Oil Pulling: What it Is, How to Do It, and Why You Should!

I briefly mentioned in my “Day in My Life” post that my morning routine involves oil pulling.  I’ve had a lot of questions about this somewhat weird routine of mine, so I decided it deserved a post all its own!  What the heck is oil pulling?  How do I do it, and why on earth would I?

What is oil pulling?

Oil pulling is really just a fancy way of saying you swish oil around in your mouth.  That’s it.  To be a bit more specific, I put about one tablespoon of coconut oil in my mouth when I get up in the morning (before food, drink, or brushing my teeth), “pull” it back and forth through my teeth for twenty minutes, and then spit it into a sandwich baggie that I throw in the trash.

Oil pulling is actually an ancient Ayurvedic practice which originated in India thousands of years ago.  In the past twenty years or so, it has gained a bit of traction amongst the crunchy crowd in the Western world.

Oil pulling has loads of purported health benefits including:

• fighting tooth decay
• removing plaque and bacteria from the mouth
• whitening teeth
• curing halitosis (bad breath)
• improving gum health and strengthening gums
• healing bleeding gums

Some people even go so far as to claim that oil pulling can:

• boost the immune system
• heal jaw problems
• reduce inflammation
• clear up skin issues
• and the list seems to go on and on…

Now, I’m not quite ready to believe that oil pulling is quite that powerful, but I do think it has some benefits, particularly in regards to dental health.  I decided I would mention this to my dentist just to see what a mainstream doctor would think of my crunchy little habit.  I was shocked when she told me that I should keep doing it!  While there are not loads and loads of scientific research supporting the benefits of oil pulling, there is enough apparently to convince my dentist!

I started oil pulling probably three years ago or so.  The first time I did it, I gagged putting a big spoonful of oil in my mouth!  But, it only took a day or two before I was completely used to it.  I’ve continued the practice (about three times per week) simply because I really think it keeps my teeth white.  I used to use Crest Whitestrips every six months to one year to keep my teeth white, but I haven’t used those at all since I started oil pulling.  Despite all the coffee I enjoy on a regular basis, I frequently get compliments on my white teeth.  (I do think apple cider vinegar helps a bit with this, too.)

How to Do It

So here are the specific steps to take if you want to give oil pulling a try…

1. Upon rising, if you can, (preferably before food, drink, or tooth brushing), put about one tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth.  (Note: traditionally, oil pulling was performed using sesame oil, most likely given the abundance of that oil in the region of the world where the practice originated.  Some people use olive oil, although other people think it is too harsh to be used on the teeth.  I prefer coconut oil because I always have a big vat of it in my pantry anyway, plus coconut oil in and of itself has loads of health benefits.  Bottom line: use a naturally occurring vegetable oil, not one that was produced chemically like canola oil, vegetable oil, etc.)
2. “Pull” the oil back and forth through your teeth.  I swish it around in my mouth too, but really, you’re supposed to actually pull it to be most effective.  Don’t stress about this.  Don’t worry if you’re doing it right.  Just put it in your mouth and go.  If you have to sneeze, well, best wishes.  It’s happened to me, too!  Ha!
3. Wait twenty minutes.  Yes, that is not a short amount of time.  (This was one of the few specifics that my dentist made sure I was following, too.  Apparently, oil pulling is only really effective if it is done for at least twenty minutes.)  I usually pull while I’m doing some reading, so the time passes quickly.  Other people I know that oil pull hop in the shower and get ready for the day.  If my husband wakes up and only gets a wave from me rather than a “Good morning!” he now knows what I’m doing and why I can’t talk.
4. Spit the oil into the trash.  Please do not clog the drain of your sink with coconut oil.  I usually spit the oil into a little sandwich baggie and then throw the baggie in the trash just in case my trash can bag has a hole at the bottom, but to each their own!
5. Rinse your mouth out with water and brush your teeth.  My dentist also mentioned that oil pulling should not replace tooth brushing, as the manual act of using a tooth brush is important for proper cleaning of the teeth, and that made good sense to me.
6. Smile!  Just look at those pearly whites!  (Okay, results aren’t immediate, but stick with it for a few months, at least three times per week, and see what you think!)

Worth a Try?

I’m sorta my own best guinea pig for my little crunchy endeavors, and I don’t typically recommend something that I haven’t tried personally.  For me, it was an inexpensive, painless experiment that seemed to produce enough results that I have adopted it into my health regimen.

Here are a few other blog articles that I like which offer additional easy-to-understand information on oil pulling:

• Dr. Axe: https://draxe.com/oil-pulling-coconut-oil/
• Wellness Mama: https://wellnessmama.com/7866/oil-pulling/

So whaddya think?  Worth a shot?  Did you try it?  Comment below!

Big Important Side Note: I am not a doctor, and this is not medical advice.  Always consult your doctor before beginning any health regimen or practice.