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.
