Oil Pulling: Unlock Natural Oral Health & Detox Benefits

I have been doing oil pulling since 2009, eight years. I began with Sesame Oil, but now use Organic Coconut oil. All of the drama of oil pulling happens at the beginning, when I started my sinuses had been clogged for most of my life, basically unable to breath through my nose. When I started op I coughed up so much phlegm! I basically stopped going to the dentist once I started op, my overall health and resilience is quite high. I feel it when I have to skip op for any reason. My technique is once in the morning, before my partner gets up for 15 to 30 minutes. After spitting it out in the toilet I take a glass of warm/hot water with about a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of baking soda mix and then alternate between swishing and gargling until I have gone through the glass, this part often takes 5 minutes.

This one health approach can help so many people! Please try it.

I am only into my second day of OP and have experienced clean feeling teeth and mouth only. I am committed to this process so I will check back in as I go along.

You might want to try the WO (water only) haircare routine for your scalp problems. I am into my fifth month of showering with water only. My hair has gone through some adjustments but is clean and healthy and the natural wave and curl are returning. My skin is smooth and clear. Body odor minimal and I combat that with the application of coconut oil which seems to help.

I am hoping that OP will add into my WO therapy and I can become healthier. I am 77 yrs old and this is all good.

I started oil pulling 4 days ago with 100 percent virgin olive oil from Italy. I started due to a gum infection. This is a miracle cure! My gums are already feeling better and an added bonus for me is that for over 15 years I have had a little bit of fluid in both of my ears that no medicine has been able to get rid of. My sinuses are draining and one ear is almost completely clear. I feel the post nasal drip and my nose runs in the day clear and this wonderful treatment is not only helping me with my gums, but it is helping me with my sinuses. A small gap between my teeth has also tightened up. I have more energy and I feel better then I have in years. I am only doing it for 10 minutes a day and once a day. I had my husband do it today and I will wait and see his results. I won't be stopping this anytime soon.

I'm not sure how I can contribute to this site. But obviously I can't send a message to you. There are so many people that dont believe this. I am not normally an alternate person but I have been trying this for 3 days only. I was due for a dental appointment but the plaque on my teeth is becoming lesses and lesser. I originally googled this for a throat mucous problem which I have had for 12 years and no doctors prescription has been able to fix. 3 days later my throat feels fabulous apart from being quite dried out which makes it hard to swallow but I just buy lozengers. I disagree with the dentists clean and scale treatment that we have here in oz as I think that it thins your teeth down. I am totally amazed by what coconut oil has done so far. I'm sorry to bother you but thank you.

I've been oil pulling for just over one year. I've been alternating virgin, organic sesame oil and virgin, organic coconut oil for 20 minutes every morning. I'm happy to say that my seasonal allergies are gone, my health has been good and I've noticed white(r) teeth and better skin.

My favorite visible changes are the positive changes with my teeth. My teeth had yellow lines of Fluorosis since my kindergarten picture. (I'd also been given multiple metal fillings in my childhood. I've begun replacing them with porcelain as I can afford to safely remove them.) With OP, I've noticed a lot less yellow as well as the disappearance of vertical grooves on my teeth.

I'd also developed a couple of growths on my cheek about 10 years ago. After about 8 months of OP I noticed the growths were getting smaller. One of them is almost gone, the other remains but seems to be decreasing.

If teeth and mouth health is indicative of the health of our entire body, my health is improving. I recommend this process to anyone that is interested!

Hey everyone. I totally enjoyed all the input about Oil Pulling over the years by you folks. Thank you so much for making me try it. It's time for me to share my experience.

I only started 3 week ago (3 times a day with coconut and sesame oil alternated) and I am in awe.

So far it's mostly about my mouth. It killed any sign of bad breath which happened during the day after eating, drinking lots of coffee or tea, or after I got up first thing in the morning, you know the feeling :) My solution used to be a chewing gum :) Now, for some magic reason my breath stays fresh.

My mouth feels so so good now I can't even describe it. I don't buy chewing gums anymore :)

My teeth are so much whiter, I can't believe it but I can see it and not only me :)

I have two very old veneers that have brightened up, I suppose they too took the toll of my bad habits over the years but the OP has freshened them up tremendously. The strange thing is that when I had my veneers put in, I first had a laser whitening of the rest of my teeth and my veneers were matched in colour afterwards. Everything was very white at the time.

