Oil Pulling: Unlock Natural Oral Health & Detox Benefits

Dental Issues

Posted by Gunther922 (Ayer, Ma) on 04/23/2013

Regarding brushing your teeth after OP. I have read on this site that you must brush your teeth after in order to rinse out and get rid of the toxins/bacteria. Is this not true? Help I'm so confused.


Dental Issues
Posted by Clay Vessel (East London, South Africa) on 12/18/2011

Hello, Earth Clinic. I am so glad to have found this site which I have already recommended to others. I have a concern about the possible danger of Oil Pulling and the presence of amalgam fillings in one's mouth.

I'd like a response from Ted, or any person who is an authority on Oil Pulling.

I have been so impressed by the experiences of others with regard to Oil Pulling and am keen to do it regularly. However, I have one amalgam filling left in my mouth, a tooth which also had root canal work done on it years ago. On all the sites I have looked at, it seems that the amalgam filling and Oil Pulling combination is not mentioned very often, and many who report great results do not say whether they have amagam fillings or not.

How can it possibly be safe to swish oil around ones mouth in the presence of a mercury filling?

I know the solution is to have the amalgam filling removed, and I have removed all of the others (slowly, over time). I am reluctant to remove this last one because a) it's expensive and I can't afford it just now and b) a doctor said that it may do more harm to remove it than to keep it in. Despite the protocol that is followed (rubber dam, charcoal drunk afterwards) there's no escaping the mercury vapour that one inhales during the procedure. So for now, it remains in. The filling is big, and old.

I have just completed ten weeks of chelation with a doctor to remove heavy metals from the body, because of all the amalgam fillings I used to have. He used weekly injections with a Vit C and calcium combination. Am concerned that by Oil Pulling, I may inadvertantly re-introduce mercury into the bloodstream again.

I so want to do Oil Pulling - it sounds so effective and makes sense to me, and my husband, who is also keen. We've done it twice already. But could it be that Oil Pulling in the presence of mercury might outweigh the benefits of Oil Pulling altogether and make the practice more harmful than good? I would value knowledgeable comments and advice. Thanks, Earth Clinic


Dental Issues
Posted by Dee (Dublin, Ireland) on 10/12/2010

Hello, I have been oil pullling for 7 mins before bed for 5 nights and have found great improvements in this short space of time. I have a lot of amalgam fillings, root canals and crowns and there is no way I can afford to replace them. My question is this: Is there anyone on this site that has amalgam fillings, root canals and/or crowns that has NOT had problems with them when oil pulling? I would really appreciate hearing from people who have NOT had problems. Are there any people who could reassure me?
Thanks
Dee

Replied by Carly
(Seattle, Wa - Usa)
10/12/2010

I would also like to hear from people who have had no issues with their fillings - I have not done it due to reading the posts on the amalgams where people have had problems. I have a mouth full of amalgams darn it. Anyone? Thanks. Carly

Replied by Lisa
(Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa)
10/12/2010

Hi Carly and Dee, I did oil pulling for a few months last year and have a mouth full of fillings and two caps. One is gold and one is porcelain. I didn't have any problems at all with any of them while oil pulling. Perhaps, the problems were pre-existent for those who had trouble and the oil pulling brought light to that. By the way, the fillings are from when I was quite young and the gold cap is from when I was about 12 and the porcelain about 3 years ago. Hope this helps in your decision to try this procedure.

Replied by Francisca
(Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France)
10/13/2010

Dee, I had a root canal over a year before I started having problems. I think that it was a coincidence that the filling started falling a while after I started OP. The dentist kept laughing and filling the tooth again and again (and we kept paying for it.... ). When I went there the last time because I started feeling a funny sensation when I would eat or drink and was prepared to tell him that he had to find a solution for my problem the tooth was broken from so much work done to it and had to be pulled. It was a big shock as I have great teeth, to lose one at 53.... Afterwards I discovered that the tooth could have been saved if he had put a crown on it on time.... But he didn't! Was it the OP? I think that somehow that was a coincidence but I will never know. Anyway, he should have done a better work. We are going to write him a letter and see what he says. This is going to cost us a lot of money and bother because now I need an implant. It took me maybe two weeks to start to accept what had happened. Would I have done OP if I knew what I know now, even if it had nothing to do with what has happened... I don't know but I should have been more alert and have gone somewhere else for a second opinion and I would surely still have my tooth. What OP does for me is to prevent me from feeling pressure on my down teeth which is very annoying. For the rest I have never noticed anything. Once in a while I mix a drop of clove oil to give my mouth a good clean. I do have a few old porcelain filling, no problems there! My verdict and actually the one of the dentist... OP can't have had anything to do with it. After all it is nothing more than swishing a bit of oil in your mouth! What consoles me is that root canals are not always a good thing because if you have an infection and don't feel it they can cause a lot more problems without you knowing where they come from but... Implants can give infections as well and they are so awfully expensive...

