Coconut Oil Pulling Chews Recipe

I’m a big fan of oil pulling. I’ve shared before how I originally started this age-old practice and why I eventually started using coconut oil for oil pulling instead.

Why Oil Pulling?

If you aren’t familiar with oil pulling, it is simply swishing oil (usually sesame or coconut oil) in the mouth for a period of time (5-20 minutes) and then spitting it out in the trash. It is said to help reduce plaque and coconut oil is naturally antibacterial and even said to kill the specific bacteria that causes cavities.

The idea is that the oil is able to reach and help remove harmful substances in the mouth like bacteria and plaque. Unlike alcohol-based mouthwashes and regular toothpaste, oil may be able to reach parts of the gum and between the teeth and the naturally antibacterial properties of oils like coconut may help break down bacteria.

Many people report that their teeth and gums feel much cleaner when using oil pulling regularly. Others notice that bad breath goes away. Personally, I saw a reduction in gum swelling and in plaque on my teeth and my dentist commented on how clean and plaque-free my teeth were after I added oil pulling to my oral health routine.

What Oil Pulling Won’t Do…

Some online sources claim that oil pulling can help with everything from acne to sore throat and even reduce the chance of heart disease, but I haven’t been able to find any actual evidence to back up these claims, other than the fact that good oral hygiene is important for overall health. Oil pulling probably won’t be a miracle cure for your acne or health problems, but there is a good chance it will promote healthier teeth and gums, especially if used in combination with other good oral health practices.

Coconut Oil Pulling Chews

The other day when making coconut oil chocolate in little heart molds, I realized that I could simplify the oil pulling process by making pre-made, bite-size oil pulling chews.

Lately, I’ve been experimenting with adding essential oils to oil for oil pulling to improve the taste and to get the added benefits of the essential oil and I decided to pre-add the essential oils as well. My favorites so far have been essential oils that are naturally found in toothpaste, like peppermint and clove. As with any essential oil, make sure that oils used for oil pulling are safe for oral use.

The result was simple-to-use pre-mixed oil pulling chews. I keep these in the fridge so they maintain their shape and also so that they are cool when I use them since it helps with the texture at the beginning. In fact, for my kids who have trouble with the texture of coconut oil, I’ve found that keeping these in the fridge so they can “chew” them first helps a lot.

Oil Pulling Chews -Ingredients

1/2 cup coconut oil
20-30 drops of essential oil (peppermint, cinnamon, clove, etc- check with a doc or midwife if you are pregnant, nursing, or before using on children)

Instructions

Melt the coconut oil until just barely liquid.
Remove from heat and add essential oils.
Pour into silicon candy molds and put in the fridge or freezer to harden.
When done, remove from molds and store in a jar.
Use one per day as needed for oil pulling.

Other Healthy Mouth Recipes:

I’ve always been fascinated by oral health, and after I was able to use a combination of diet, supplements and oral health products to reverse a cavity, I’ve made these methods a priority for our whole family. These are some of the other recipes and methods we use:

Ever tried oil pulling? How did it work for you?

These simple homemade coconut oil pulling chews use coconut oil and essential oils to cleanse the mouth and help remove bacteria and plaque.

Sources

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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

226 responses to “Coconut Oil Pulling Chews”

Cristina

November 28, 2014

How long can I keep them in the fridge? Also, what is the pulling recommended time for a 4 year old? Thanks

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  November 29, 2014
  
  Well, I have only been making them for a short while, but I bet they will keep in the fridge for months. Nothing there to go bad, really.
  
  Reply
Liz

November 27, 2014

I just came across your page on Facebook and came to your website. I’m very interested in the oil pulling but I was very concerned when I read your blog which has some great information. But Wintergreen should never be taken orally. I found this on a website and have used a sensual oils on myself and my clients for several years now. Even though mirth doesn’t taste great it is good for gum health but I would never ever suggest putting Wintergreen in your mouth.

“A Few Words of Caution: The essential oil of wintergreen is highly poisonous due to the presence of Menthyl Salicylate. It should never be ingested and should not be used in aromatherapy. External application is sufficient for making this oil work inside since it easily seeps through the skin and is absorbed by the muscles and tissues. Furthermore, if accidentally ingested, it can cause severe damage to internal organs like the liver and kidneys. One more cautionary note, excessive external application on the skin can also turn fatal because of absorption of excessive Menthyl Salicylate in the tissues and consequently in the blood stream. There have been examples of death of sportsmen who rubbed too much of a relaxing ointment on his thighs which contained Menthyl Salicylate. It should never be given to patients who are hyper-reactive to salicylates.” https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/wintergreen-essential-oil.html

Reply
1. Liz
  
  November 28, 2014
  
  Sorry for the typos I was talking on Siri. ????
  
