I first learned about oil pulling two decades ago while studying Ayurvedic cooking. Oil pulling is an ancient detoxification therapy mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic texts and is recommended as an easy, daily practice.
Over time, “oil gargling” can improve oral health and help resolve many chronic conditions such as periodontal (gum) disease and cavities. It can also be helpful for acute illness. For example, oil pulling therapy has been touted as a strep throat remedy or to help resolve persistent sore throat issues.
The modern resurgence of oil pulling therapy commenced in 1992 and was initiated by Dr. F. Karach, MD, who used it with great success in his medical practice. Dr. Karach claimed that oil pulling would resolve a variety of illnesses including hormonal problems, cardiovascular disease, and digestive ailments.
Dr. Bruce Fife, author of Coconut Cures and Oil Pulling Therapy: Detoxifying and Healing the Body Through Oral Cleansing, suggests that oil pulling therapy can effectively be used to clear and heal sinus problems as one of the first detox symptoms that are experienced is an increased flow/clearing of mucus from the throat and sinuses. Mucous drainage is one of the body’s best methods of removing toxins.
How Does Oil Pulling or Gargling Work?
The practice of oil pulling is extremely simple.
One tablespoon of raw, cold-pressed oil is swished in the mouth for 15-20 minutes. The swishing process involves gently pushing and pulling the oil around and through the teeth.
Oil pulling should be performed one to three times a day on an empty stomach. The best time for oil pulling is upon arising in the morning before breakfast or drinking anything. However, if you forget, any time of day before eating will do if necessary.
Dr. Fife advises the following while oil pulling:
While you are pulling, mucous may build in the back of your throat. You may even have to expel the oil and clear the mucous from your throat before reaching a full 20 minutes. That’s okay, take another spoonful of oil and continue until you’ve pulled for a total of 15-20 minutes.
After swishing with the oil for the allotted amount of time, the oil is completely spat out and the teeth, gums, tongue, and palate gently cleaned by rinsing the mouth with saltwater and brushing as usual.
It is important to note that the oil used for oil pulling must never be swallowed or reused. This stuff is loaded with toxins and bacteria and possibly even pus and mucous if an infection is present.
Which Oil is Best to Use for Oil Pulling?
A variety of oils are recommended for oil pulling. Traditionally, unrefined sesame oil, coconut oil or butter oil (ghee) were used. The modern-day practice of this ancient therapy includes olive or unrefined sunflower oil as alternatives as well.
While any one of these oils is likely effective, is anyone choice better than the others?
According to research performed by Irish scientists from the Athlone Institute of Technology who tested the effects of coconut oil, vegetable oil and olive oil on dental health, the answer is yes.
Of the three types of oil tested, only coconut oil was shown to prevent Streptococcus mutans, an acid-producing bacterium that is a common inhabitant of the mouth and a major cause of tooth decay, from binding to and damaging tooth enamel.
This finding lends serious credence to the anecdotal claims of some people who report that oil pulling works best with coconut oil.
Lead researcher Dr. Damien Brady stated that coconut oil could prove to be an attractive alternative to chemicals in maintaining oral health. He noted that not only does coconut oil work at relatively low concentrations but with the worrisome problem of increasing antibiotic resistance, it is important to consider coconut oil as a potentially novel new way to control microbial infections.
Dr. Fife also recommends making medicated coconut oil in his book Oil Pulling Therapy to enhance the effects and healing properties of oil pulling.
Refined vs Unrefined Coconut Oil for Oil Swishing
Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is the best choice for oil pulling therapy as it is truly “raw” – unheated, unrefined and may contain micronutrients and co-factors not present in expeller-pressed coconut oils which are heated as part of the refining process.
Remember too, that coconut oil solidifies at 76 F/24 C, so if your virgin coconut oil is solid in the pantry, you may need to gently liquefy it in a pan of warm water before commencing your oil pulling routine for the day unless you are comfortable to let it melt in your mouth before you start swishing.
If you wish to supercharge the process, you can use ozonated coconut oil, which further enhances the anti-bacterial and anti-plaque benefits of oil pulling. A more concentrated form of ozonated oil is great for dental flossing too.