Over the years, my veneers became the "whitest" ones in my mouth, talking about 10 years after the laser whitening but if I have to be honest the darkening effect happened not longer than two years within the laser whitening.

Within the 2nd week of OP my teeth matched the veneers and I was pretty happy and astonished about it. Right now after 3 weeks of OP, my veneers are the darkest just by a shade on day light, even took pictures myself to keep it as proof. If I go on with OP I may have a problem :)

I'd really love to know scientifically how does OP whiten teeth because the results are undisputable.

Additionally my gums stopped bleeding when I brush. It did take two full weeks for that to happen though and I didn't have bad looking gums to start with prior except my bottom molars. I was actually still bleeding two weeks into OP when reading comments online and still not believing them because it still wasn't working for me at that time, and that was the reason I had started OP.

But guys, be patient and try it for as long as you can endure because I am blood free right now as far as my gums go :)

I would guess it would take longer for receding or damaged gums but mine were at a point of receding. I had a few brown notches at the bottom teeth and the gums of my molars looked like an old man's belly, bottom of my teeth exposed and I could dig into them with my brush and it was painful, the gums were so low and literally hanging at the sides rather than being attached to the teeth. They've crept up now and they've attached themselves back up which is pretty amazing and I feel no pain when brushing at them at all anymore. The brown parts near the gum line have disappeared too. I can't measure it by a gum probe as I never did ask at the dentist and he never bothered saying anything but I can see my gums literally growing up so it's a proof good enough for me. The only worry I have is if I have to dig into the gums now when I brush to clean those notches because they were like a tiny cut and may hold bacteria. I am going to have to see what happens but I have no fear because it used to be worse than that :) And I'll let you know one day :)

I want to mention that the sensitivity of my teeth increased tremendously at first with OP. I was pretty much scared for a few days that the oil is doing something bad for my teeth. I could feel it like you could feel alcohol on an opened wound. It felt like an extensive dental cleaning or when you have your teeth whitened professionally. However, after two weeks this absolutely stopped all of a sudden and I felt absolutely better than I could ever remember. I have 0 sensitivity now to anything at all, so don't let similar experience scare you. It's seems like a healing process.

And on top of all that, my nose is clear of any stiffness. My nose used to start running like water after the morning OP session, I had to spit the oil out midways and get another dose. I didn't have a sinus problem, at least I didn't think so, but I had a problem with liquid from my nose going down my throat when I went to bed which caused breathing problems while I sleep. The OP, whether because of the movement of the face muscles or something else causes a drainage almost like a water flow after OP. Right now I actually breath a lot better and I hadn't realised before OP how much my nose is a part of that.

So I totally, totally recommend OP to everyone that is not a sceptic, can incorporate it into their routine and cares at least about their mouth.

I've been calling my relatives and my friends and telling them to try it, sounding like I've got an Oil Pulling disease :). They may think I am crazy but whoever tries it will be thankful in the long run for one reason or another:)

And on a side note, because I am still a sceptic about detoxifying effects, I need to mention I got quite a few headaches at the start and I am not a headache person, hence I noticed. It could have been a coincidence but I want to mention it.

I read about oil pulling about six years ago. At that time, I oil pulled with sesame oil for a few weeks but stopped because I read somewhere that it messes up your tooth enamel. I had a post nasal drip. It cleared my nasal passage and I coughed up mucus. About four months ago, I started experiencing joint pain in my hips. I considered going to the doctors but decided to explore earth clinic once again. I have been oil pulling for the past two months with organic coconut oil. My nasal passage is clear, I coughed up mucus, (my mucus went from green to clear in color), fresher breath, whiter teeth, gums are not as sensitive, joint pain in my hips is 90% better and I less back pain too. I plan to continue oil pulling and try different oils. I am so thankful for this website. It has saved me and my children money and time spent at the doctors office.

I have been oil pulling for approximately one month and my teeth feel wonderful and the cleanest they ever felt. My skin is so clear and my brown spots on my hand and arm are fading. I no longer get headaches. My nasal passages are always clean - no allergy headaches this spring! The arthritis in my knees are so much better. I am also sleeping better. I will continue to do this. Its the best thing ever!!!!!! LOVE IT!

I wanted to write in with my own personal experience of oil pulling used in combination with my home made toothpaste which I have been doing for about 12 months now. I found the basis of my toothpaste here on earthclinic and from other research I did on the internet.