  Reply
Justin

November 27, 2014

Hi I recently came across your blogs here and have to say I have really been enjoying this! I only just started OP and even just a week later from starting, I see all the effects including the cleaner mouth and teeth. This truly is an amazing process and even those who are skeptical as i was should try it for at least a few days… Thats when i really noticed the difference in my oral health, sensitivity, and everything else. I finally have that fresh from the dentist feel on a daily basis! Ill be making these chews and your remineralizing toothpaste next!

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Anne

November 27, 2014

Brilliant!!!

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Holly

November 27, 2014

I love this! Thanks for all the amazing posts! Just curious, what brand of essential oils do you use? I’m finding a lot of varying information on certain companies, making it difficult for me to choose! Thanks 🙂

Reply
1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  November 27, 2014
  
  I’m currently using Mountain Rose Herbs and Tropical Traditions primarily, but use other brands as well depending on the blend and scent I need…
  
  Reply
2. Yrestepo
  
  January 12, 2015
  
  After a long research, I decided to use Young Living for me and family and now I Love them!!
  
  Reply
Michelle

November 27, 2014

Genius! Thank you very much! This is so simple, especially since here in the Philippines, I don’t have to do step 1 since at our ambient temperature here, coconut oil is liquid! Can’t wait to try this, Katie. No mess and spills and with flavor too.

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Lillian

November 27, 2014

I love that your emails include everything that is in your new blogposts and not just a link. That is super convenient! I love it!

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Cynthia

November 27, 2014

Just a word of caution to people who are new to essential oils. While I think this is an EXCELLENT idea, 20-30 drops is a lot! of essential oil for a 1/2 cup and works out roughly to 1 1/2 -2 drops per 1\2 Tbsp. I’m definitely going to experiment with this one! Not so much to debunk anything (but rather to figure out if this IS a safe amount to use and obviously to be able to use it myself) because I am also do oil pulling plus I use essential oils extensively for everything from antibacterial air-spray to perfume to candles, soap…..to the 3 areas where I’ll put some in my body. That is if I feel I ate something bad. Say for instance I had drank or ate something that made me sick (eg: I was using the same pitcher to make filtered water in and one day it made me sick, despite never putting any substance besides water in there still bacteria got in and ….you get the point, I have a faucet filter now needless to say!) if you have some kind of food sickness then 1 drop of Rosemary per 2 glasses of water will cure you pretty well. That is take a glass of water and add a drop of Rosemary and mix it then put half the water in another glass then fill them both up with water (ending with roughly 24 oz of medicinal water) and sip as much as you feel you can keep down until you feel better. This works like gangbusters!!!! You’ll be VERY relieved you did it when all the sudden about 2 hrs later you feel totally normal again. This will work almost as well with peppermint, if you feel you can’t choke down Rosemary. And the third (well kinda third, you can also do orange or any citrus really) lemon which detoxifies (but you can’t go in the sun for a full 24 hrs after drinking or otherwise using lemon (or any citrus including citronella – think long and hard on this one!) EO, even if on the bottom of your foot (which is a great place to put EOs if you want them quickly absorbed), no matter where you put it it will go into your entire bloodstream – proven and the reason why EOs are so very, very effective at what they do. Because it gives you photo-sensitivity and you’ll burn in about 1/4 the amount of the time it normally takes plus your melatonin won’t be working correctly and the kind of burn you get will feel like it’s under your skin instead of on your skin – it’s quite unpleasant. I accidentally got part of my leg in the sun while I was photosensitive and fell asleep – it was purple, almost black, later and hurt soooooo bad!). My point being that EOs are nothing to take lightly at all and many people recommend not taking any at all internally unless it’s from young living or doterra which both are extremely, almost prohivitably (sp?) expensive! I like mountain rose (who I’m so upset now will no longer ship EOs, I’m assuming because some are flammable – well all are flammable but will combust I should say – as low as 110 degrees F – don’t keep them in your purse if you’re going to say the beach for instance and your purse will be sitting in the sun for hrs!! I’m trying out bulk apothecary’s oils now and I’ll let you know how they do). I’ve learned the hard way, despite having taken a class (a real class that cost money) on EO usage and being warned by an instructor not to take ANY internally, to respect EOs and research every time I’m going to use some – like some are toxic to cats and my cat likes to lick and so I have to be extremely careful what I put on me or even my fingers when I’m mixing in case he licks me. I obviously don’t agree with the instructor totally – because the class was for beginners. I think in an intermediate or even advanced class she would have gone over the cases where and when it’s aporopriate to very carefully put some in your body.

