What Is Oil Pulling & Does It Work?
If you’re a avid healthy living blog reader (wow, what a mouthful), then I’m guessing you’ve heard of “oil pulling.” It’s also a mouthful.
Oil Pulling is the practice of taking a scoop of coconut oil and swishing it around in your mouth for about 20 minutes in an effort to:
- rid the body of toxins
- clear up bad skin
- alleviate allergies
- strengthen gums
- freshen your breath
- whiten your teeth
Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Shailene Woodley recently jumped on the trend, and popular bloggers like The Skinny Confidential, Wellness Mama, Fashion Lush, and Authority Nutrition have all raved about it.
I’m sorry, but it all sounds a little far-fetched to me.
When I visited recently with my friend Lisa of The Skinny on Health, she echoed my sentiments. As it turned out, neither of us had actually tried the bizarre trend, so we decided to give it a swish, on-camera, for your viewing pleasure.
Check out our brief tutorial as well as a quick myth-busting session about the real benefits of oil pulling, and whether it’s worth your time.
What is Oil Pulling & Does it Work?
So if oil pulling is so wack, why are so many people jumping on this bandwagon?
Well, some dentists say that the ancient Ayurvedic Indian practice makes sense…if you live in a developing country where traditional dental care isn’t as readily available.
If you live here in the U.S. however, and have access to CVS and their magical $2 tubes of Crest, it really doesn’t.
There’s absolutely no scientific evidence supporting oil pulling over brushing and flossing.
So don’t go ditching your toothbrush.
If you’re looking for other natural remedies for various dental issues that do work, try these:
- Whiten your teeth by brushing with baking soda and water.
- Brush your tongue (with a toothbrush) to reduce bad breath.
- Drink your tap water (post-Brita filtration, obvi). Our public water is supplemented with fluoride and/or contains naturally occurring fluoride which helps prevent cavities, freshens your breath, and improves overall dental health.
If you liked the video, be on the lookout for the next installment of our series, From One Aspiring R.D. to Another.
Also, please check out Lisa’s article, Love an R.D. Today, for a great explanation of why the title “Registered Dietitian” is kind of a big deal — and why it shouldn’t be compared with term “Nutritionist.”
Have a great weekend everyone!
Lisa @ The Skinny on Health says:
Love it girl! xo
Ashley @ Brocblog says:
I’m obsessive about brushing, flossing, etc. but this oil pulling thing sounds insane to me, especially that youre supposed to do it for 15-20 minutes! I can brush, floss, mouth wash, wash my face, and be sound asleep in 20 minutes.
Alison @ The Fit Chronicles says:
Love it! I actually started oil pulling this week. I have crappy gums from years of braces and I’m always looking to strengthen them so when I heard about it, I was so game to try! I only do 10 minutes because I found a source that suggested 10-20 minutes…it’s a boring 10 minutes, but oh well! I’m doing a two week trial. :)
Thomas Cuscia says:
A simple trick I use to keep my pearly whites, when I am out having a red wine or red sauce I ask for bread and oil ( as not to seem crazy just asking for oil ) and I rub a lil olive oil on my teeth. Haha the things we do…but it keeps the red out! My white shirt, well thats another story.
Camille @ Challenge Mantra says:
Kudos for trying it out *for 20 minutes* before busting it! I struggle to keep a tooth whitening tray in my mouth for 5 minutes. :)
Katy says:
Ha! I love this video. I have actually never heard of oil pulling until now. I’ll be sure to avoid it and pick up the toothbrush instead ;)
Brittany says:
While I don’t think I’ll ever ditch brushing and flossing, I do think oil pulling has beneficial effects. As for mouthwash though, the alcohol actually dries out your mouth and can cause even worse bad breath so…I’m not a fan.
grace at leangirlsclub says:
I’m not a regular oil puller, but I have experienced the benefits. One particular one is that it cures hangovers. However, I believe that there are other ways to rid your body of toxins. How about not consuming them in the first place :) JK
My boyfriend has also used oil pulling to drain an abscess. It worked for him. Do I think it replaces medicine, no. But any homeopathic remedy is worth a shot, right?
Tara says:
It’s all a lie. As you may have imagined, I was the first on this bandwagon !
Sam Brown says:
Loved this video! 20 minutes seems like an obscene amount of time to swish around coconut oil in your mouth! Not sure I’ll be giving it a try haha
Sam xx
Whitney English says:
I don’t blame you! It was pretty icky haha.
Teddy says:
I believe that oil pulling can improve condition of gums and help to get rid of fat-soluble toxins in the mouth. Especially if you use coconut oil which I use every day to manage my skin condition.
Christie ~ PCOS Lady says:
I have listened & watched several people try and use this method… They have seen great results… It will break the plaque down on your teeth far cheaper and easier than paying a dentist! Sesame oil was touted as being the better choice….
~ I know if you use a Q-tip with vinegar daily on your plaque it will break down and chip off… Been there!
NOTE: Everyone has different chemistry, etc… So no one “fix” will work for all!
An explanation is here:
http://www.dentistryiq.com/articles/2014/03/oral-exam-oral-oil-pulling.html
Elizabeth says:
I tried “Oil pulling” it grossed me out, I could only put a teaspoon in my mouth the first time. I tried it three more times, just could not do it; however, I did have a sore throat when I started, then it was gone.
nancy says:
Desperate with a sore tooth, I tried oil pulling. It totally worked. Not only did my tooth pain go away, it cleared up a lingering upper respiratory and sinus congestion issue that I couldn’t shake. I did it twice a day, 10 minutes each time. In about 5 days, I was stunned. Sorry to see your one-sided bashing. Generally, practices that have been around for thousands of years are around for a reason. BTW, you can buy toothpaste in India–remember the part about how it was under British rule? Ever read Westin Price’s remarkable comparative research on dental health? Best you get more informed before putting out advice.
Toni says:
I had no dental care until recently. I use oil pulling in before brushing and flossing not to replace traditional dental care. I noticed the difference right away. First my tongue is amazingly cleaner than when i just brush it alone. Second as one other comment states I reduced the occurrences of abscesses. Also the coconut oil seems to get more food out of my teeth than regular mouthwash my guess is because of the additional weight of oil vs a liquid.
Manila Catering says:
Great post! I’ve never heard of oil pulling before. I watched the video and I really learned a lot from it. Thanks for sharing it.
Mary Johnson says:
Great Blog!!
Being active is an essential ingredient to great health. We live at a time when the dental technology has advanced to a great level. Today, we can afford dental care for every problem and get a quality treatment on an immediate basis.
Thanks for sharing this blog…