Replied by Bessie
(Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
10/13/2010

Hi Carly - I have several amalgam fillings, several porcelain fillings, two root canals and my husband has crowns but neither of us have experienced any problems at all with oil pulling. I've been oil pulling for over a year now, usually with sesame oil but I've also used coconut and olive oils.

Totally off the subject, but another thing I do for oral health is massage my gums (thumb on one side of the gum, forefinger on the other) - massage with light circular motion. It strengthens and brings circulation to the gums. I do it in the shower, because it can get a bit "drooly" - hope this helps! Cheers.

Replied by Dee
(Dublin, Ireland)
10/13/2010

Hi Bessie, Thanks for your answer, I feel better knowing that and would love to hear from even more people still. Thanks to you all, Dee

Replied by Dee
(Dublin, Ireland)
10/13/2010

Hi Francisca, Many thanks for your reply. Do you have any amalgam fillings at all? Dee

Replied by Carly
(Seattle, Wa - Usa)
10/13/2010

Thank you Bessie, Francisca, and Lisa. Your input has been helpful. I think I just may have to give oil pulling a try! Much appreciation. :-) Carly

Replied by Dee
(Dublin, Ireland)
10/13/2010

Hi Lisa, Were those old fillings you have in your mouth amalgams? I hope so cause that would make me feel even more reassured. Dee

Replied by Lisa
(Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa)
10/13/2010

Hi Dee, In regards to my fillings, yes, they are silver amalgams and they are over 40 years old! Strangely enough, my fillings have held just fine over the years but, two of the teeth have crumbled off around them! Thus, that is why I have the one porcelain cap. The other tooth I just left alone because it is the very back one and doesn't bother me. Honestly, I don't think oil pulling will do anything to your teeth in a negative manner. Hope that helps.

Replied by Dee
(Dublin, Ireland)
10/13/2010

Hi Lisa,

I really appreciate your reply and feel even more reassured now. I will keep at the oil pulling. My lower molars are all mainly amalgam and I have had them for many years too. All the best, Dee

Replied by Francisca
(Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France)
10/14/2010

Hi Dee, no, as I used to be a photographer and travel writer I had my fillings changed to modern ones a few years ago as the dentist was afraid that I would get problems due to my many flights.

By the way, I want to thank all the advice I got here after losing my tooth. I have chose to do an implant but I will do it in a very good clinic in Switzerland since we found out that I lost my tooth (which had had a root canal and the filling replaced a lot of times) only because the dentist here in France didn't care to cap the tooth. We don't know why he didn't do it yet but we have written him a letter. All the dental treatments cost a lot of money, so did pulling the tooth and now the implant is going to be awfully expensive, all for no reason! Be careful and if you don't trust some treatment get a second opinion, it may be worth the money!

Replied by Kylie
(Whitianga, New Zealand)
06/26/2013

I've been oil pulling on and off for about three years (thanks to Earthclinic) and didn't know till today that you weren't supposed to do it if you have amalgams. I have one amalgam, one cap and have had no issues to date. I had an implant put in last month in Thailand - which has already broken, but that was due to my bite rather than oil pulling. I did stop oil pulling for a few weeks after the tooth was put on though as the implant felt pulled at with the swishing - I guess the jaw was not used to any kind of pressure or movement since the actual tooth was removed some years prior. I'll continue to oil pull as I really don't think it's anything other than beneficial. I alternate between olive oil and coconut depending on my mood. I think olive oil whitens better and you can spit it down the sink (yes, I know you're not supposed to!).

Replied by KT
(The Usa)
07/07/2013

I have been looking for a reason not to OP because of amalgam filings. What is the harm? I've been OP for awhile and I don't think I recognize any problems. Are there certain early warning signs?

Replied by Yoli
(Fontana, California)
04/07/2014

I have the same question about porcelain crowns. I have several of them. I have been oil pulling for around a year now and I don't want them to fall out or start to come unglued. Any help with this would be appreciated! Yoli

Replied by Maria
(Boulder, Co)
11/30/2014

Hi, I was wondering if it is okay to do oil pulling with lots of golden fillings and a crown? No more amalgam fillings left though! Thanks!


