We did it! One month of oil pulling every morning for 20 minutes! How have you fared? Did you make it this far and if so have you seen any changes? What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?
All I can say is what a month! Despite having a few difficult days I “pulled” through till the end 😉 It wasn’t easy some days to tell the truth (all that swishing can get tiring) but I made it and I’m glad I did.
If you missed out on this month’s Monday Mission we were aiming for 30 days of oil pulling every day to see if our oral health improved. In case you aren’t familiar, oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice where you swish oil (usually sesame seed oil) in your mouth for 20 minutes every morning upon rising. The oil detoxifies the body by pulling toxins through the thin membranes of the mouth allowing for whiter teeth, healthier gums, and better overall health. You can read about this month's challenge here.
So, did I experience any health benefits? Yes, but not all of the benefits oil pulling claims. Maybe I need to oil pull longer than 30 days to see but overall I was very happy with the results.
Here’s what happened-
My Oil Pulling Experience 30 Days In
Healthier Gums-
This benefit was definitely the most apparent. After just a few days my gums bled less and less after flossing until they stopped altogether. They also seem firmer and a healthier color of pink than before.
Oil pulling is said to kill germs and fight signs of gingivitis. It’s these germs and bacteria that affect the health of our gums and teeth. When they get out of control gums can become inflamed, red, and lose their grip. After oil pulling for 30 days I can definitely say that it greatly improves gum health.
Quick tip- Make sure to try flossing after oil pulling. You will be amazed by how much stuff comes off your teeth!
Whiter Teeth
Swishing with oil is said to loosen built up plaque and tarter on teeth and lighten stains.
My personal experience hasn’t been terribly drastic as far as whiteness goes but I have seen a difference in plaque and tarter. After the first few days of oil pulling I noticed that my mouth stayed fresher longer and I no longer had morning breath. After a couple weeks I saw a difference in tarter as well. I believe that over time oil pulling softens buildup making it easier to brush away.
Since plaque is built up bacteria it makes perfect that oil pulling would greatly reduce its occurrence. This was definitely a win!
While I was oil pulling I also used a salt based toothpaste to help get things removed. This is my favorite toothpaste for removing plaque and tarter. You can get it here.
Oral Wounds Heal Faster
This is definitely true! I brushed my teeth a little too vigorously one night and they were tender the next day. After oil pulling the wound and accompanying soreness were gone!
This is because the oil kills germs and creates a protective layer over gums and teeth. Any wound you might have from oral surgery or even just from brushing a bit too hard on accident will benefit from oil pulling.
Increased Energy
Man. I REALLY wanted more energy! But sadly, oil pulling didn’t make any difference for me at all. I have a feeling it’s because I may be anemic or have some sort of thyroid issue. Luckily, I’ve just visited the doctor so I should hopefully know what the heck is going on this week. I’m passing sick of being tired all the time!
As for everyone else, it’s very possible to experience this amazing benefit because oil pulling decreases the amount of toxins in your system thereby lightening the load on your liver. If you have normal iron levels and a normally functioning thyroid, you should be able to tell a difference in energy levels.
Clear Sinuses
This one didn’t happen for me either unfortunately but I imagine it’s because I went to stay with my parents for a few weeks while I went to get blood tests. They live in a very arid climate and my allergies were just killing me no matter what I tried.
Supposedly though, oil pulling is said to greatly improve allergies because again, it removes toxins from the body. I have read about some people completely clearing up their allergies after a few weeks, but sadly I didn’t notice any difference at all. In fact, oil pulling was a bit difficult because I really just couldn’t breathe through my nose.
Better Sleep
Another proclaimed benefit of oil pulling is improved sleep. I have a feeling it is because of the removal of toxic build-up. Lessening the work your liver allows for optimally balanced hormones. Balanced hormones means better sleep!
As for me, I can’t say I really slept any better than I usually do but again, I really believe it’s because of a greater underlying cause.
Clearer Skin
I’m not sure if it was because of living in a different climate for a few weeks, but my skin was clearer than usual while oil pulling.
Not only does swishing oil remove toxins, it also improves circulation in the face. This allows for nutrient rich blood to reach areas of inflammation and help lessen it. Acne is of course an inflammatory condition so increased blood flow is always a good thing!
Balanced Hormones
This is a tough one for me because my hormones are all over the place due to a digestive ailment I’m dealing with right now. For this month’s mission I stopped using progesterone cream to see if oil pulling alone would keep my PMS symptoms in check. It didn’t.