Now I do HIGHLY recommend using EOs, don’t get me wrong but please, please be careful. Peppermint and cinnimon both are EOs that you can build a sensitivity to relatively quickly if you overuse them. And that would be a real shame because they really, really are a great thing!! One time I mixed peppermint with just a tad too little carrier oil (sweet almond is my go to) and I burned the back of my neck! (EOs don’t burn you like a flame would, they just sting like crazy, some can be used neat – undiluted, but look it up first).

Whew! Ok very long word of caution over! Sorry for taking up so much space! But it’s super important to me that people learn to use them carefully and respectfully!

I bought your book, one for me and one for my bf, and I love it!! So glad I did, she has an autoimmune problem that is severe and I think you’ll be helping her so much for the SECOND time after that summit you did. Like save her life kind of help! You are my current hero!! (Please don’t freak out about that)!

With all due respect and obvious care,

Cynthia

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1. Dianna Clark
  
  January 8, 2015
  
  What is the difference between EO and peppermint and other flavorings? I’m wondering because it seems to me if peppermint flavoring is made from peppermint, then if the EO is also made from it, what’s the deal? Why could I not use Peppermint EO as a flavoring?
  
  Reply
  1. Christina
    
    January 17, 2015
    
    peppermint essential oil is pure oil extracted from the peppermint leaf by steam distillation. peppermint flavor (or peppermint extract) is really just peppermint soaked vodka. Essential oils are very strong. it is recommended to avoid ingestion essential oils because there is not enough research on how oils of that strength can affect the body. If you do intend to ingest, it is recommended that you highly dilute the oils.
    
    You should not use a flavoring or extract the way you would use and essential oil as the extracts/flavorings are mostly vodka….
    
    Reply
2. Sharon
  
  January 9, 2015
  
  There is no need to be concerned about photosensitivity when ingesting citrus essential oils. Caution should be exercised when applying citrus oils to the skin and then going outdoors.
  
  Young Living essential oils can be used for oil pulling and in cooking – even wintergreen. The manner in which wintergreen is distilled determines if it is safe to ingest or if it is toxic. Look at your label to be sure.
  
  Thank you for another awesome recipe!
  
  Reply
  1. Janice
    
    November 1, 2015
    
    Actually, it isn’t. I worked in an herb shoppe for quite some time and every week, without fail, someone would come in with an essential-oil related injury asking us to fix it. Once a woman had taken a capsule–a whole OO capsule–of oregano in the morning. Two hours later she stumbles in, hardly able to talk, and we stood there helplessly as she begged us to cure her. We told her that she needed to go to the hospital. This woman’s Young Living rep had told her to take this “remedy” and when she called after taking the pill, the rep told her she was ‘detoxing.’ She called us later that week, saying that they had to pump her stomach and she had burns in her stomach… Now, her rep: I had to ask, how did this woman find out about essential oils? Did she go to a school? What educational facility failed her so terribly that she sent a woman to the hospital? Oh. It was the company. Hmm.
    
    Here’s the thing about MLM essential oil companies: for some reason, the two major companies seem to be convinced that it’s okay to eat these vital plant oils, to put them undiluted on the skin… Every other company seems to warn–DILUTE, DO NOT EAT. But the two big MLMs have an army of highly devoted, well-meaning reps with great social skills and pitches. These reps are your friends, your neighbors, someone you trust. And they are being misinformed. The real, real reason that they say EOs are edible and can be put on the skin undiluted is money. Plain and simple. Less dilution, more oils used. If they’re eating and drinking it, it’s even better. Now, the oils are good. Very good. But they’re priced extremely highly and the bottles are tiny and in my opinion and experience, there are other, cheaper companies out there that are just as good if not better, with a wider variety and lower prices.
    Please folks, please do not eat essential oils! Don’t put them on your skin undiluted! Don’t use citrus oils in your lip balms and lotions, research! And when I say research, I mean not with the company. My favorite book on the subject is Tisserand’s Essential Oil Safety. It’s huge, I love it. There have not been long-term studies on internal or undiluted use of essential oils, much like there have not been real studies on the long-term effects of GMOs.
    The good news is that you can still get therapeutic treatment with your favorite essential oils. The same constituents are in the actual plant, and if it’s harvested and stored properly you will get milder, but similar, results. You might have to take a tea or tincture for a while (generally, we herb nerds like to say that for every year you’ve had the affliction, you can expect to herbally treat for that many months, but it fluctuates quite a bit), but you will be safe. Even a drop of essential oil in your body could be very very damaging to a person with a certain condition or sensitivity… Play it safe. Please. You’ll save money and your body will thank you….
    
    Reply
    1. Wellness Mama
      
      November 1, 2015
      
      Thanks for the thoughtful comment Janice and for reading… I’ve seen much of the same from friends and family and it concerns me. (It is the reason I wrote this post: https://wellnessmama.com/26519/essential-oils-risks/ as there does seem to be a lot of conflicting and misinformation out there..
      
