Oil Pulling Benefits For a Healthier Mouth

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Wellness Mama » Blog » Health » Oil Pulling Benefits For a Healthier Mouth

Oil pulling is an age-old regimen rooted in ancient Ayurvedic medicine. It’s now a home remedy that uses natural substances to clean and detoxify the mouth and teeth. But is there any evidence behind this practice and how do you do it? 

Oil pulling, along with other elements of dental hygiene and regular dental visits, may help you avoid tooth decay and gum disease. It can also help whiten teeth naturally.

What is Oil Pulling?

The short answer is that it’s a process of swishing oil (usually sesame, sunflower oil, olive oil, or coconut oil) in the mouth for up to 20 minutes. The oil is then spat into the trash. The purpose is to improve oral health, and the best time to do it is on an empty stomach first thing in the morning.

The basic idea is that swishing oil in the mouth for a short time each day helps pull out the bad stuff and improve oral health. It’s similar to oil cleansing for the skin in that the principle of “like dissolves like” applies. The oil cuts through plaque buildup and removes toxins without damaging the teeth or gums.

The ancient practice of oil pulling (originally called gandusha) started in India thousands of years ago. But it wasn’t really used in the United States until recently. 

It was first given the name “oil pulling” in the United States in the early 1990s. A medical doctor, Dr. F. Karach, used it successfully in his medical practice. He claimed it could potentially cure several diseases, including oral ones. The word spread quickly!

Benefits of Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is an oral care practice with lots of anecdotal support but a lack of extensive scientific studies. Although there are some… (See the references below). Most sources agree that oil pulling is safe but debate its effectiveness.

Here are some of the reported benefits:

  • Whiter teeth 
  • Improvement of dry mouth (“xerostomia”)
  • Fewer cavities and cases of gingivitis
  • Reduced plaque
  • Stronger teeth and gums
  • Improved periodontal disease
  • Better breath (less “morning breath”)
  • Improvement in jaw pain (less TMJ pain)
  • Relief from sinus issues
  • Fewer headaches 
  • Better skin (less acne, eczema, and psoriasis)
  • Improved hormone balance
  • Less arthritis pain
  • And more…

A 2022 meta-analysis found oil pulling could help lower overall bacteria count in the mouth, improving oral health. 

That confirms what was highlighted the year before in 2021: When oil pulling, surface cells on the inside of the mouth are covered with oil droplets. There’s also more saliva production. The result is that the oil-saliva mix captures the bacteria during oil pulling, making it easy to remove by spitting it out.

A 2021 study showed coconut and sesame oil both reduced plaque and discoloration.

My Experience With Oil Pulling

Though I’ve done this for a few years, my only personal experience is with increased oral health (no plaque) and less sensitive (and whiter!) teeth. Although I haven’t had personal experience with this, I’ve heard experts explain how bacteria and infections can enter the blood through the mouth. It does make sense that addressing these infections could impact other parts of the body. 

At the very least, oil pulling can be beneficial. It should have no downside if it’s done correctly with a high-quality oil. The oil should be good enough quality to eat. Oil pulling is a very inexpensive therapy that could potentially benefit oral health. For those reasons, I see no downside to trying it and I’ve used it myself for several years.

Although more scientific research is needed, I’ve noticed the benefits personally. Dozens of Wellness Mama readers also swear by its effectiveness. 

How to Oil Pull

The concept is simple: a person swishes a couple of teaspoons of fruit or seed-based oil (coconut, sesame, or olive) in the mouth for 20 minutes. They then spit it out and rinse well. It’s best to oil pull in the morning, before eating or drinking anything. However, it can be done before each meal, if needed, for more severe infections or dental problems.

Virgin coconut oil is an excellent option because its lauric acid makes it naturally antibacterial. It has a milder taste than other oils. Anyone with an allergy to coconut oil or coconut products should avoid using coconut oil in this way. Ayurvedic Medicine traditionally used sesame oil, just make sure it’s organic.

You can also add some mouth healthy essential oils to the coconut or sesame oil for extra benefits. The company I co-founded, Wellnesse, has a Balanced Mouth Blend that’s great for this. It features anti-microbial essential oils that help improve the oral microbiome.

