Oil Pulling

Coconut Oil
Coconut Oil

Have you pulled oil? If that’s the right expression. I only came across oil pulling recently and if you’ve never heard of it, it’s a way to whiten your teeth and improve oral health – as well as (big sceptical brow, here) – help with migraines, asthma and acne. Even weight loss, apparently.

Most people opt for coconut oil and if you want to draw out toxins as this treatment claims to do, you need to keep it in your mouth for fifteen to twenty minutes. I’m afraid I had to spit (spit in the bin not the sink!) after about seven minutes. The weird thing is that the oil will grow in size in your mouth – apparently that’s the toxins and if I believed that, I’d have spat it out long before.

There isn’t really any scientific evidence backing up oil pulling – it’s roots are in Ayurvedic medicine which I certainly wouldn’t scoff at – but neither would I take it up! Once was plenty. The oil doesn’t really leave a lot of residue (because you brush and floss after) but I don’t know – I felt squeamish about it. There’s a great feature at Fashionista.com who braved it out longer than I did.

Have any BBB readers tried this? Please let me know!

 

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Jane Cunningham

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21 responses to “Oil Pulling”

  1. Jo

    I did it for a month last year. I was sceptical before hand but read up about it and it seemed logical to me. I used coconut oil; i didn’t find it squeamish and i got on with my shower etc while swishing. I have to say I didn’t notice any difference in anything at all…complexion, weight, or teeth – which is the main reason i did it. 🙁

    Reply
  2. Vivien @ The London Oil Co

    No, I haven’t.
    Despite being a huge natural beauty advocate, oil pulling has always been just one step too far for me….
    I may try it one day, but I just can’t imagine keeping oil in my mouth for that long! And I love coconut oil (or maybe because of that? I’m worried i’d end up hating it afterwards…)

    Reply
  3. Cy

    I’ve tried it for a couple of days, but by the end of the week I had given up. Having a semi-solid lump of fat in my mouth first thing in the morning wasn’t the best way to start the day imo! It didn’t make me gag if I concentrated hard enough but I found I couldn’t do much during these 10 minutes of “chewing” the oil (get dressed? what if I dribble? – start my make-up? don’t be silly now!) and I quickly got bored of it.
    I’ve kept the oil for other uses though: face cleanser, face oil (a light layer overnight helps calming any spots), hair mask, body oil, and cooking too ( for which I use a different jar!)

    Reply
  4. Donna

    I read about the dental thing on a forum, and some swearing by it. Then a dentist who posts replied. One patient did pulling only and their teeth were terrible on the next check up. Another did pulling and cleaning once a day each time. He said no difference from normal cleaning with a proper electric brush.

    You have to keep it in your mouth for 20 minutes at a time. No thank you.

    Reply
  5. Carly Jade

    This sounds mental…but I kind of want to try it myself? I hate the dentist, and am pretty much willing to try anything that will maybe stop me having to have something done! I’m 23 and so far haven’t had to have any work done…but I’m petrified every time I go now in case that today is the day!

    http://www.ceejayell.blogspot.co.uk

    Reply
  6. Julia

    I heard it doesn’t really work but to each its own I guess! If you do have coconut oil laying around you could try it as a hair conditioning treatment! Just cover your hair from mid-length to the tips and let it do its magic for half an hour or, if you really want awesome hair, the entire night.

    http://www.wingmeadream.com

    Reply
  7. aimee

    Until someone actually tells me what ‘toxins’ are I’m going to be thoroughly sceptical of anything which claims to remove them. I’m sure there are benefits to oil pulling… and coconut oil is the schizz… but toxins… http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/toxins-the-new-evil-humours/

    Reply
  8. Rebekka

    I tried it, but like you I found it icky and spit it out after 10 minutes. Once was more than enough. Proper dental hygiene is sufficient if done properly, and I would not mjnd trying a coconut oil based toothpaste, but swishing oil int mouth for 20 min in the morning? Who has time for that? I drink a large glass of water, shower and brush my teeth and have my morning tee, all in 20 minutes, I found waiting to be able to drink very hard. Thanks but no thanks.

    Reply
  9. Antonia Dailly

    Oh, pur-lease! Really? Which ‘toxins’ are supposed to come out? The oil increases in volume as it absorbs toxins? The evidence for this is what, exactly? Nothing to do with the saliva that is produced by the process of swishing the oil around one’s mouth, clearly. I’ve been looking for some evidence to back up the what I can only describe as ludicrous claims made, and amazingly haven’t found any. If anyone does, please let me know.