      Reply
3. Desiree Siegel
  
  January 11, 2015
  
  This was my thought as well. Great idea, but way too many drops to be safe. I’m going to try it with just a few drops.
  
  Reply
4. Lynzi
  
  January 15, 2015
  
  You are right to say be careful with EOs a but once you know the “rules” of using them, they can really work miracles. Personally, I would always thoroughly research any EO before using it (that bit is obvious) but if you haven’t used a certain oil in the last few months, check it all over again. It is always best to have the most up to date information on an oil in case you have forgotten anything or, just in case something has been discovered about it since you last used it. I know it’s not likely but it can happen as science is beginning to accept holistic therapies more readily now and actually study their effectiveness.
  I used to breed mice (fancy mice, not feeder mice. I appreciate that reptiles need to eat too but these were bred to be pets.) small animals like that are highly susceptible to stress and if one became hurt, the stress of a car journey to the vet would be too much for it. As a result, I had to be able to help an injured mouse with the minimum of distress to the animal. Lavender is one of the few oils I had been told could be applied undiluted but for a small animal, I felt it best to dilute it anyway (personally, I always use it slightly diluted if using it on a person as well.) My recipe is 10 drops of lavender, 2 of tea tree and 1 of rose (the best quality you can find) with 40 drops of sweet almond oil. Tea tree is strongly anti-virus/bacterial/fungal and lavender has those properties too, plus it encourages tissue regrowth. The rose oil also helps to encourage and speed the tissue repair as well as helping the tissues to knit smoothly with reduced scarring. Since mice are susceptible to tumours, it is very important to ensure the skin heals smoothly. This blend is so effective that when one of my male mice was so badly injured that the whole of his skin, and a large chunk of muscle was torn from his back by his brother, I was able to stitch the muscle back (needs an ultra fine beading needle and a strand of hair to make a dissolvable stitch, massively fiddly and with only home anaesthesia (the equivalent of a couple of swigs of alcohol, the smell of a couple of drops of a liqueur will soothe a mouse without hurting it) but you still have to be fast as anything, then get plenty of fresh air back), then I made sure the wound was completely clean with sterile water and a couple of drops of double diluted oil before I carefully pulled the skin back into place. I used butterfly stitches around the edge, then used the oil mix as I described over the entire area, on the edges of the wound and over the whole back, to encourage the wound to heal and discourage him from worrying at it. I treated the raw edge twice a day, letting the scabbing absorb the oil but not disturbing it, in just less than a week, his scabs fell off and there, underneath, was lovely soft, supple, healed skin! When I first treated him, I would have rated his chances at less than 10% but he was my beautiful boy, a bit of a favourite, and I wasn’t giving up on him that easily. The wound had healed closed beautifully within that first week but I kept up with the oil, now very gently massaging it into his whole back to try and make sure that everything inside healed as neatly. Within two weeks he was so well recovered, he flat out refused to stay in “intensive care” and tried to make a break for the ladies cage. (Females are much less bother, they all live very happily together without fighting!) Anyway, he lived to a ripe old age and that same oil healed a cut on my own arm very nicely too!
  So basically, the point of that massive ramble was that this is a good formula to use for pets, the tea tree stops them licking at it and it all combines well to heal them fast. (You can use a coconut oil base if you want it more as a cream/ointment to apply by hand rather than fiddling with liquid). Sorry it’s a bit off topic but I hope you find it useful!
  
  Reply
  1. Lydis
    
    December 19, 2015
    
    Wow, you are such a darling. Thanks for sharing! I love rats and mice. The are precious little animals.
    
    Reply
5. Pam
  
  March 14, 2016
  
  I’ve seen thieves oil used in toothpaste. Would a drop of this in the coconut oil work to use for oil pulling?
  
  Reply
Shelby

November 27, 2014

I pull using chilled coconut oil…this recipe of yours simplifies the process 🙂
I ‘m going to try the same blend of essential oils I use in my mouthwash – 10 drops peppermint, 5 drops spearmint, 5 drops cinnamon, 5 drops clove and 5 drops lemon

Reply
1. Lindsay
  
  November 29, 2014
  
  Shelby, what else do you put in your mouthwash? Never made it before but it’s on my to do list!
  
  Reply
  1. Shelby
    
    December 1, 2014
    
    Lindsay, per 500mls of distilled water I add 3-4tspns of bicarb, as well as the above essential oils.
    
    Reply
    1. Lindsay
      
      December 1, 2014
      
      Thanks!!
      