Oil Pulling Instructions

  • Put 1-2 teaspoons of oil into your mouth. The oil traditionally used in Ayurveda is organic sesame oil. Sesame is also the oil that’s been the most studied for use in oil pulling. Another option is organic coconut oil pulling. Whichever oil you choose, place 1-2 teaspoons in the mouth. I also pour a few drops of Brushing Blend (naturally antibacterial) into the mix. You can also plan ahead and make these easy coconut oil chews
  • Swish for 20 minutes. Timing is key. Dr. Bruce Fife is the author of a book on oil pulling called Oil Pulling Therapy. He says 20 minutes is long enough to break through plaque and bacteria but not so long that the body starts re-absorbing the toxins and bacteria. The oil will get thicker and milky as it mixes with saliva during this time. It should be creamy-white by the time it’s spat out. It will also double in volume during this time due to saliva. At first, it can be challenging to complete the full 20 minutes. I didn’t stress over it if I could only swish for 5-10 minutes when I first started.
  • Spit oil into the trash can. Especially if you have a septic system as I do. Don’t spit into the sink, as the oil may eventually clog the pipes. Don’t swallow the oil, either! Hopefully, it’s now full of bacteria, toxins, and pus that are being removed from the mouth!
  • Rinse well with warm water. Warm water seems to clean the mouth better (in my opinion). I swish a few times with warm water to get any remaining oil out of my mouth. Some sources recommend gargling with warm salt water.
  • Brush well. I prefer to brush with Wellnesse whitening toothpaste to ensure no bacteria remain.

Is Oil Pulling Safe?

Thankfully, this is one point all sources seem to agree on! Some sources claim that oil pulling doesn’t have the benefits often attributed to it or doesn’t actually detoxify the mouth. Still, all of them agree it shouldn’t cause side effects.

The oils typically used for oil pulling are edible oils that are considered healthy when eaten. So, they aren’t problematic when swished in the mouth. The only potential danger is swallowing the oil after it’s absorbed bacteria or toxins from the mouth. Ick. You don’t want to do that! 

I asked my dentist for his thoughts on oil pulling. He shared that while we need more research to know for certain, it could be an effective and safe alternative to mouthwash. 

Prescription mouthwashes contain a chemical called chlorhexidine, which may be harmful. Studies show that some of these oils used in oil pulling were just as effective as chlorhexidine mouthwash. Another option is to make this herbal homemade mouthwash.

Which Oil is Best For Oil Pulling?

The oil you use for oil pulling depends on your goals. If the goal is teeth whitening, I’ve found coconut oil to be the most effective (especially when combined with this unusual remedy). According to the British Dental Journal (BDJ), coconut oil is also slightly more effective at removing certain bacteria from the mouth. These include Streptococcus mutans bacteria known for causing dental caries.

Sesame oil is the oil recommended by most sources (mostly because it was one of the more widely available oils when the practice began). It’s also the most well-studied and considered safe for those not allergic to sesame seeds. Sometimes olive oil is used, but it’s not as well studied.

The main thing is to avoid using high Omega-6 or chemically created oils like vegetable oil, canola oil, soybean oil, corn oil, etc.

Who Can Do Oil Pulling?

Not every natural remedy is safe for everyone. Here’s the evidence on who can (and can’t) safely use oil pulling.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

I’ve done oil pulling during pregnancy, but I was also already doing it regularly before I got pregnant. I asked a midwife, and she said it’s generally considered safe for pregnant women, especially after the first trimester. 

Oral hygiene is especially critical during pregnancy due to the risks of infection. So, I’ve always been glad to have an extra way to keep my teeth and gums healthy while pregnant. I consider it the same as tooth brushing, flossing, or using mouthwash. (This is purely anecdotal, but I haven’t had a cavity, even while pregnant since I started oil pulling and following my oral health routine). 

A 2016 randomized controlled trial looked at oil pulling in pregnant women. The researchers found it was just as effective as chlorhexidine at fighting bad breath. This study didn’t raise any concerns about oil pulling during pregnancy.  

Oil pulling is generally considered safe while nursing, but check with a dentist or doctor to be safe. As with anything, check with a doctor or midwife before starting oil pulling, especially if pregnant.

Children

Several practitioners I’ve asked about this assured me that oil pulling is safe for kids once they’re old enough not to swallow the oil.