VCO is an excellent oral antifungal as well.
Is Oil Pulling Right for You?
Oil pulling is probably the cheapest and easiest detoxification regimen you could ever try. It simply involves swishing your mouth with oil one to three times a day on an empty stomach and then spitting it out.
No dieting, fasting, herbs or pills are required to get started. No matter what your age or level of health, oil pulling is harmless and nearly anyone can do it.
Sometimes powerful answers come in a brown paper bag. Give oil pulling with virgin coconut oil a try!
References
A review of holistic approaches to oral health
Coconut Oil Stops Strep from Damaging Tooth Enamel
Sarah Pope has been a Health and Nutrition Educator since 2002. Her work is dedicated to helping families effectively incorporate the principles of ancestral diets within the modern household. She is a sought after lecturer around the world for conferences, summits, and podcasts.
Her work has been covered by major media including USA Today, ABC, NBC, and many others.
Epidural: Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Is oil pulling safe while breastfeeding?
Opinions will always vary on any detox while nursing. I am comfortable with mild and gentle options and have done oil pulling with great results and my babies are all very healthy. I do drink more water and take some kind of green supplement like alfalfa or chlorella. I recommend oil pulling to everyone. You will sleep deeper also.
Thank you for your reply, I was going to ask the same thing! I was OP when I first had my little girl, but stopped due to the fear of the toxins slipping into my milk. But a few other nursing moms I know are doing it & so I think I will start back up again! 🙂
I read somewhere that you should not do oil pulling if you have metal fillings…is this true? I read that it pulls the toxins from the fillings and can spread them in your body, or something like that. I’ve avoided oil pulling because of that.
Leo Cashman from DAMS, Dental Amalgam Mercury Solutions, said that he agrees: Do not do oil pulling until all amalgams have been safely removed using the special amalgam removal protocol, performed by a biological/holistic dentist. There have been some bad reactions to oil pulling reported to him by people with mercury amalgam fillings. When oil pulling is done while amalgams are still in the teeth, the oil will likely pick up a large amount of mercury from the amalgam surfaces and it is not desirable to have that mercury swirling around in the mouth during the ten minutes or so while the oil pulling is occurring. He believes that that is why some have reported adverse effects to him. Feel free to contact him for further information: Leo Cashman, DAMS, 651-644-4572, [email protected]
I started oil pulling and had metal fillings, which fell out within a few months. What someone shared, and it made complete sense, is that the fillings will not fall out if there is not bacteria under the filling. As for the mercury moving through your body, there is a lot of info which states it is happening with them in your system. It may be worth trying the oil pulling. If the filling falls out, you are less likely to have the issues that you may have with someone drilling to get them out. Good luck!
you don’t swollo when pulling. I read that you should do if you have filling to get the junk out before it goes down in you.
Interesting. Will have to try this.
By the way, Sarah, your kitchen counters and appliances always sparkle so. Have you ever done a video, or would you do one, on how you do your cleaning without chemicals? I try to use things like white vinegar but I never seem to get that really clean looking shine.
I would also be interested in this!
I suggest that after you swish coconut oil that you spit it into a napkin/tissue and place it in the trash rather than spitting it down the drain since coconut oil solidifies under 76 degrees and can clog pipes.
Won’t pulling remove good bacteria as well
What if you have silver fillings? I’ve read not to oil pull if you have them…
I have heard this, too. and would like to know the answer….
…see above…
Christine- since you’re such a skeptic I thought I would tag you in this. This lady is legit.
I fairly recently started oil pulling and I LOOOOVE it! I always you organic, unrefined coconut oil. 🙂
JannaEm
Becki
Kellianne Abshier
I second Beth’s concern.
Is this safe while pregnant and with silver fillings?
It really depends if your fillings are still leaching. If they are several decades old then more likely it won’t be a problem but just to be safe I would still skip it until after you give birth.
I would recommend in the meantime using a 3% solution of Hydrogen Peroxide as a mouth wash and also doing gargles with Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar. This will keep the bacterias at bay while you take care of your child in your belly.