      Reply
Berry

November 27, 2014

Neat… We’ve been slacking big time with oil pulling (haven’t done it in a few months, except I tried it today because I had a day long headache I was desperate to get rid of… I think it might have actually helped too 🙂 ) …. Maybe making it easier will get us to do it again 🙂

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1. Cynthia
  
  February 20, 2016
  
  How would it help with a headache? I get migraines, so I’m very curious 🙂 please and thank you.
  
  Reply
Christine

November 27, 2014

I never considered adding essential oils to my oil pulling before, but I love the idea. At first, using coconut oil was a little odd tasting, but I’ve grown to enjoy it. However, I love the idea of adding something different to the mix to keep things fresh and enjoyable! Thank for the wonderful idea!!

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Sarah

November 26, 2014

I love this idea. I have been oil pulling on and off for the last 6 months. I have seen a positive change in my teeth, whiter and less plaque. Sometimes, though, I’m too lazy in the mornings to grab a spoon, get the oil jar, try to eyeball how much I need, and then mix in an EO. I also like using peppermint, I love the fresh feeling it give my mouth. I will definitely have to try this. Maybe I will get back in the habit of oil pulling more regularly again 😉

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Lindsey

November 26, 2014

Love the convenience of this! How many pieces would you make with 1/2 cup of coconut oil? Thanks!

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1. Grace
  
  November 27, 2014
  
  It really depends on the mold. I wouldn’t recommend an abstract mold, the sharp edges might hurt your mouth! Try something small and simple, hearts or circles.
  
  Reply
Yvonne

November 26, 2014

Great tips to learn about. Happy to have found your blog.

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Rose

November 26, 2014

These are a great idea. Do you keep them refridgerated?
Now long do you oil pull everyday?
Thanks for posting. – Rose

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1. Sheri
  
  November 30, 2014
  
  It depends on the temperature of your house. Coconut oil melts around 76 degrees. Mercola recommends oil pulling for 30 minutes a day.
  
  Reply
  1. Jocelyne
    
    February 21, 2016
    
    I have heard 15-20 minutes repeatedly from many…. 30 minutes can mean you start swishing around the bad stuff as well as the oil… should only take the 20 minutes max that is most often suggested.
    
    Reply
Tracy

November 26, 2014

You’ve done it again! Something so simple once someone thinks about it and passes it along – what an awesome idea and here I was trying to ‘scoop’ out the perfect amount of oil every morning 😀

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Janet

November 26, 2014

I have attempted oil pulling but usually last a minute or two before the gag reflex kicks in. It’s very frustrating since I believe this practice may help my dental health. How do these chews work? Are they easier to use then liquid coconut oil?

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1. Lisa
  
  November 27, 2014
  
  The coconut oil will melt in your mouth so i bet it will still trigger your gag reflex. Just keep trying while increasing your time little by little. I couldn’t do it very long at the beginning. Good luck!
  
  Reply
  1. patricia
    
    November 30, 2014
    
    I started oil pulling yesterday, although I’m used to cocnut oil as have 2table spoons every day ,for few months .I have managed 3 mins. Then just feel had enough so get rid. So sure will be able to do longer as time goes on .too early for results to see yet I’m sure but will,carry on .
    
    Reply
    1. heather
      
      January 12, 2015
      
      I found that the first few minutes were the hardest…try different amounts and you don’t need to be super vigorous with it. I find kinda pulling it back and forth on one side at a time helps.
      
      Reply
    2. Kathy
      
      January 25, 2015
      
      you only need 1 tsp to a tablespoon, Heather. Two tablespoons is too much. You need to leave room for saliva and to swish 🙂
      
      Reply
      1. Melinda
        
        March 12, 2015
        
        I think that she meant she eats the 2 tablespoons daily.
  2. Paula G
    
    December 12, 2014
    
    I had trouble with the gag reflex for awhile right towards the end of 20mins. Fixed it by resting my elbows on my knees while sitting & simply leaning forward with my mouth towards the floor.
    
    Reply
    1. Jennifer
      
      January 9, 2015
      
      Smart cookie to reposition your throat away from the back of your tongue.
      
      Reply
2. Christy
  
  November 28, 2014
  
  Try putting a smaller amount in your mouth at a time. Along with with the mint or cinnamon it may help. And the longer you have it in your mouth the thinner it feels. To me bout half way through, it just feels like swishing water.
  
  Reply
3. Heather
  
  December 13, 2014
  
  Try putting less oil in your mouth
  
  Reply
4. Chrissy
  
  January 9, 2015
  
  Some coconut oils brands are easier to use. I used olive oil at first but switch to coconut because it’s supposed to be better. The first brand was aweful I had a hard time with the texture and the flavor and I just couldn’t do it. Recently I tried a different brand and the flavor and texture was MUCH better. I also think trying less at a time is helpful. Good luck 🙂
  
  Reply
5. Mel
  
  January 9, 2015
  
  I’ve found that placing the solid coconut oil under my tongue and allowing it to completely melt before slowly starting the swishing made all the difference for me. I’m up to the full 20 min with no problems now.
  