Those With Dental Issues

I got the okay to do this from my dentist and doctor with several (non-amalgam) fillings in my mouth. But I’d recommend checking with a doctor or dentist to be sure, especially if you have any metal fillings, crowns, or dental problems. 

Note: Some people may notice a detox reaction for the first few days of using oil pulling. This can include issues like mild congestion, headache, mucous drainage, or other effects. I personally didn’t notice these effects, but I’ve read cases of others who did.

FAQs About Oil Pulling

There are several questions that repeatedly come up about oil pulling, so I’ve compiled them here along with the most common answers. I also included any research I could find:

Does Oil Pulling Help Remineralize Teeth?

It may, but more research is needed. I talked about my personal experience remineralizing my teeth here. I used oil pulling as part of this protocol, but I suspect the benefit may have come from certain oils combatting the bacteria that cause tooth decay rather than actual mineral support for the tooth.

Coconut and sesame oils aren’t excellent sources of the minerals that teeth need. So using them in the mouth may not be a very effective way to provide minerals for restoring teeth. Since we’re constantly replenishing the minerals in our teeth and enamel through saliva, it seems more important to ensure we’re getting enough minerals internally. Then they’re available in saliva.

 Can People With Fillings Try Oil Pulling?

Dentist Lisa Matriste warns against oil pulling with amalgam (mercury) fillings. Mercury is lipophilic, meaning it’s attracted to fats. 

“Oil pulling will pull mercury out of the fillings which will then be absorbed into your tissues, inadvertently poisoning your body with mercury at a faster rate.”

She goes on to recommend having any mercury fillings removed before oil pulling. 

That said, I couldn’t find any scientific research on the safety of oil pulling with fillings. There’s some anecdotal evidence it could loosen them.  Check with your dentist to see if oil pulling would be appropriate for your particular dental situation. 

Does Oil Pulling Help Bad Breath? 

There’s one benefit of oil pulling all sources seem to agree on: better breath. Likely because of its ability to help wipe out harmful bacteria in the mouth. Evidence shows oil pulling can help improve breathing and reduce plaque, which combats bad breath. 

Can I Swallow the Oil? Or Where Should I Spit?

Again, please don’t swallow the oil after oil pulling. It may contain bacteria, dead skin, or other residues from the mouth and the whole purpose is to remove these toxins from the body. It’s also important not to spit this in the sink, shower, or toilet, as it may solidify and clog the drain. This especially pertains to coconut oil, which hardens as it cools.

I keep an old supplement container at my sink and spit the oil in it each morning. Then I throw it away when filled.

Do I Have to Swish for 20 Minutes?

I found it difficult to swish for 20 minutes when I first started. Though 20 minutes is the recommended timeframe, it isn’t a hard and fast rule. Neither is the recommendation to use a full tablespoon of oil. If you can only use a teaspoon and swish for 5 minutes, start with that and don’t stress about it. 

Adding a drop of essential oil may also help with the taste and make oil pulling easier. Just make sure any oil you use is safe to use internally. 

I also find the best time to oil pull is in the shower since this is the only time I’m not talking to my kids or doing something else. I don’t usually shower for 20 minutes, but this at least gets me part of the way through the time.

Does Oil Pulling Work?

My only personal experience is the oral health benefits, and I continue doing it for this reason. But there’s evidence that it might help with other conditions as well. The most comprehensive resource I’ve seen on the topic is the book “Oil Pulling Therapy” by Dr. Bruce Fife.

The American Dental Association (ADA) doesn’t, at this point, recommend oil pulling. Their recommended therapy against cavities is still fluoride. Learn how terrible fluoride is for your body by reading this article.

Although the research is limited, there are some scientific studies supporting the benefits of oil pulling. This includes its benefits for specific types of oral bacteria, dental caries, plaque/gingivitis, and oral micro-organisms. Because dental hygiene has a far-reaching impact throughout the body, oil pulling may improve overall health.

Have you ever tried oil pulling? What was your experience? Share below!

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Steven Lin, who is a Board accredited dentist trained at the University of Sydney. With a background in biomedical science, he is a passionate whole-health advocate, focusing on the link between nutrition and dental health. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor or dentist.

