
Thanks for your comment and great question. Ideally, you want to look for organic virgin coconut oil – don’t be fooled by ‘extra’ virgin. Unlike with olive oil, extra virgin does not exist with coconut oil. If you are not a fan of the smell or taste of coconut oil, opt for expeller pressed. It’s got the same great benefits without the smell/taste. Here’s a good place that sells high quality oil: http://bit.ly/1il9UHe.
As far as you’re ‘falling apart’ since Christmas – you’re in good company! :) You might consider enrolling in my upcoming January Superwoman Slim Down: A Real Food Detox & Cleanse for Real Women. It’s geared toward EXACTLY the things you mention. Check it out here: http://mixwellness.com/detox/. Early bird pricing ends tomorrow (12/28) night – a savings of $50. Hope you can join us!
Lastly, I’m not sure what you’re referring to with “Simple Tips to Starting a Natural Lifestyle” – is this a blog post of mine or something else? I don’t have anything on my site titled that. Just let me know and I’m happy to help.
Happy New Year!
I have been very interested in trying this and have been doing tons of research before I begin. I read that if you have metal fillings beware of oil pulling as it pulls the mercury from the fillings and then is absorbed into your body making people very sick. Have you heard of this?
Hi Natalie,
Thanks for the comment and your readership! There is limited research to substantiate this claim. Having said that, as you know, oil pulling draws toxins out of the system into the oil that you then spit out (and rinse your mouth after). Even if oil pulling drew mercury from fillings, in theory, you would want to get that out of your system. Based on my understanding, mercury vaporizes off fillings from even light pressure. So in theory, you want to remove it as much as you can from your system. Having said ALL of that (DISCLAIMER), this is not meant to be taken as medical advice – I’m not a doctor nor do I play one on TV! :)
I have recently started oil pulling every morning. I am using fractionated coconut oil since I have it on hand, and it seems easier than starting with cold hard oil. I am wondering if anyone knows if you get the same benefits as pulling with cold pressed virgin oil.
Hi Carmel! In all honesty, I’m not sure if you’ll get the same benefits from fractionated (given the difference in processing from virgin) – I assume so? The hard, cold virgin oil does melt after a minute or so, so it’s not all that bad (I totally get the ‘gag’ factor). I’ve also heard of people using extra virgin olive oil or sesame oil for oil pulling with great benefit, so that might be an option for you as well. Thanks for the comment and your readership! :)
Why can’t you warm up the coconut oil first? Just enough to melt it. Also, has anyone tried any other oil. If so, what were the results? I also love coconut oil and am looking forward to trying this! Thanks for the information.
Hi Mel! If you really want to, you absolutely can warm up the coconut oil before swishing (but I’m lazy, so that’s just too much effort for me!), but if you give in a few seconds, it will melt and become liquid in your mouth and you’ll be swishing like a boss in no time. Other oils I’ve heard of people using for oil pulling include olive oil and sesame oil. All will provide great benefits. Good luck and thanks for your comment! :)
Also, Do you know if it really helps loose teeth?
Anecdotally, I’ve heard that it helps, but I’ve not personally experienced this. :)
I’ve been oil pulling since August. My teeth are whiter, my breath is fresher, my skin is clearer, I’ve had Irritable Bowel syndrome for 20 years, and it is completely cured. Also, my knee pain is gone. I love coconut oil and swishing.
Nancy – WOW! Your IBS is gone?! That’s incredible! So great to hear! Thanks so much for your comment and your readership! :)
Hi, I only have Vegetable oil and EVOO which do you think is better?
Hi! I’m totally interested in doing this but I am a nursing mommy of a toddler, and I am really worried that any toxins will enter my milk and pass through the milk. I have been sick since July and I know it’s all stomach related (severe acne worse than in my teens and stomach issues along with bowel issues) would you suggest to nursing mommy’s? Or those who are pregnant?
Did you ever end up doing this? I am in the same boat with nursing and suffering from the very worst scne I have ever had in my life!
I have a concern about oil pulling that has not been talked about anywhere else. I notice that when I’m oil pulling, there is a crease that appears below the lower lip and above my chin. It’s known as a chin crease or mental crease. My concern is that oil pulling will make this horizontal line more pronounced in a similar way one gets crows feet from squinting. What are your thoughts about this?
Can you oil pull with mercury fillings?