  Reply
  1. heather
    
    January 12, 2015
    
    I put mine in a shot glass inside another glass of super hot water to melt it. No way could I let it melt in my mouth….that would totally gag me.
    
    Reply
  2. katie
    
    February 6, 2016
    
    Good idea! I gave up on this finding about swishing for 2 min felt like 2 hours. But I see I’m not the only person who felt this way. I think I can give it another go based on these suggestions. Thanks wellness mama community!
    
    Reply
6. Gwyn
  
  March 12, 2015
  
  I have a very sensitive gag reflex as well. I can’t brush my teeth without gagging most of the time. A couple of things to try for oil pulling, first as others have mentioned try using a smaller amount and then working up to more, you will get a sense of how much to use. Next when your mouth starts to feel full and like you are going to gag spit some but not all of what’s in your mouth out so it isn’t so full and doesn’t touch the back of your throat (a key factor in the non-gagging I think). It also helps to start at 5-10 min and lengthen the time as it works for you, don’t worry about getting to 20 min, that will happen. I also find it very helpful to pull while getting ready for and showering. I think the distraction of doing other things along with the warm water is helpful but it’s also helpful not having to worry about cleaning anything if I have to spit it out or do gag. Oh and I find adding peppermint essential oil very helpful as well but that’s me another oil might work better for you if you don’t like peppermint, I have always planned to try orange and or lemon, tangerine… Hope this helps, pulling really is great in so many ways once you figure it out.
  
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  1. Kelly
    
    April 13, 2015
    
    You don’t want to use citrus oils for oil pulling. No citrus is good against your teeth. It will eat enamel.
    
    Reply
  2. Tanisha
    
    September 3, 2015
    
    Thanks that was very helpful now I have more hope on getting this done.
    
    Reply
7. Jenn
  
  January 9, 2016
  
  Try using peppermint oil and a drop of clove oil and spearmint oil to help flavour the oil and add a pinch of baking soda and use the mixture as a toothpaste to brush your teeth and mouth with and swish after then spit it out follow with a floss then second brush and swish
  
  Reply
  1. Dianna Clark
    
    January 9, 2016
    
    Thank you. I was wondering if you could use baking soda mixed with the oils. I’m going to brush first and then try pulling. My coconut oil stays solid because I keep it in the fridge.
    
    Reply
8. Cynthia
  
  February 20, 2016
  
  I’ve learned to lean forward. Helps with the gag reflex. And take a little less at a time.
  
  Reply
Alexis

November 26, 2014

Hi Katie,

What are your thoughts on oil pulling while nursing? Do you think it I safe to start while nursing?

Reply
1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  November 27, 2014
  
  I’ve done it while nursing, but always check with your Dr. if you’re worried about it.
  
  Reply
Kim

November 26, 2014

Love this idea! I will definitely be making these. Thank you for the time you spend to give me such useful info for my family. I could spend hours here!

Reply
Maria Boutros

November 26, 2014

Best idea ever ive been meaning to try oil pulling but it just seemed too messy. Thank you !

Reply
1. Susan
  
  November 29, 2014
  
  I began oil pulling this past July using coconut oil but I have used extra virgin olive oil too. I just swish it in my mouth for 20 minutes daily while I am in the shower – spit out in a Dixie cup and throw in the garbage. I had my 6 month dental cleaning and check up in October. I noticed that I did not have as much blood when I rinsed after the hygienist cleaned my teeth and she was pleased that I had less plaque build up on my teeth. So, for me, oil pulling is helping with my oral hygiene so I will continue my daily regime. And, if I can do swish the oil for 20 minutes, I believe that anyone can.
  
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  1. melody
    
    April 18, 2015
    
    I read your blog and I’m all about natural alternatives but the fact that you are still bleeding (maybe less… but still bleeding) means that you have an infection in your mouth and the source of the infection is still in there. Unfortunately oil pulling does not remove old plaque. All it does it makes the surface of your teeth more slippery and makes it harder for plaque to stick to, The only remedy for the bleeding is a good deep cleaning and prevention by proper flossing daily. There is also a saliva test now that can be done to determine what kind of bacteria is hanging around your mouth and how susceptible these bacteria make you to gum disease. Some bacteria are hard to get rid of because they are hidden inside the soft tissue instead of on teeth and for these bacteria the remedy is to have a specific antibiotic that needs to be taken by the patient to target them. By the way to prevent cavities baking soda is very helpful (sprinkled on toothbrush ) raises the ph of the mouth and makes it hard for caries to even start.
    