Detox

Posted by Holly (Atlanta, Ga) on 08/16/2014

I have been oil pulling with coconut oil for almost 5 days now. On the evening of the second day I started a dense headache that has increased slowly and has now turned into a full blown migraine by the 5th day!! All week I did not take any OTC pain pills but I had to take something for the agonizing migraine. My question is, is this normal? My detox is horrific! I hear and read all these stories of how great people feel, I feel I've been hit by a bus! I want to continue OP, I'm am seeing positive results with skin and teeth but this detox is killing me. Do you have any words of wisdom?


DMSO

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by D (Hawaii) on 07/09/2014

Aloha -

Just posted a question yesterday about how to tell whether a bottle of DMSO is the real thing, despite what they write on the label. But this seems real important too, so I'm writing my second question again as a separate post. [I had just found an older post from some months ago about using DMSO in oil-pulling, so this would definitely be a factor in that too].

I had written: "I had also dropped some in my mouth with iodine, as Walter Last suggested on is website for possible deep tooth problems (may have a problem with a root canal from over a year ago, which never fully stopped hurting). But then I thought about the 3 fillings I have left, made up of the old style mercury amalgam. Not to mention whatever material it is that filled the root canal.What's the probability that the DMSO would leach the mercury and other materials quickly and directly into my blood (even across the blood-brain barrier)? And more so than would happen anyways without using it?"

While trying to assess whether the DMSO I just received is really what it says it is, I have to question why I occasionally get a brief metallic taste in my mouth, rather than any garlicky or sulfur sort of taste. I get a quick spurt of it, not at the time I take or apply the DMSO, but throughout the day, having used it in the morning.

Maybe it could be from impurities in the DMSO itself? Though it claims to be of pharmaceutical grade 99.9% and up. (It was distributed by a building/materials company, though which claims to have been distributing this for 30 years).

Or maybe it could be from impurities being booted out of my own body, which were caught up somewhere in my system?

Or else, maybe from my amalgam fillings?

If the last possibility were the case... must decide whether it would be better not to use the DMSO at all and switch to MSM only - though I want to continue experimenting with it, with my stubborn tennis elbow (which started in September last year) and many other increasing malfunctions.

Of course, the best thing to do would be to replace the last 3 amalgam fillings I have, but I cannot afford to do that yet.

Is there anyone else with silver fillings who is getting this effect? I'd love to ask this to Walter Last (who wrote this: http://www.health-science-spirit.com/msm.html , along with many other great articles worth reading on that site), but he no longer takes questions.

Oh, by the way, I did put the roll-on bottle of DMSO in the fridge last night and it did freeze solid. But a dropper-full of it in a glass, from the larger bottle, did not solidify at all in the same fridge at the same time. Could there be other chemical compositions which would freeze at 65 F too?

Thanks again. Many great remedies to you all...


DMSO
Posted by Man (Sojouring America) on 02/27/2014

Ok. So I was looking over this Oil pulling issue and I don't know about it, yet. There seems to be many people reporting benefit from it. So I am going to try it. But I am going to be a bit of a risk taker. I am a grown up and have capacity so I took a small amount of 99.9 pure DMSO and swished it around in my mouth tonight and spit it out. It was quite surprising the sensation. It warmed up my mouth. DMSO is a solvent so it may stand to reason that a strong solvent may be a good "puller". I will keep researching this.

Replied by Man
(Sojouring America)
03/04/2014
★★★★★

I "oil pulled" this morning with DMSO. I used a half of a teaspoon, just a small amount of 99.9 purity of DMSO.

Here is what happened: I noticed a slight throbbing in one of my teeth but not enough to stop so I continued to vigorously swish the DMSO around. Once again there was a very pleasant warming sensation in my mouth.

The sensation of pain was mild and went away after I spit out the DMSO. I did notice this slight throbbing the first time I tried DMSO. Teeth are alive, they have nerves perhaps there is a fissure in one of them that needs mineralize to fill the fissure? I don't know. But I am going to experiment and am experimenting with the Azomite/DMSO solution for tooth re-mineralization.

My finger tips have healed up well, I for got where I posted that my fifnger tips were in pain that it was difficult to type but that problem is now GONE. And they are tougher then they were now and I had no pain in clipping my nails like I had before.