  1. Peedikayil, F. C., Sreenivasan, P., & Narayanan, A. (2015). Effect of coconut oil in plaque related gingivitis — A preliminary report. Nigerian medical journal: journal of the Nigeria Medical Association, 56(2), 143–147. 
  2. Kapoor, U., Sharma, G., Juneja, M., & Nagpal, A. (2016). Halitosis: Current concepts on etiology, diagnosis and management. European journal of dentistry, 10(2), 292–300. https://doi.org/10.4103/1305-7456.178294
  3. Asokan, S., Rathan, J., Muthu, M. S., et al. (2008). Effect of oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans count in plaque and saliva using Dentocult SM Strip mutans test: a randomized, controlled, triple-blind study. Journal of the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, 26(1), 12–17. 
  4. Durai Anand, T. Pothiraj, C., Gopinath, R. M., et al. (2008). Effect of oil-pulling on dental caries causing bacteria (PDF). African Journal of Microbiology Research, 2(3), 63-66.
  5. HV Amith, Anil V Ankola, L Nagesh. Effect of Oil Pulling on Plaque and Gingivitis. Journal of Oral Health & Community Dentistry: 2007; 1(1):Pages 12-18.
  6. Asokan, S., Emmadi, P., & Chamundeswari, R. (2009). Effect of oil pulling on plaque induced gingivitis: A randomized, controlled, triple-blind study. Indian Journal of Dental Research, 20, 47-51.
  7. Thaweboon, S., Nakaparksin, J., & Thaweboon, B. (2011). Effect of oil-pulling on oral microorganisms in biofilm models. Asia Journal of Public Health, 2(2), 62-66.
  8. Peedikayil, F. C., Sreenivasan, P., & Narayanan, A. (2015). Effect of coconut oil in plaque related gingivitis – A preliminary report. Nigerian medical journal: journal of the Nigeria Medical Association, 56(2), 143–147. 
  9. Ludwar, L., Mannel, H., Hamacher, S., Noack, M. J., & Barbe, A. G. (2022). Oil pulling to relieve medication-induced xerostomia: A randomized, single-blind, crossover trial. Oral diseases, 28(2), 373–383. 
  10. Peng, T. R., Cheng, H. Y., Wu, T. W., & Ng, B. K. (2022). Effectiveness of Oil Pulling for Improving Oral Health: A Meta-Analysis – PMC. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 10(10), 1991.
  11. Sezgin, Y., Memis Ozgul, B., Mara?, M. E., & Alptekin, N. O. (2021). Comparison of the plaque regrowth inhibition effects of oil pulling therapy with sesame oil or coconut oil using 4-day plaque regrowth study model: A randomized crossover clinical trial. International journal of dental hygiene, 10.1111/idh.12532. Advance online publication. 
  12. Griessl, T., Zechel-Gran, S., Olejniczak, S., Weigel, M., Hain, T., & Domann, E. (2021). High-resolution taxonomic examination of the oral microbiome after oil pulling with standardized sunflower seed oil and healthy participants: a pilot study. Clinical oral investigations, 25(5), 2689–2703.
  13. Sheikh, F. S., & Iyer, R. R. (2016). The effect of oil pulling with rice bran oil, sesame oil, and chlorhexidine mouth rinsing on halitosis among pregnant women: A comparative interventional study. Indian journal of dental research : official publication of Indian Society for Dental Research, 27(5), 508–512. https://doi.org/10.4103/0970-9290.195638
  14. Sezgin, Y., Memis Ozgul, B., Mara?, M. E., & Alptekin, N. O. (2021). Comparison of the plaque regrowth inhibition effects of oil pulling therapy with sesame oil or coconut oil using 4-day plaque regrowth study model: A randomized crossover clinical trial. International journal of dental hygiene, 10.1111/idh.12532. Advance online publication. 
  15. Matriste, L. (2017, October 29). The truth about oil pulling: A dental perspective. Laser + Holistic Dental. 
Oil pulling is an ancient practice that can whiten teeth, improve gums, bad breath and oral health by reducing bacteria, plaque, and infection in the mouth.
Sources

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Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

735 responses to “Oil Pulling Benefits For a Healthier Mouth”

  1. Crystal Avatar
    Crystal

    Hello all!
    So I’ve been researching oil pulling.
    I saw a few videos and only to have my eyes fill up with tears and feel myself starting to gag! The idea of essentially putting fat into my mouth makes me… I can’t even finish my sentance! I am really intrigued and would love to try it! Is anyone else having these same reactions???!