Old mercury amalgam fillings still leach continuously after 50 or more years. Please see my comment above, near the top. Safe amalgam removal is advisable in general along with detox protocols that help this process, but not just prior to becoming pregnant or while pregnant or nursing.
So, I do have to have them removed before I pull? I’ve been pulling with them in. I really want to take them out but not financially possible for me at this time. As Danette mentioned above, if they fall out, I’m worried they will tell me that I need a root canal. Now I’m not sure if I should stop oil pulling or not. Any suggestions?
It is important to use a 3:1 water/peroxide ratio when swishing regularly with hydrogen peroxide. Swishing with undiluted peroxide everyday can damage your enamel. Straight 3% peroxide is great to use for a couple of days if you want to whiten your teeth though!
Following
It’s amazing!
You wrote this paragraph:
“Virgin coconut oil is the best choice for oil pulling therapy as it is truly “raw” – unheated, unrefined and may contain micronutrients and co-factors not present in expeller pressed coconut oils which are heated as part of the refining process”
This is insinuating that expeller pressed coconut oils are not unrefined, or they cannot be unrefined. Spectrum brand of expeller pressed coconut oil is unrefined. What do you think of that? I live in Panama and you would think we would have tons of coconut here… but the only brands in the store are Spectrum (unrefined expeller pressed) and in a totally over the wall high end organic store I can find the Nutiva brand for about $30 for a jar smaller than a quart!
Also, I read that in ayurvedic medicine you need to use sesame oil, not coconut oil, for oil pulling?
I use coconut oil for oil pulling. I doubt it really detoxes me (I use essential oils in it) but it sure does clean my mouth.
Here in Panama coconut oil is a liquid because the temperature here is so high. If I want it a solid I have to keep it in the fridge. The liquid oil is so much easy to oil pull with.
Expeller pressed has no coconut taste and hence has been subjected to heat. Usually it is steam distillation.
I use tropical traditions. its expeller pressed as I can not afford their gold standard yet. and i know people who eat my baked goods who ask if i put coconut in it. they don’t know I use that oil yet because of dairy issues either. so it does taste coconut.
I used Tropical Traditions expeller pressed for about 10 years and it never tasted coconut. I recently switched to Wilderness Family Naturals as it seems higher quality to me.
Jason Lyons
I’ve had no filling issues after oil pulling for 8 months. Teeth are brighter and gums feel and look healthier than ever.
I oil pulled for two weeks with unrefined, organic, pure coconut oil with no results. I have sinus allergies, no help with that either. My kid got sick with the flu, and gave it to me and oil pulling didn’t help with any symptoms. I think it’s a placebo reaction in people. Where is the data and independent studies from someone other than Dr. Fife?? None. Even the internet backs up their data to Dr. Fife. It’s not proven to work independently because it doesn’t. Sorry.
Many times when you start to detox, you get sick because the body is actively trying to process out viruses and bacteria. Two weeks is not long enough to know if oil pulling works for you. As stated above, “Oil pulling, or oil gargling, is an ancient detoxification therapy mentioned in Ayurvedic texts”: there is your data.
Science studies have been done on it and verify everything you read in the post.
Yeah, I wouldn’t use oil pulling when you’re sick and don’t use it regularly. Trying to detox when you’re already sick is not a great idea.
first thing, you do know the properties of oil. Then know the method of oil pulling. That is swishing the oil in the mouth backwards, forwards and sideways, slowly without any vigorous force, for 15 to 20 minutes after which the oil being mixed with saliva become watery and milky white in colour which you should not swallow and spit in toilet and clean the toilet with some toilet cleaner. After spitting the oil, clean your mouth with salt water swishing the water 3 to 4 times and then brush your teeth. Do this daily without gaps. After oil pulling, drink 3 to 4 glasses of water. Wait for 1 hour after drinking water. then start to eat or drink what you do. This is not placebo effect really. To find results, do it at least for 3 or 4 months daily. You will definitely see the result.
I know raw, unrefined coconut oil is the best, but coconut flavor makes me gag. I buy the refined because there is no flavor. Would there be any benefit to oil pulling with the flavorless variety? Because it would be that or nothing here.