I don't know what exactly I am doing but I do know that I am acting in faith and I am trusting in the Word.

Replied by Scott G.
(Id)
05/08/2021

I was wondering how the DMSO oil pulling is going? I am going to try to drink it starting with 4 drops in 8 oz of water. Have you tried this?


Flaxseed Oil

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by myra (westfield, new jersey) on 06/25/2009
★★★★★

I started oil pulling with flaxseed oil yesterday as that was the most organic, freshest oil I had in the house. I used 1 T and did it twice yesterday. I really wasn't expecting any immediate results, but amazingly the bronchitis I have had for over 3 weeks (after a bout of flu) is starting to break up. I am experiencing looser phlegm and less wheezing and the heavy feeling in my chest is gone. I cannot wait to see what further results will bring. Today will probably switch to safflower or coconut as they have had such great reviews here.


Flaxseed Oil
Posted by Laura (Shingletown, Calif) on 06/20/2009

Is flaxseed oil recomended for op?


General Feedback

184 User Reviews
5 star (124) 
  67%
4 star (5) 
  3%
3 star (14) 
  8%
1 star (7) 
  4%
(34) 
  18%

Posted by J (Leicestershire, UK) on 02/25/2015

I have a query regarding oil pulling. There are some other websites that warn of the risk of lipid pneumonia as small droplets of oil could be accidentally inhaled. Can anyone comment on this risk?

Replied by Om
(Hope, Bc Canada)
02/25/2015

Halo, J. (Leicester, UK)---- you will find more such scurrilous remarks online. The public is waking up which is uncomfortable for some.

OP is becoming very popular and mostly, not on advice from the dental community. This Ayurvedic protocol is thousands of years in practice using only sesame oil or sunflower oil for best utilization. It will remove toxins from the body and save your teeth. Use your discrimination and enjoy the path to good health. Namaste, Om


General Feedback
Posted by Perla (St. George, Utah) on 12/13/2014
★★★★★

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!

Replied by Kennywally
(Midwest)
06/02/2016
46 posts

@ Perla:

You say you pull in the morning, and that's fine, but most of the bacterial growth happens overnight, and so that's when I pull, in the evening, just before bed, I may scrape my tongue as well, but I only OP for 20 seconds and spit, then I repeat two more times. I have chronic gum issues, so my 1st spit is red, then second pink, and the third runs clear and I leave it on my teeth so that the natural antimicrobial feature of the coconut oil can give some protection overnight. Best Wishes


General Feedback
Posted by Debbie (Ontario, CA) on 10/24/2014

i just got (5 days ago) my teeth all pulled and have temporary dentures in, my gums are swollen. Is it ok to use coconut oil pulling now, will it help with the swelling and healing or not? Don't want to cause issues if not recomended to do ...

Replied by Courtney
(Granite Bay, Ca)
10/24/2014

If it were me, I wouldn't oil pull until the swelling was gone and everything was completely healed. I'd wait a month or so.

All of the sucking and swishing of oil pulling could cause further trauma to the area. Maybe just gently swish a bit of coconut oil for a minute?

Why risk anything for the sake of missing a few weeks of oil pulling? It's not worth it.

Replied by Om
(Hope Bc Canada)
10/24/2014

Debbie (Ontario, CA)---

When dealing with abscesses as in my case, I usually get chamomile tea to heal. So for the mouth, pain and open wounds, , gently keep the chamomile in the mouth, replenishing with more warm tea. This should help with healing. Do several times for a few minutes.

You will be well.

Namaste, Om


General Feedback
Posted by Yuko (Northern California) on 09/10/2014
★☆☆☆☆

I've been oil pulling for over 7 months, every day, with no obvious benefits... I'm planning to keep doing it because I may have built up a lot of toxins in my body having many teeth root canal-ed. I have several sensitive teeth, and I have not noticed any differences either.

I started to drink Sole (Rock salt water). I'm wondering which is more effective - Oil pull first thing the morning and then Sole water, or the other way around.

Oil pulling is to draw toxins out, but Sole is much more than that. If you know which I should start first in the morning, please let me know. Also I would like to know how long I should wait to eat breakfast after drinking Sole.

Thanks, Yuko

Replied by Bee
(New York, US)
09/14/2014

Hi Yuko... oil pulling
I have been oil pulling for almost a month now and have seen a significant difference in my teeth and gums... I can actually see the plague that came off of my teeth..My gums look better and I do believe toxins are coming out of my body as some days I have flu like symptoms and a rash... I love it because yes again I can see the plague off of my teeth.....and they are whiter..