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    1. Jared
      
      April 18, 2015
      
      Would adding baking soda to water used in an irrigator be effective? Thx
      
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      1. Judy Beeman
        
        November 5, 2015
        
        Yes it would for pH correcting but it wouldn’t help scrape plaque off of your teeth.
    2. PammiB
      
      June 14, 2015
      
      Blood in your spit when getting teeth cleaned by the dentist can sometimes just be from where they poked your gum with the dental tool. The dental hygienist can tell you whether the blood is from ‘aggressive’ cleaning by them or whether it was actually your diseased gums.
      
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      1. Rebecca
        
        August 7, 2015
        
        That!s a cop out, I’m a student and because of that the chance of me causing bleeding is probably higher than a professional, however most of my patients do not bleed when I work, and those that do, generally have some sort of gingivitis.
    3. Paul
      
      August 29, 2015
      
      This may seem strange, but eating sauerkraut can lift plaque without the needs for digging or scraping. I have a spot behind my bottom two front teeth that accumulates plaque into a thick pad that I will occasionally take to with a scraper to remove. However, I discovered when I started making my own homemade sauerkraut that eating it did the job for me.
      
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      1. Erika
        
        January 7, 2016
        
        Awesome, Paul. Thanks! I wonder if all fermented foods aid in the same way. We’ve been enjoying fermented salsa at our house.
      2. Sheila Uhde
        
        January 17, 2016
        
        Awesome thank you!
      3. Kathy
        
        June 12, 2016
        
        What scraper do you use?
    4. Sheila Uhde
      
      January 17, 2016
      
      My friend told me about oil pulling with coconut oil. Ha had chronic gingivitis and had been struggling with it for years. Also his teeth were very yellow and no amount of antibiotics or whiteness would solve his problems, but now that he uses oil pulling his gums are pink instead of red, they don’t bleed when he brushed, his teeth are whiter that ever, And no more mouth pain or bad breath! If he could fix it better with oil than antibiotics after years of dental help and prescriptions, I think the oils are definitely better, (there are many antibacterial oils that can be added) And better for you than artificial and abrasive whiteners too!
      
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    5. Kathy
      
      February 18, 2016
      
      I had a gum infection from a popcorn skin, the dentist advised to swish with hydrogen peroxide for 5 minutes daily ’til it cleared up. It took a few days then was good. Dentist also said instead of paying for tooth whiteners, swish peroxide around teeth for 5 min a couple times a week.
      
      Baking soda was recommended too, for changing acid balance in mouth. If mouth is too acidic, maybe from poor gut microbes or reflux, it will deteriorate the enamel on teeth and make them prone to weakness, plaque build-up and cavities.
      
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    6. Tricia
      
      June 30, 2016
      
      You might even want to try Young Living Thieves Aromatic toothpaste. This DOES remove plaque, and with pulling. My dentist was SHOCKED at not having to clean off as much plaque from my teeth on my last visit, than she normally does. I told her it was from Oil pulling and the toothpaste! Its pricey BUT WORTH EVERY DIME!
      
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  2. Bruco
    
    January 12, 2016
    
    Rinsing your mouth with hydrogen peroxide will heal your mouth of the bad bacteria and no more gingivitis.
    
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  3. Libby
    
    January 28, 2016
    
    You really shouldn’t use olive oil, safflower oil or linseed oil to pull since studies have shown those oils did not have an antimicrobial colonization effect on enamel of teeth. Sesame or coconut is best, organic.
    
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2. Ivy
  
  March 9, 2015
  
  one needs to be careful putting EO’s in plastic or Silicone molds in this case. The heated coconut oil, the silicone and EO’s = not healthy. No one has ever done long term studies on heating silicone so I never buy it as a muffin tin or mold to use in the oven. But I do know that the EO’s should be mixed in only glass.
  
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  1. Karen
    
    March 12, 2015
    
    Very good point. I don’t see why you’d really have to melt the oil before mixing it with EO’s. I usually just mash them together in a small glass bowl. I suppose it would be just fine mash them and put them into a candy mold then into the fridge until hardened. Maybe they have glass molds as well. The shapes might work better for kids but the coolness might be something an adult would like and maybe it would make it easier to tolerate when you first start chewing it up. Thanks for the idea.
    
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    1. Pam
      
      April 3, 2015
      
      If you read carefully, she does say melt to “just liquid”. With coconut oil, that is less than body temp. Oil is not hot. Also, depending on the oil you use, Citrus essential oils are the only ones that are a problem with using in plastic.
      
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      1. Sandra
        
        July 16, 2015
        
        Actually, I disagree with this as I’ve worked with essential oils for over 20 years & have had some pretty nasty surprises. I’ve seen essential oils completely deform plastic containers to the point where they look like they had been melted over heat, even when diluted with carrier oils.
        