I can personally attest to the benefits of oil pulling. Definitely whiter teeth, at least two shades whiter and the oil removed the majority of stains within the first two months of use from a past history of having smoked for many years. No tartar ever since I started. The other thing it definitely does is remove particles of food which become lodged at the back of the mouth and tongue which can be missed when brushing the teeth and tongue .. oil pulling can also dislodge tonsil stones which you never knew you had. All these things can be missed and contribute to bad breath. Other things to note, while oil pulling, it will bring up phlegm which can also contribute to bad breath.

If oil pulling is done regularly and consistently with diligence .. properly .. swishing around the mouth for at least 15 - 20 minutes every night before bed you never wake up with bad breath in the morning. Gums are definitely healthier and pinker and has relieved mild tooth pain every single time.

My oil pulling regime has been done while I shower in an evening before bed and every morning when I wake up. Alongside oil pulling I have been using my homemade toothpaste. Sometimes I take my home made toothpaste and add it to my swishing mixture in my mouth which further adds to my oral hygiene routine. I am sure there are other things which have improved or that I have benefited from since I have been oil pulling which I have forgotten to add, for now this is my year long experience.

Note .. tongue brushing must be included in oral hygiene routines for good oral and dental health.

Thank you also earthclinic for having such a wonderfully diverse and informative site which helped me immensely in my journey towards better health.

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

I am 28 yrs. old, female at around 148 lbs., 5'5". I am pretty healthy overall, with minor skin concerns. I made a choice to start trying different types of Ayurvedic therapy and to start using more organic body products without all the chemical/parabens. I firmly believe that I can be healthier (along with a clean diet & exercise of course) without relying on medicine/chemical crap, so that is the reason why I have taken it upon myself to do research on Ayurveda & holistic health :)

Currently suffer from certain things: occasional dandruff, some scalp psoriasis, oily skin, keratosis pilaris (upper arm), fatigue, unhealthy weight (in my opinion, I want to be at 130 lbs.), occasional mood and mild depression. Also my knee joints will start hurting if I put too much stress on them (i.e running more than 5 miles). I also feel that I drink too much alcohol/usually social binge drinking weekends and sometimes weekdays. I know, it's bad!

I started oil pulling 3 days ago with coconut oil for 10 mins. first thing in the morning. The side effects of detoxing did not start until this morning (third day), I woke up feeling hot (flu-like symptoms), groggy, and just moody. Throughout the day I have been feeling somewhat nauseated as well. I've noticed that after my first OP, I've had really deep sleep accompanied with vivid dreams!

Positives haven't been significant, since it's still too early to tell...but just like with other people... I have seen that my skin looks somewhat smoother, teeth are whiter, my vision seems a lot clearer too (colors are more vibrant), good quality sleep, and I have also been leaning on to craving healthier foods. My cravings for salt & sugar seem to be decreasing as well.

I am going to continue with OP and I'll check back in within a few weeks! Hopefully will see more benefits :)

Had terrible allergies, doctors were prescribing pharmaceuticals with bad side effects and had no further help, no results, was getting worse by the month, pretty much every 3 weeks or so awful allergies, they'd last 3 weeks sometimes, and I was getting my first asthma-like attacks. Totally frustrated, I remembered this site and read about OP and gave it a try with Sesame Oil. After the first day the symptoms went worse, splitting headache, my eyes felt they were about to pop out of my head, not only that, my whole body felt like it was swelling up, especially my abdominal area. I almost went back to the meds but then remembered that in natural medicine one often experiences a 'healing crisis', so that's what this must have been.... After 3rd day, I am feeling substantially better. No more stuffy head, no headaches, I can breathe through my nose, throat is not hurting.. and... wow... my hot flashes, are decreased by about 90%....... THAT... my friends, makes it already worth the little effort. I look forward to this every day now, because a night without tossing and turning because of feeling hot/cold is priceless. My gums feel great, my teeth are shiny and white, my head feels clear, I also have less bloating after dinner, if I see any more health problems disappear (painful joints, food allergies, dry hair etc) I will post them on here. I feel, like I have found a wonderful (very CHEAP) and easy way to detox my body. Definitely two thumbs up!!