I am using organic safflower oil


General Feedback
Posted by Liz From Atlanta, Usa (Atlanta, Georgia, Usa) on 05/10/2014

I have a question about oil pulling. The benefits sound great and I really want to do this, but I can only hold a teaspoon of oil in my mouth for 1-2 minutes and then I start gagging and retching. I'm so glad I followed the advice to do this on an empty stomach! For the first week I used olive oil because that is what I had in the house, but then I bought some organic unrefined sesame oil and still I gag and retch. I've now tried 12 times and can't get beyond 2 minutes. I busy myself with with getting ready for the day to take my mind off the swishing, but that has not helped. So my question is, how can I overcome gagging and retching? Please advise.

Replied by Mmsg
(Somewhere, Europe)
05/10/2014

Liz, don't try too hard: 1. Two minutes is also useful! 2. You can also do it with plain ol' water!

Replied by Cat
(Austin, Tx)
01/19/2015

You might also change your oils, see what won't make you gag. First time I tried it, couldn't go more than a minute without gagging on sesame oil. I switched to coconut and could at least go 5 minutes. Now, I can go 20+ minutes with sesame, coconut, and olive. So, don't get discouraged. If you need to, start with water and a couple of drops of oil -- reduce water and add more oil as you get adjusted to the oil in your mouth.

Replied by April Crowder
(Charlotte Nc)
12/26/2015

I have been using coconut oil for oil pulling for about 3 years now. I have never had any gagging or side effects from it. I do it every day for 20 minutes. I have allergies and the oil pulling makes my teeth feel much cleaner. I do also cough up some phlegm right after the oil pulling. Between the oil pulling and the All Natural Apple Cider Vinegar I take everyday, my allergies are much better and I have a lot more energy than I did before. No aches or pains either!

Replied by Kennywally
(Midwest)
06/02/2016
46 posts

To Liz (Atlanta):

I tried all them oils, olive, sesame etc, but I settled on coconut oil due to taste and it performs quite well. I know originally it called for other oils, but I found them to be difficult to keep in mouth for very long. And to me, 15-20 minutes was ridiculous, but if anyone prefers that, by all means, continue til your heart is content. I vigorously pull for about 20 seconds then spit red, due to chronic gum issues, then I pull again and I spit pink, then I pull one more time and it's clear and I do it prior to bed, because bedtime, the overnight is when the bacteria multiplies the most, and not rinsing off the oil allows the natural antimicrobial quality of the coconut oil to do a bit of protecting while I sleep, Hope that adds to your info base.


General Feedback
Posted by Lorna (Canada) on 02/28/2014

Hi...I just started oil pulling. I'm 55 y.o. I am using grapeseed oil. Where would I purchase sesame oil or black cumin seed oil? I found the grapeseed oil fairly thick. Is this normal? Does the sesame oil you cook with differ from the sesame oil that you pull with. Appreciate your feedback...Tyvm

Replied by Mmsg
(Somewhere, Europe)
03/01/2014

Lorna, from what I have read, plain ol' cooking sesame oil is fine for pulling.

Replied by Man
(Sojouring America)
03/07/2014
★★★★★

I was looking around at Mercola's house this morning and happened upon an article concering pathogens in the mouth that can cause problems else where in the body and thought this might be of interest to the "Oil Pulling" crowd. And Mercola mentions some information on this also. Here is the link: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/03/05/oral-pathogens.aspx


General Feedback
Posted by Jonathan (Germany) on 01/24/2014

Hi There, I have 1 question, what type of oil do I have to use ? any cooking oil or there is special oil made for oil pulling purpose. Thank you & Regards, Jonathan.

Replied by Om
(Hope Bc Canada)
01/24/2014

Hi Jonathan, according to Ayurveda where O.P. originated, RAW SESAME oil is used for best results. Good luck, Om

Replied by Laura
(Alaska)
06/07/2014

Do search engine on eskimos and their white/cavity free teeth. Their diet consists of seal oil which they put on foods and whale meat/innards. The whale & seal oil is high in Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin d, vitamin a. I would look for the oil that is highest with these 3 for oil pulling-cod liver oil? The whale meat is probably chewed for a long time, and releases oil in the mouth, much like the oil pulling style, but more macular. When you look up the history of oil pulling it gives credit to india and asia going back 3000 years. It says nothing about any credit going to eskimos who go back at least 6000 years!!



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