Does Oil Pulling Work?

I’m one of those people who rolls their eyes when I hear about most of the crazy beauty trends people rave about. No, I will never put mayonnaise in my hair no matter how great you say it is. So when I heard all the hooplah about oil pulling last month, I figured it would be a fun experiment. My goal was to try it out for a month and report back with my honest results. I had high hopes that oil pulling would work mainly because the supposed benefits are awesome, but also secretly hoped it didn’t work so I could make fun of everyone who raved about it. I know, I’m a terrible person.

If you’re not familiar with oil pulling (which means you’re probably a dude or someone who doesn’t read Allure- no judgement here), I’ll give you a brief lowdown. Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic technique that is supposed to help improve your oral health. Basically swishing the oil around in your mouth helps to remove toxins from your body.

So you’re wondering how to oil pull? It’s simple. Take a tablespoon of your favorite coconut oil (you can find it at most grocery stores, health stores or the nearest Target) and put it in your mouth. “Bite” the oil so it’s less chunky and turns into a liquid. I don’t have a bad gag reflex, so this was fine for me, but many people can’t get past this point. I also enjoy the taste of coconut oil, so I didn’t mind the taste, either. Then swish the liquid around in your mouth for 15-20 minutes, as you would with a mouthwash. Yes, your jaw will hurt a little but you’ll get used to it. After the time is up, spit it out. You’ll notice the liquid is now milky after being swished around and mixed with the toxins. DO NOT SWALLOW IT.

What are the benefits of oil pulling? Everyone and their mother has their own list of the potential benefits, with some as weird as curing hangovers or eliminating migraines. Yeah… ok. Other, not-so-far-fetched benefits of oil pulling include whiter teeth, better overall oral health and digestion help.

So, does oil pulling work? After a month of oil pulling, I have found that my teeth are whiter. No, not crazy white like Crest White Strips would get them, but I did notice a change of a few shades. Overall I think my oral health is pretty good- I haven’t had any canker sores, sore gums or weird mouth issues since I started. As far as all the other supposed benefits? I think it’s too hard to trace those to swishing oil in your mouth, but that’s just me.

I’m curious to read other’s experiences with oil pulling, so spill! Would you ever try it? Have you tried it? What were your results?