    1. Tangela Avatar

      I thought I would gag also. However, using the coconut oil was not bad. It had a slight coconut flavor and was about like swishing warm water.

  2. Praveen Shukla Avatar
    Praveen Shukla

    I have started oil pulling few weeks back with a ebook sent by the oilpulling.com website. It was very informative and they seems to have covered it really well. My results are mixed as of today but i am hoping to see better results based on all the feedback i am reading on sites like this.

  3. Tacey Avatar

    I don’t think that 20 minutes is a waste of time, it’s just that it feels so yucky in my mouth right now. It’s been 15 min, 5 more to go now and I feel like I’m about to burst. 🙁 I guess I’ll keep trying because I know it’ll be worth it. Blecccch.

  4. Kristen Avatar
    Kristen

    I started oil pulling just yesterday, swishing for only 10 minutes last night and 10 minutes tonight. I’m already feeling slightly congested with a slight headache – nothing too uncomfortable, but I’m guessing this is part of the detox process, unless I’m just getting sick. If it is the detoxification, great! I think I’ll keep oil pulling in an effort to whiten my teeth. I’m using unrefined virgin coconut oil.

  5. Mandy Avatar

    Your resources listed all are based off of sesame oil not coconut

  6. Jenn Avatar

    20 minutes went by pretty fast and I didn’t gage or anything. This is the first day I did it so I will see if I can continue this practice everyday.

  7. Kay E. Avatar

    I heard a doctor on the radio discussing pulling with coconut oil. She said it have benefits, but had a caution. If you have older silver fillings she said it could leach the mercury from the fillings. She thought if you only did it once or twice a week instead of every day, it might be ok.

  8. Beth Avatar

    Thank you for all of your posts and instructions on your blog. Every time I hear something new about natural care, I know I can come here to learn how to do it! Over the past month I’ve completely changed my diet (being vegetarian before didn’t mean I was actually eating well lol), took the chemicals out of what I put on my body and in my body, and was able to stop wearing so much make up. I have/had very bad acne & scars (even though I am almost 30) and used to put on what I called a “full face”, with foundation/concealer/blush/powder, everyday. Now I just use a little concealer & hope that as the months go by I won’t need that either!

    I tried oil pulling this morning with extra virgin olive oil (because it was in my cabinet). 20 minutes is WAY too long for me to even imagine right now, so I decided to only do 10 minutes and I’ll work my way up to 20 as I am more and more used to the texture and routine. 10 was rough, but it wasn’t so bad. I’m going to buy some coconut oil because I think I might like the taste better.

    What I tell people: it’s progress not perfection; take baby steps. If I woke up and completely changed everything I did overnight, I’d be so uncomfortable I’d immediately want to go back to how things were. Everything seems shocking before we take the first step — Running a marathon right now sounds absurd, but if I started at 1 mile of walking & built up, it wouldn’t be so crazy. If we slowly integrate new routines, in a few weeks we’ll realize that we’re healthy and happy with little effort! 🙂

    Thank you for sharing your experiences & helping me to change my habits!

    1. Beth Avatar

      New update: I bought coconut oil and it is *much* easier to use for the full 20 minutes. I’m looking forward to see if I notice any differences in my health!

      1. Lisa M Avatar

        Hi,

        Great point. I agree. I tried Almond Oil this morning and it wasn’t too great. I’ll go back to the coconut oil, which makes my teeth feel cleaner – not the reaction I had using Almond Oil.

    2. Emily Avatar

      Hi there, thanks for the great post! I was wondering if you or anyone else had the weird pimple-like bumps/blackheads on your cheeks after oil-pulling for a while. I don’t have any other symptoms other than the blackheads which are really annoying. Any advice/tips?