My cramps this month were really awful and increased breast tenderness made it difficult to sleep at night unless I slept on my back. Let me be clear though, oil pulling DID NOT cause my hormones or PMS symptoms to become worse, it just wasn’t able to keep my hormones balanced by itself.
I would say that oil pulling can definitely aid your body in balancing hormones, but if you have more moderate issues, oil pulling alone will not be a cure all but more of a gentle support system.
Oil Pulling- The Verdict
All in all I think it was totally worth oil pulling for the health of my gums and teeth. Not only are my gums a healthy color my plaque buildup is practically nonexistent. This alone was amazing!
Even though oil pulling wasn’t a cure all like I was hoping it is still something I will continue doing on a daily basis. Hopefully I can make it a year!
How was your experience?
For more on oil pulling and its amazing benefits check out this book.
Cheryl says
I'm new to oil pulling, but if even half of the things u had happen work for me, I'm all in! My nephew has had remarkable success, had horrible teeth and mouth ussues....after 6 months, dentist thought he had been cheating on her w another dentist, lol. I have noticed better feel to my teeth, breath is fresher, and mouth feels clean all day. Thanks for your article, and honest writing, u have helped me a lot.
Tash says
That's awsome, Cheryl! Oil pulling is amazing!
Mike says
You need to do more then just oil pulling. I add frankincense, lavender oil and peppermint oil. And one every three days I add clover oil. Frankincense and lavender. Give me, what y'all are missing. Everything is exactly as they claim.
Sucheritha says
Hi,
When oil pulling has to be done. I mean before brushing the teeth or after brushing the teeth.
Regards
Sucheritha
Tash says
Hi Sucheritha!
Normally, you would do oil pulling when you wake up in the morning before brushing your teeth or eating.
Lyn Bristol says
I have been oil pulling on and off for about a year now. I have noticed the oral benefits each time. Also, my skin has become super smooth, my cuts, burns, scratches cure in record time (3 days average), and my nails and eyelashes grow out really fast. I have even noticed that my toe nail fungus is slowly but surely going away. I use organic virgin coconut oil steadily for two weeks, then rest for two weeks, and begin again. So far, this method works for me. I have not noticed anything with my hormone balance, but I have lost a little weight, and some belly fat. I will try to OP for one month steadily to see what results I achieve. I have highly recommended this method to friends.
Ronnie says
I heard that Organic Virgin Coconut Oil works for this as well. Is that true?
Tash says
Yes, you can use organic virgin coconut oil 🙂
linda spiker says
I am so bad! I do this for a while and then I forget, and then I get motivated and then I quit...I need to make this a priority. Thanks for the inspiration:)
Chloe says
Thanks for sharing your honest experience! I notice HUGE improvements in my oral health when I oil pull regularly. However, I never saw anything with my energy, skin, or hormones. I don't think my teeth got whiter either. But my mouth just feels so much better, it is totally worth it!
May says
I've been oil pulling for around 3 years now and I won't ever stop. I might go without for a week if I feel lazy but really notice what happens when I don't do it! I definitely feel I have healthier gums, less buildup and whiter teeth. I will definitely try the flossing to see if I missed anything from the night floss!
Tash says
That's really awesome May!
I'm planning on oil pulling for as long as possible 🙂
Anna @Green Talk says
Loved your honesty. So many people claim A-Z with natural cures. I do think reducing plaque is really important so I might try it as well. Sharing.
Tash says
Yes! I was really hoping to see more results but like you said, a lot of things claim to be a cure all. Oil pulling did help with plaque though so that was a plus 🙂
Megan Stevens says
I love the honesty of your post. I really agree~ in the ways it's helped you, these are the same areas I have seen an improvement. Except I only manage 5-10 minutes of daily swishing. Also, sorry about how tired you always are. I do and have struggled with this as well. It's a long journey we're on! Hugs!! There is so much progress and encouragement along the way but the going is slow and there are setbacks during the process as well.
Tash says
Thanks for your kind comment Megan!
I hope I find out what's going on soon. I'm still waiting to hear back about my blood test so we shall see. At least I will have some answers hopefully! 🙂
Vanessa says
Thanks for sharing your experience! I tried oil pulling in the past, but didn't make it longer than a week 😉 Which oil did you use? Sesame?
Tash says
Hi Vanessa!
Yes! I used sesame oil the whole time. When I thought I couldn't oil pull another day I tried adding one drop of peppermint or cinnamon essential oil to change things up. It really helped! 🙂
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says
I am looking forward to being able to try this once I'm not nursing anymore. I've heard such great things about it. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
Tash says
It's great for keeping your teeth super clean! I hope you get to try it out 🙂