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

I've been oil pulling over a year. Using varies organic extra virgin oil, coconut oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, evoo, 20 minutes in the morning everyday. The result is great! No more bad breath, aches and pains. sleep better (used to be a light sleeper). No more cracked heels. Overall health improvement except my hair. I have very fine, thin hair and short, and used to be able to shampoo when needed, about twice a week. But after two months of oil pulling, I noticed my hair gets stringing and oily next day after wash, it wasn't dirty, smelly or itchy. it looks awful. my scalp is normal. I've tried all the remedies online recommended. that includes baking soda, acv, and dish detergent, nothing works. it only makes the scalp and hair dry because of the stuffs I used. I use rinse just to help smooth the hair for easy combing, not on the scalp. Does this happen to anyone? Any suggestion?

Oil Pulling:

Since a week I have been trying this and I experienced these things. oil pulling reduces leg cramps, cracked heels and also gives great energy.

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

Oil Pulling REALLY does cleanse as well as make your teeth whiter and improve your oral health. When I started with coconut oil, it did a number on my eczema skin, making it worse. So... I stopped! But going back to it after a couple of weeks also brought another kind of detox I did not go through the first time - i.e., headaches, backaches, blurry vision, but, better skin. Now, the heavy detox symptoms (3 days) are wearing down; skin is definitely looking better, and more importantly, if I oil pull for 15 minutes before bed, I sleep like a baby. Finally deep-sleeping through the night! Getting enough sleep by oil pulling has really improved my mood, my foggy brain, and my dark, under-eye circles -- they have all but disappeared. So, a big YES that oil pulling works where nothing else natural that I tried, did.

I first heard of oil pulling about a year ago when I was trying to find remedies for dark circles. I gave it a shot for about a month, ran out of coconut oil, and didn't pick it back up until about 3 weeks ago. Since then I've been doing it twice a day for 20 minutes, with maybe one or two days I just didn't have the time for it. I started it up again because of a mouth sore caused by a decaying tooth. Oil pulling + peroxide + gargling with salt water made the pain go away within the night.

I am 21 years old, 5' 3", and 203 pounds according to my scale today. Since oil pulling, my keratosis pilaris has cleared up considerably. I still have a few bumps but my skin all over has a nice glow and I no longer have the red bumps that gave my skin the 'chicken skin' look. But I did recently have a visit to the beach, and I've always known that salt water + sun calms down my keratosis pilaris too. When I first started oil pulling I had the same effects but it took longer, but with the combined 'treatments' my skin is very smooth.

I've always had a glow to my face since I use the Oil Cleansing Method, but the added effect of Oil Pulling certainly helps too. My stretchmarks have faded, but I've been using organic unrefined virgin coconut oil (used for pulling as well, I got a pound of it off Amazon for fourty bucks, it's lasted me over six months and I still have 1/4 of it left) everytime I get out of the shower for over a year. I'm not sure if it has helped my dark circles. They're hereditary and have always been dark, like I got punched in both my eyes. I suppose I have been using less concealer lately...

My teeth are cleaner, whiter, and stronger. I have a tooth that is beyond being fixed, but I don't have the money to get it extracted. Oil pulling definitely keeps the pain away and helps keep food particles out. My tongue is always pink, my breath never smells bad. But I also use baking soda and peroxide to brush my teeth and tongue. I have a slightly crooked jaw caused by me chewing mostly on my left side do to my decaying tooth on the right side. It doesn't hurt anymore and I'm pretty sure my jaw line has gotten more defined. My left side is also the side that has fillings and the pulling doesn't effect them at all.

I have more energy. I'm really not a morning person but with a new job I started I have to get up around 6:30 am. Without oil pulling I don't think I'd be able to drag myself out of bed.

And since oil pulling, I haven't wanted to smoke marijuana. I actually stopped completely a week and a half ago. I'm not sure if it's because I'm oil pulling or because I stopped smoking weed or both, but I eat less and people have told me my over all appearance looks tighter like I've been working out. I have been walking a lot more, that's for sure. Probably because my energy is up. Yay!

Also, my dreams are a lot more vivid and I can remember them when I wake up. Also might be a side effect of not smoking anymore, but I have oil pulled longer than I haven't been smoking and know for a fact that my dreams started when I began oil pulling. I've probably had more energy because I have been getting a deeper sleep, and I only need 8 hours as opposed to the 10 hours I've been used to!

All in all, I've had a positive outcome to oil pulling and I don't plan to stop. Even if it's just a placebo effect, I definitely feel better and healthier. :)