  9. Pam Avatar

    Well I tried it and even though I thought I wouldn’t like it for several reasons I am surprised at how comfortable it really was and am already feeling effects.
    I hate that feeling that you get when you put something greasy in your mouth especially if it is cold. I call it Bologna mouth and I avoid it at all cost. I was very surprised that I didn’t feel that feeling at all. In fact when I spit the oil out my mouth actually feels clean.
    I am not a huge fan of coconut. I avoid macaroons and the thought of putting straight coconut anything was not attractive, but when I used the coconut oil for pulling it didn’t taste much at all. There is a mild taste but it isn’t that usual heavy coconut taste that I don’t like.
    My mouth feels amazing!! I have some really serious dental issues and I decided it was worth it no matter what. My whole mouth feels different. My teeth feel smooth like they just got cleaned at the dentist and the spaces between them are clear for the first time in a while. (I usually cannot floss because the floss just breaks my teeth are so tight) I could actually swish between my teeth by the end of the 20 min. I have a couple of huge uncared for cavities and they even seem cleaner than I get them when I brush.
    I am sold! This will be a daily thing and I am looking forward to the changes that I know will come from it. Thanks so much for the info!!

  10. Heather Avatar
    Heather

    I started doing Oil Pulling 2 days ago, and have noticed a much whiter smile. I must warn you if you have a gag reflex like myself, you may want to let the Coconut Oil melt first, as I gagged the first time with the texture. 20 minutes is a long time, but flies by when you do it while your getting dressed and ready for work, or just to snooze your alarm and lay back down for 20 minutes.

    I have had a mild headache since doing so, but I’m hoping that will pass as the days go on. I’ve been using Lavender, Peppermint, and Almond Oil to help relieve the headache, and its working well.

  11. Nid Avatar

    I just tried oil pulling for the first time with extra virgin organic coconut oil. First of all, let me just say, I grew up with what I now realize was probably pretty poor quality, overly-processed/heated coconut oil, but we never used it for eating. It was always as a hair nourishing oil, but I always remember that horrible, old, rancid coconut smell. The organic, extra-virgin was like….WOAH! Delicious smelling and tasting like chocolate macaroon yummy! (And then of course during pulling it gets gross as it pulls all the yuckies from your system!). Here’s my question….I was only able to do it for barely two minutes. I found the oil very quickly thickened and the amount I was dealing with became overwhelming very quickly. I don’t know if this is because I am dealing with an infection in my mouth that would have caused more toxins than normal to be pulled or if I just need to use less oil to allow for the saliva that is produced and adds to the volume of liquid in the mouth after a while. Any more experienced pullers that can share their insights?

  12. Crystal Morris Avatar
    Crystal Morris

    Oil pulling is an Ayurvedic tradition and that tradition says to use sesame seed oil or sunflower seed oil, but preferrably sesame seed. Its been done that way with amazing benefits for thousands of years.

    Coconut oil is not a recommended oil for oil pulling. Many who have used it have had issues with it like bleeding gums, receding gums getting worse, and tooth sensitivity. The thought is that because coconut oil is antibacterial it kills all the bacteria in the mouth, even the beneficial flora, causing the teeth and gum to become sensitive and to recede. We need the beneficial flora in our mouths.

    Oil pulling is a method of detoxification. It is not simply a mouth cleansing or teeth whitening treatment. Though many seem to think so and use it for such. It literally is to pull toxins and metals out of the mouth, gums, teeth, and salivary glands to aid in detoxification of the body. Therefore you do not want to swallow the oil that is in your mouth.

    If you have amalgam fillings it is NOT safe for you to do oil pulling, it will pull more mercury out of your fillings and into your blood stream, not a good thing. You would need to have amalgam fillings removed before beginning oil pulling.

    Resources:

    http://www.oilpulling.com/
    They have free e-books on this website! (or did at one time at least)

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3131773/

    1. Jill Avatar

      Crystal Morris, I am looking for information to support your claim that oil pulling when one has amalgam fillings would cause metals to be absorbed into the blood stream. Can you give me some links to support your opinion? Thanks so much!

      1. Tangela Avatar

        I would like that information as well. As she says, “It literally is to pull toxins and metals OUT of the mouth, gums, teeth, and salivary glands to aid in detoxification of the body”, it seems to be a good thing to oil pull if you have amalgam fillings. How does oil pulling cause the mercury in amalgam fillings to get into your blood stream? I have amalgam fillings and that is one reason I was drawn to the oil pulling.

