Oil Pulling
Health Benefits

Oil Pulling: Unlock Natural Oral Health & Detox Benefits

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.

Side Effects

73 User Reviews
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3 star (3) 
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Posted by Mike (Wilmette, Usa) on 01/08/2012
★★★☆☆

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

I've tried oil pulling for a few months with some short breaks. I'm using cold processed sesame oil. I've noticed a lot of benefits (reduced psoriasis, more energy--great substitute for morning coffee) but one side effect. My teeth seem to get more sensitive to cold and hot. Very noticably so. Anyone else have this problem? Would switching oil types help? By the way, I switched from Whole Foods brand to Spectrum and noticed a big change in freshness and taste.

Replied by Cf
(Delaware, Usa)
01/09/2012

I noticed an increase in hot/cold sensitivity when I began oil pulling, too. I use organic, extra virgin coconut oil. I'm not sure why the pulling increased the sensitivity, but after switching to a non-flouride toothpaste I longer have a problem.

Replied by Cf
(Delaware, USA)
01/09/2012

Correction... after switching to a non-flouride toothpaste, I no longer have a problem.

Replied by Mark
(Newton Abbot, Devon Uk)
05/14/2013

Hi Mike from Wilmette, Usa: This also happens with me. I did not have any issues with any of my teeth apart from one can be sensitive to extremely sweet foods like honey, but otherwise no problems. When I oil pull with black seed oil (BSO) my teeth often hurt like heck and are very sensitive to temperature for several days.

I only seem to get this with the BSO so now I use other oils I would suggest trying other oils until you find a suitable one for you also look into enamel issues of your teeth

I suspect the oil is merely highlighting an existing issue that is already there, In my case too much pineapple (very acidic) may have reduced my coating of enamel which then allowed the oil to highlight this problem

I am now looking into fixing my enamel properly through diet and no longer use BSO.


Side Effects
Posted by Dave (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) on 10/18/2011

I've been Oil Pulling off and on for about 4 years now. I always use organic sunflower oil. From reading all the posts here and my own experiences, clearly OP affects everyone differently.
To be honest, nowadays the only time I 'swish' is about 2 -3 weeks before a dentist appointment. For me, it definitely whitens my teeth and seems to tighten my gums slightly, but not much else. I have consistently observed that (for me) after about 3 days I actually start to sleep worse, unsettled and broken.

I am about 5 days into my vigorous routine as I write and last night had a quite a terrifying experience. Not sure if it was from OP or that it was just a coincidence, but while sleeping, I threw up, awoke and could not breathe, inhaled and all I got was stomach acid. Horrible. About 12 hours later, I can still taste it when I breathe. (Sorry to creep you out). Again, it could have been something I ate, but nothing like that has ever happened to me before. Bedtime is approaching.... but as of now, I do plan to continue with the OP.

Thanks for reading and best of luck to you all.

Replied by Bo
(Kern County, Ca)
12/17/2011

To Dave from Toronto, Ontario, Canada...

That sounds like GERD. My S/O and a former mother-in-law use to have the exact same thing happen to them.


Side Effects
Posted by Ed (Baltimore, Md) on 05/20/2011

Oil Pulling and Gall Bladder

I have been oil pulling for almot a week now and today I have noticed my stools are very light in color. Not quite white, but light tan. I understand how the gall bladder works, do I have a blockage in the ducts?


Side Effects
Posted by Katie (Albany, Ny) on 03/09/2011

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

Hi Irene, in my experience you can oil pull until you develop teeth sensitivity.

I caught a pretty nasty cold within a week of oil pulling. Not being sure if it was a cold or some nasty detox coming up through a sore throat and wet cough, I decided to take the Saturday off for oil pulling as much as I could for a sort of hyper internal cleaning. I would oil pull 20 min with coconut oil, rince well, 20 min sesame oil, salt water gargle and nose wash, then drink a warm mug of water with apple cider vinegar and honey. Then set the timer for an hour, and after that repeat. I managed to do this 5 times total that day, with no side effects. That's a total of 10 oil pulls.

My teeth started getting a lot whiter at the edges, in some teeth more obviously than others. The main battle was to not sneeze or cough while oil pulling usually about 5-7 min that always went away and the rest of the time it would be fine.

Where I messed up the next day was adding Oregano oil to help even more as I was getting impatient. I overdid it and my teeth started to feel sensitive. I stopped oregano, and will never add more than one drop.

It's been a few days after my marathon of oil pulling, and while I still have the cold it's nowhere near as bad as what a couple of my friends at school were going through recently.

