What is oil pulling?

Basically - swishing a tablespoon of oil in your mouth for a specific period, typically 10-20 minutes. The oil used is usually coconut oil, sesame oil, or sunflower oil (I used the first one). The idea behind it is that oil is supposed to draw out bacteria and toxins from the mouth, boosting oral hygiene and potentially offering other health benefits.

What changed?

For the last 30 days, I have been swishing around a tablespoon amount of coconut oil for about 20 minutes a day.

I have to say that it feels satisfying and refreshing right after I spit the oil. Swishing a liquid for 20min. surely can help clean food scraps or other things difficult to reach with a toothbrush, but so will do regular mouthwash.

Are my teeth whiter now?

I know that’s the most sexy part, so I won’t keep you waiting. Short answer - no. Long answer - not a bit. I don’t see any improvement, my teeth are exactly the same shade as before I started. If you hope to whiten your teeth, this is probably not the way to go.

Gums health

Lots of people mention the positive influence of oil pulling on gums. I personally never had gums-related problems, so there’s no change whatsoever. However, if you have these kinds of health problems, then, of course, in addition to visiting a doctor, maybe here is where it can help.

Final conclusion

I don’t think it works. What's more, I think that rinsing water for 20 minutes daily could give you similar results. If I had to necessarily point to one thing that improved - maybe my tongue is a little bit cleaner. But I was cleaning it regularly during the experiment. I was also paying more attention to it than usual, hoping for some results. So it might be because of that. It’s just an extra refresher for me, not a dealbreaker.

Will it replace brushing? No. Will it make your teeth white as snow? No. Is it completely useless? Probably no.

Nevertheless, many people report some positive effects of oil pulling. It doesn’t work for me, but it’s harmless to try. If you want to try it yourself, go ahead. Hope it will do better for you.

Note: DON’T spit it into the sink or toilet, that will clog the pipes. It’s oil so it solidifies.

Source