Oil Pulling with coconut oil is something that I found really fascinating. It’s supposed to “pull” bacteria from between your teeth and improve your oral health. I have heard/read that it can whiten teeth, reduce gingivitis, help preserve enamel during chemotherapy, and more. I’m not sure if it can really do it all, but keep reading to find out what I thought.
First, here’s what you need to know about oil-pulling:
You use unrefined coconut oil, refined coconut oil is more for cooking because it doesn’t have a coconut flavor and it has a higher heat tolerance. Here's the unrefined oil that I use.
You put a teaspoon to a tablespoon of oil in your mouth and gently swish it for 15-20 minutes. If the oil is solid when you put it in your mouth, bite it to help it melt faster.
You have to spit it in the garbage when you’re done, not the sink! Coconut oil is solid at room temperature and can clog pipes.
Brush your teeth after to get your mouth even cleaner and can help get the coconut taste out of your mouth.
It’s up to you how often you pull. Once a day, once a week, whatever.
Here’s what I thought- I expected to totally hate this in every way because I hate weird textured food and I do not like coconut at all. I expected to be grossed out and not be able to last more than a few minutes.
But I love it.
Okay, okay. I don’t totally love it but I love how clean it makes my teeth feel! My gums had been sore before trying oil pulling, and after pulling a couple of times, it did feel better. The only thing I don’t like is the texture of the oil when I put it into my mouth as a solid. It makes me gag a bit every time. I’ve read that you can melt it by putting the oil in a small glass cup or bowl and then putting that into a bowl of hot water. I tried that and it really didn’t melt. Instead I bought a shot glass that I put it in and then microwave it for fifteen seconds. That has made a huge difference! Also, you can’t really taste the coconut, except for when you first touch it to your tongue and right after you spit it out.
Here’s a few tips that I’ve discovered or picked up:
Melt the oil before putting it in your mouth.
Do something while you swish, I typically do laundry or clean.
If you feel uncomfortable while pulling, smell something that smells good. I use essential oils.
You should be swishing so gently that you don’t really need to move your tongue.
I haven’t really experienced the oil “expanding” like some people have described in other blogs. There definitely is an increase of spit over time, but it's nothing huge!
I definitely think that oil pulling has improved my oral health and I’m excited to have it as part of my daily routine!
I encourage it to give you it a try! I suggest trying it a few different ways (melted, solid, smelling essential oils, etc) before giving up on it!