After all that, I believe the first symptoms of too much oil pulling will be right there in how your teeth feel.


Side Effects
Posted by Artistgirl (Detroit, Mi) on 01/30/2011

Has anyone experienced impacted wisdom teeth since beginning oil pulling? I Have been OPing with olive oil for four months and suddenly I have two third molars erupting on me at age 46! I lost a first molar to tooth breakage after a root canal about eight years ago. I do not have a bridge in that spot, so I'm thinking there is now room in the back of my mouth so the second molar has shifted which gives the third molar room to sprout. It is a whole tooth, crown, the works but it is lying lower than it should and is poking through the skin next to my tongue.

Also, I've lost a filling since OPing and another tooth has broken. LOL! What will happen next?


Side Effects
Posted by Nasrin Jiwan (Mombasa, Kenya) on 01/03/2011

I have been OP for a month now. The concern is I am having a funny sensation in my tongue. Could this be due to some kind of deficiency or OP.


Side Effects
Posted by Flower (Newark, Vermont) on 12/31/2010

Hi Ted and all that read and respond to this site. Thank you for all this great information! I have been oil pulling for a week with sesame oil and I have been exeriencing dizziness, light headedness. Headaches and eye twitching. I believe this may be a healing crisis, but I want to make sure. Is this normal to feel worse and to feel dizzy and light headed? Is there anything else I should be doing. I began taking Apple Cider Vinegar and honey a couple of weeks ago, then started oil pulling with sesame oil a week ago, 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes before I go to sleep. Thank you for any help that you can give me. Sincerely, Flower


Side Effects
Posted by Therese (St Johnsbury, Vermont) on 12/30/2010

Hi, I have been oil pulling with sesame oil for a week and I have noticed that all my symptoms are much worse, almost exagerated to the point of not being to handle the pain! Everything I have read about oil pulling says that this probably is a "healing crisis" and I should continue with the oil pulling so that I can get better BUT I have to admit that I didn't think I would feel this bad!

I have the following symptoms: dizziness, pain in my neck, upper back and arms (which I have had some neck problems in the past), also the dark circles underneath my eyes are actually darker, I feel exhausted and my anxiety is through very high... Basically I feel and look like a mess!! I pull oil for 20 minutes every morning. Has anyone else had a healing crisis as bad as mine? I hope these symptoms will lessen soon. This site has been a HUGE inspiration for me! Thank you for all the information and personal stories! Therese

Replied by Juliet
(Nashville, Tn)
12/31/2010

Hi Theresa, My understanding of a healing crisis is that it only lasts a few days (like no more than 3). If it lasts longer than that it is not a healing crisis- it means that your body isn't in need of that particular treatment at this time. I started oil pulling with coconut oil and my skin broke out and stayed broken out for a couple weeks while oil pulling and everytime I tried after that. I stopped. Got some energy healing work done and then tried again a month later and it helped. Another thing is maybe sesame oil is not the best oil for you. You might want to try a different oil.


Side Effects
Posted by Cyngi (Philadelphia, Pa) on 10/21/2010

I have been oil pulling for a week today day #1pain in my head was gone. I feel like I am coming down with the flu , runny eyes /lots of mucus/pain in my shoulder/heel I think I will go back to using sesame oil maybe coconut oil is not good for me , let me know if these symtoms are part of a healing process.


Side Effects
Posted by Kim (Bellevue, Wa) on 09/25/2010

I read the posts on the oil pulling. I have been doing it for about a week. I have sinus problems and it seems to be aggravating the sinus. I hope this is just a sign that my body is healing. I'm very sleepy with pressure in my nose so I'm taking taking ACV to help too. Also I'm taking Levothyroxine for my thyroid 75 mcg, the oil pulling won't affect that would it?


Side Effects
Posted by Map77 (Grand Prairie, Tx, Usa) on 09/23/2010

I have been oil pulling for 6 days now. However experiencing really bad stomach pains. More like cramps. Is there anyone else that has these going on? I wonder if I should stop, or is this just my body de-toxin??? Anyone! ?

Replied by May
(Hamilton, New Zealand)
01/20/2011

Hi I am doing oil pulling again Last time I did it was about eight weeks ago I started to feel better after about four days except for flem in the throat that was almost gone when I stopped. Teeth felt healthier and gums improved very quickly. I stopped as To many visitors and interuptions over festive season. Ive started again and this is my third day and I have severe pain in right side about kidney area. Ive had pain here before in the past when Ive eaten to much sugar or drunk a couple of glasses of alcohol so I dont do this very often. The pain is like a constant ache- any suggestions? Ive been drinking lots of water but a bit nervous to keep going with OP in case Im damaging something.