    Reply
  10. Trimperley

    Have not tried it nor do I want to. I don’t believe that average healthy human body is full of toxins that need purging or pulling. The oil probably increases in volume because it emulsifies with the saliva in the mouth. I wouldn’t want to swill my mouth out with salt water on a daily basis as it may kill the good bacteria in the mouth.

    Reply
  11. Olivia

    I do this with sesame oil. I find coconut too much of a hassle because of its texture change during the seasons.

    I won’t say it is a miracle to cure all cures, all I can say is that it is like moisturizing the inside of your mouth.

    Reply
  12. Tom

    I’ve done this once before and managed the full 30 minutes but boy was it grosse! The oil doesn’t expand though, it just mixes with loads and loads of syliva. Yum! My teeth felt incredibly smooth after though.

    Reply
  13. Chrissy

    I’ve heard of oil pulling before, but no matter how beneficial it might be, there’s just no way I can keep oil in my mouth for 20 minutes! My gag reflexes are kicking in just thinking about it to be honest.

    Reply
  14. Elyse

    I do it, have done now for over 6 months and have definitely seen the benefit. Due to heavy meds (that I’ll be on forever) and poor health my teeth were first to be affected, I literally had crumbling teeth every time I visited the dentists (for me was nearly monthly) and nothing was slowing the progression, I got infection after infection even though my oral health was top notch. I found oil pulling was what changed it all around, over the last 6 months I’ve had no infections (and ultimately my immune system has improved too! I no longer get every bug going and even my husband got the flu which I totally missed – he has a rock solid immune aswell) and I’ve had no dental treatment either *shocked*

    While it’s not given me Towie white teeth it’s definitely brightened up my teeth, they’re still more discoloured than I’d like but they’re less sensitive, I get less mouth ulcers and my teeth stay cleaner for longer (where as they’d feel grimy 15 minutes after brushing previously). I actually don’t mind the coconut flavour from the oil now and just see it as being another step in my routine – sort of like moisturising for my health, after all good oral health is so important to most of our bodily systems health too, especially our heart.

    Hugs Elyse x
    http://www.sweetelyseblog.com

    Reply
  15. Leah

    Yes, I’ve done it several times. I think I read about it on the Beauty Gypsy site months ago. The first time I did it I spat within a minute or two but gradually build up to 20 minutes. I’ve even showered while doing it. You have to spit it into some tissue or into a well lined bin as it can clog up pipes when it solidifies. I found it helped me sleep better, my teeth were whiter and my asthma did feel slightly less problematic. I haven’t done it for ages so this is a timely reminder to start again. Oh, and some places recommend using olive oil. If you can stomach it you’re a better woman than me. I threw up within about 30 seconds. Coconut oil is far nicer. xx

    http://www.justmeleah.co.uk

    Reply
  16. Zoe

    I did it for a month and my teeth looked whiter and my morning breath was much sweeter (!). But it’s a lot of hassle and I struggled to find the time. It’s worth a go though…

    Reply
  17. Sabrina

    I once ate some coconut oil out of sheer curiosity, and it tasted terrible. Then again, I can’t even use mouthwash for the recommended amount of time without spitting it out or involuntarily swallowing it.

    Nevertheless, I applaud you for leaving the coconut oil in your mouth that long. 🙂

    Reply
  18. Mimi

    I have been oil pulling for a few months now and I love it. Amongst many things, I noticed that the whites of my eyes are clearer. Excuse me for being TMI but… Regulate daily bowel movements, my sleep is improved etc etc. I didn’t know any of these things when I first tried it out, I was just looking for something natural to whiten my teeth. And since I had the coconut oil at home I had a go. I nearly choked on it back then, now I have gotten better and 20 minutes just flies by. I would encourage you to give it another chance and also try non- flouride toothpaste or better yet, I make my own re-mineralising toothpaste powder ( recipe can get from wellness mama website) and the combo is fantastic. I could rumble on more about the benefits…. Who knew just swishing oil in the mouth one could gain better well being 🙂 I noticed the changes on myself after about 3 weeks of using.

    Reply
  19. Vandana

    I’ve never tried oil pulling. But apparently eating coconut oil is suppose to help you lose weight. I stuck to coconut milk that helped me. However this oil warmed up is great used as hair mask.

    Reply
  20. Ali

    I’ve read about this, including some posts by women who have tried it. Just doesn’t appeal to me. I tend to be sceptical about “drawing out toxins” claims that float around. A mouthful of oil isn’t “drawing” anything in my books. Except perhaps my gag reflex. Dear God, can you imagine if you accidentally swallowed it?

    Reply
  21. Emma

    I haven’t tried this but my friend has and she managed to keep it in her mouth for the full 20 minutes, I think I would most probably gag on it (grim) but I’m off to read about it now!

    Em

    http://www.emsmixedbag.com

    Reply

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