  13. Crystal Morris Avatar
    Crystal Morris

    It’s a bit frustrating seeing people over & over recommend CCO for oil pulling. It’s important to know that CCO can strip your mouth of health flora as well as the bad stuff & that oil pulling is not just for bright whites. Oil pulling is an ancient tradition using specific oils for very specific reasons. CCO is not recommended. It can cause serious mouth problems including bleeding & receding gums & teeth sensitivity.

  14. Sandi Avatar

    I’ve read that it’s best to use unrefined coconut oil. My container only says that it’s organic..extra virgin. Would this be okay to use?

  15. Jennifer Avatar
    Jennifer

    An interesting concept with ancient roots. I’m wondering, though, where the 20 minute recommendation originated. I found an article in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine from 2011 that states, “A comfortable amount of fluid is retained with the mouth closed for about 3 minutes, and then gargled. It is a simple rejuvenating treatment, which, when done routinely, enhances the senses, maintains clarity, brings about a feeling of freshness, and invigorates the mind … can also benefit bad breath, dry face, dull senses, exhaustion, anorexia, loss of taste, impaired vision, sore throat, and all kapha related imbalances.” A shorter time period of swishing with the same benefits? I’m game!

  16. Loreta Avatar

    2 questions:

    1. Has anyone tried liquid coconut oil rather than solid (Nature’s Way)?

    2. I don’t function in the morning til I have had my coffee (yes, a bad habit, my one vice besides dark chocolate). Is it ok to do this mid-morning? I know it is recommended to do it first thing in the morning but I would think anytime is better than no time.

    Thanks

  17. Bruce Bolger Avatar
    Bruce Bolger

    I have had a persistent cough (possibly related to my lymphoma) that normal pharmaceutical treatments for sinus etc infections did not help at all. I read about oil pulling and thought why not…. used coconut oil and on the first day went from coughing all day to just a half dozen times. After two weeks I have no more cough. Relief after a year and a half! Coincidence? Perhaps but I will stick with it and after talking to the nurse at the Wilmot Cancer Center here in Rochester this morning I plan to start blending coconut oil, butter and hot coffee in the morning as she said she has felt more energy and better general health after she has been doing that every morning.

    1. amanda Avatar

      Bruce, my daughter had a chronic cough that would not go away. It would get consistently worse until she was actually throwing up at night. The DRs would just prescribe an antibiotic and push us out the door, which would work, but they couldn’t explain why. I switched doctors and finally found one that figured out the cough was caused by sinus infections she would consistently get. The sinus infections were caused by ENLARGED ADENOIDS. She had those removed as well as her tonsils and the infections and subsequent cough have never come back. Just a thought you may want to look into. Of course, if the pulling is working spare yourself the traumatizing surgery!

  18. Dee Avatar

    Hello

    I did my first oil pull this morning. I used organic coconut oil. The solid oil was kind of weird and “bulky” in my mouth. Took a bit to melt, but when it did, I had no problem doing 20 minutes. The person who posted a comment about occupying your time with things to do to pass the time, was spot on. Tristin asked the question about why you do it in the morning. To me, it would make more sense to do it at night before you go to bed. Then you are “cleaning” everything you put in your mouth throughout the day. When you rinse, brush, and go to bed, you have at least 6-8 hours before eating or drinking anything. Seems to me, that would benefit you more. Can you please explain? Thank you for your help.

  19. Tristan Avatar

    Why is it best done in the morning? Is this before or after breakfast? If you’re doing it and then brushing your teeth before breakfast then your mouth will get dirty again eating breakfast. Wouldn’t it be better for to do it after breakfast? Then your mouth will be clean all the way up until lunch.

    1. Tristan Avatar

      Whoops, never mind. I read the other comments. I’ve got invisalign braces right now so I have to brush my teeth after every meal. So it’s a major inconvenience to do it before eating. Unless I do the oil pulling, rinsed my mouth, ate breakfast, and then brushed my teeth.

  20. Kathy Avatar

    I’m sorry, I just simply cannot do this. For some reason, it makes me want to vomit. There must be an easier way.

    1. Sian Phillips Avatar
      Sian Phillips

      Same I felt really nauseous afterwards! It’s not making me want to do it again!

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