Replied by Stladit
(Los Altos, Ca)
02/05/2011

I have also been oil pulling (Sesame oil) for a week and noticed cramps in my lower right side. I don't know if I am detoxing or what. I do feel like I have more energy and less appetite for unhealthy foods. I want to eat more vegetables and avoid sugar. I will keep at it and post results as I continue in this regimen.


Side Effects
Posted by Ingrid (Sydney, Australia) on 09/12/2010

I have been oil pulling for the past three days - one tablespoon Virgin Coconut Oil in morning before breakfast. Yesterday afternoon I came down with a severe urinary tract infection including blood in my urine and severe pain. I succumbed and went to the doctor and am on antibiotics. I have only had a UTI twice before - and I am 49 and in generally good health, eat 70% raw food, exercise daily. I do have periodontitis and am on thyroid replacement (thyroid taken out in 1991 due to cancer). Would a severe UTI within three days of oil pulling with VCO be related to the oil pulling, or just coincidence? Thank you for your help


Side Effects
Posted by Iris (Los Angeles, Ca) on 08/27/2010

I have been using a mixture of sesame oil and coconut oil (half & half to make 1 tablespoon) the last 4 days. I have noticed that I am experiencing emotional issues coming up that I thought I had resolved and that they were long gone. Now they are coming back. I hope to be put out. Is getting rid of emotional issues one of the benefits oil pulling? I did not notice this when I used the coconut oil alone.


Side Effects
Posted by Evelyn G. (San Antonio, Texas, U.s.a.) on 07/21/2010

Oil Pulling With Sesame Oil Causing Sunlight Sensitivity

This is a question for Ted.

I have been Oil Pulling for two weeks and am having some problems. I have Glaucoma plus other health problems. I am 80 years old. Since OP with Sesame oil, I seem to be very sensitive to the sun's glare. Have to use sunglasses on top of my Transition glasses. To add to this problem, I have blurred vision for around an hour. Then everything goes back to normal. The pain that I had in my shoulder disappeared and I feel fine otherwise. I stopped OP for three days and the problem went away. Now I don't know what to do. Please advise me. I would like to continue with the OP but do not want to hurt my health in other ways. I also broke out with a small rash on my chest. I presume that it was the toxins going out of my body. Should I start the ACV, bicarbonate of soda and water for two weeks to detoxify my body and then start again? Thanking you in advance. Evelyn G.

Replied by Evelyn G.
(San Antonio, Tx U.s.a.)
07/24/2010

I had been doing OP for two weeks. I wrote on the 21st. of this month asking about my having had problems with the sun's glare and also having blurred vision at the same time. I stopped the OP and it has gone away. I would like to start the OP again, feeling that it has helped to take away a pain from my shoulder that I had for years. Don't know if I should or shouldn't start again. I would appreciate an answer, if anyone has one. Thanks. Evelyn G.

Replied by Bb
(Schaumburg, Il)
09/13/2010

I am having some eye issues too, sensitivity. Maybe switching oil will help?? Would love advice.

Replied by Marsha
(Washington Dc, District Of Columbia, Usa)
10/03/2010

Hello - I've read that symptoms will often get worse before it gets better. Given that this isn't a pharmaceutical-strengthed remedy, perhaps this process takes longer. Just remember - OPing is doing nothing to hurt you. In fact, its aiding your immune system (among many other things). Best wishes to you and, thanks for your input on this forum.


Side Effects
Posted by Mick (Kunkletown, Pennsylvania, Usa) on 07/21/2010

I ran across this website by accident and since I've had oral thrush/candidiasis problems (my own diagnosis not the medical profession since they have run tests A-Z several times and claim I don't have this)for many years resulting in extreme tiredness, bad gas, diahrea, bad taste in mouth when awakening, white junk on my tongue made much worse when consuming foods with sugar, I thought I'd try the oil pulling. Started two days ago with olive oil 3X a day then switched to sesame oil. Almost immediately I started having itchy rashes all over my body with both oils. I am continuing the OP but notice the itching gets alot worse during the procedure and within an hour or so after. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm almost ready to give up.

Replied by Linda Marie
(Philadelphia)
07/30/2022

This is your “ healing crises “ that is happening! It is the body literally dumping all the toxins which have collected for years. Ride it out …& and much better health will be your reward!

i taught health & wellness for years 🙏🏼



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