        Just avoid plastic altogether when using essential oils. Glass or stainless steel only. Better yet, avoid storing even carrier oils in plastic. Plastics are porous to varying degrees & chemicals can leech out of them into your oils, completely defeating the purpose of using or making a natural product.
      2. Angie
        
        July 23, 2015
        
        Right! I MELT my oils by putting it in a small glass mixing bowl, then place that bowl in hot water. Also, not towards you, but she didnt say HEAT THE SILICON MOLD. Just use the mold for smaller candy-sized pieces. But anyway. I enjoyed the article. My dentist wanted to do a root canal on one of my teeth. I couldn’t afford it. So I began oil pulling. And at my last appt. It looked normal so he completely forgot about it until I asked him to compare the two. ? I’m happy. #coconutrocks
      3. Dani
        
        January 1, 2016
        
        Citric also breaks down tooth enamel- probably not ideal for pulling chews:)
      4. Alice
        
        January 19, 2016
        
        I did use the silicone molds with cooled oils and put in fridge then in a glass jar as instructed I must say I liked this idea better than putting globs on a spoon each morning and this was my first day using it. I really enjoyed the neatness of this way of oil pulling and plan to continue in this way.
    2. Nic
      
      June 30, 2015
      
      Would an ice cube tray suffice? I am going to try this but with the melted coconut oil and put in ice cube trays
      
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  2. Crystal
    
    April 14, 2015
    
    1000% agree. Silicone is the “new” plastic in my opinion. I steer clear of both! Glass or stainless steel for this family!
    
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    1. Sandra
      
      July 16, 2015
      
      As coconut oil melts at a *very* low temperature – even at body temperature – it wouldn’t be a problem to use silicone or even plastic to mold these chews (unless adding essential oils, in which case I’d stick to the silicone). In addition, the chews aren’t being stored in the plastic or silicone trays & are only in there long enough to set, making it incredibly unlikely that anything would leech into the oil in this case, especially in the cool interior of the fridge or freezer.
      
      Silicones are also very different from plastics molecularly & don’t react like plastics do. Think about the simple example of putting a plastic tray in the oven vs a silicone tray. One will completely lose its form while the other will not. Both materials have very different heat tolerances, with silicone being able to withstand much higher temperatures. They’re not at all alike in this manner. I’d recommend doing some research on the origins & the differences between silicones & plastics. Both types of materials also come in different varieties, with some being more stable than others under different conditions. There’s a wealth of knowledge out there.
      
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      1. Angie
        
        July 23, 2015
        
        Ong! Thank you. I guess only a few of us read and understood the article. Thanks for your feedback.
      2. Karritt
        
        December 23, 2015
        
        Completely agree!!! Anyone who has researched using EOs with silicone would find that it is much different than using plastic.
    2. Daniel
      
      January 26, 2016
      
      Stainless steel has nickel in it, which is toxic, so not ideal for many things.
      
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  3. Judy Beeman
    
    November 5, 2015
    
    could the mold be lined with something benign to keep the EO’s from interacting with the plastic in the mold. I think even room temperature mixing would still extract the chemicals in the mold. Or what about freezing the mold first so the coldness makes the interaction less? Just thoughts to bat around.
    
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  4. Daniel
    
    January 26, 2016
    
    Stainless steel has nickel in it, which is toxic, so not ideal for many things. Also, every essential oil I’ve ever bought has a plastic reducer on it so it drops proper, as it were. So ….
    
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3. ElleMae
  
  October 11, 2015
  
  I gag as well.
  I find it helps to add mouthwash with the oil.
  Question is… Is this ok??
  I am only able to do approx 10 min.
  Guess I need to work on longer times now 🙂
  
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  1. Tricia
    
    June 30, 2016
    
    I cant do the full 20 minutes myself. So I break it down to 2 (10 min each) or 3 (7min) increments and still get the 20 minutes in. Try that!!
    
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4. Judy Beeman
  
  November 5, 2015
  
  I have been oil pulling for a few weeks. I can’t fit a whole tablespoon of oil in my mouth so I use less. It grosses me out. The way I avoid the full grossness is to get up before it’s time to get up in the morning. I take a spoon and just get some out of my jar, go back to bed and snooze swishing. It works for me. My teeth are getting whiter and the problem teeth I have with cavities are starting to change. It looks like they are filling in. Time will tell.
  
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5. Tricia
  
  January 8, 2016
  
  I don’t think this will work for me since during the summer, my jar of coconut oil I have in the bathroom just for oil pulling, melts to a liquid and stays there until the house temp goes down during cooler weather. I just use a spoon to scoop it ourt and swish during my shower. I suppose I could add EOs to my jar and mix, especially when the whole jar is already liquid. Thanks for the idea.
  
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