In case you missed the oil pulling trend in 2014, oil pulling is an old, Ayurvedic practice that involves swishing oil around like mouthwash, for about 10-20 minutes. The idea is that bacteria gets swished, or caught, in the oil and spit out when you're done. It’s practiced first thing in the morning, before you eat, drink or brush your teeth. Though there is relatively little formal trial data about oil pulling benefits, it is said to help with oral health, bad breath, teeth whitening and some oral diseases.
I personally began oil pulling three years ago after attending an Ayurvedic workshop and learning about the practice. Though there is debate over the benefits of oil pulling, and the research to support the claims, I can speak from my own experience and why it’s part of my daily routine!
Oral Health
Though I have had consistent good oral health throughout my life, it was especially important to me during pregnancy, as there is a strong correlation between poor oral health, particularly periodontal disease, and pre-term births. Coconut oil has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, so it can kill harmful bacteria in your mouth and help prevent the build-up of plaque. I haven’t had a cavity since oil pulling, and throughout pregnancy, even while my gums were sensitive (fun pregnancy side effect), I didn’t have any excessive plaque build-up.
Also, when I started pulling I also started Invisalign treatment, which required me to wear a retainer day and night, for 24 months. These retainers can trap bacteria, and often cause tooth decay and cavities for people who are wearing them. Fortunately I never ran into this issue, and now that I’m done treatment I still have to wear retainers at night and continue to have good tooth and gum health.
Teeth Whitening
I stopped using teeth-whitening strips three years ago because my teeth were just too sensitive, and it was causing me pain. I started oil pulling right around this time, and feel that my teeth remain bright, thanks to oil pulling. I wouldn’t say it makes my teeth whiter, but it helps remove and prevent staining of my teeth from coffee and tea. I can definitely tell if I’ve taken a few days off from oil pulling.
Prevents bad breath
Who here hates morning breath? Ugh! Fortunately oil pulling has definitely helped keep my breath less...gross? Seriously though, I don’t find I’m needing to reach for gum or mints nearly as often. Aside from eating certain foods that really don’t give anyone good breath (coffee, garlic, onions, etc), I find overall I have better breath.
What kind of oil do I use?
I have always used unrefined, organic coconut oil. It contains Vitamin E, which acts as an antioxidant, and also has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, and I find it has a mild taste. It’s usually solid when I first put it into my mouth, and it melts as I swish it around. Other popular oils are olive and sesame oil. If the consistency or taste throws you off, you could try adding a drop of peppermint essential oil.
How to do oil pulling
1. Measure one tablespoon of oil first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, before you eat, drink, or brush your teeth.
2. Swish and gargle oil for 10-20 minutes, be careful not to swallow any.
3. Spit oil out into trash. Avoid spitting into the drain because it could harden and clog the pipes.
4. Rinse mouth out, brush your teeth and feel fresh AF!
The best part of oil pulling is that it’s so easy to fit into my morning routine. I can make breakfast, make coffee and pump while I swish the oil around in my mouth, so it’s really a very small effort for what I feel is a big reward. Bonus, it’s super affordable. I love my morning routine, and this is just one small, but important piece to that puzzle.
Happy swishing!
