Oil Pulling: Unlock Natural Oral Health & Detox Benefits

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

Hello everybody at earth clinic. I find your site very helpful and I am addicted to it every day for hours. Before 2 months I had a terible pain in my wisdom tooth, I started immediately oil pulling (after reading about it in this site) and within hours my pain went away. From that day I am oil pulling everyday many times a day, with different high quality oils. My gums are not swollen anymore and I felt better. I am a heavy smoker, and my teeth feel cleaner and whiter now. But my teeth have now many brown stains, (is it beacause they are whiter now?). Some teeth got a bit black like they are rotten, and my breath smell like rot). The last 3 days I feel very under the weather, depression like symptoms (i suffered from depression few years ago). I keep oil pulling in hope that everything is gonna get better. Are these symptoms a side effect of oil pulling? Or is it healing process? Please any similar conditions happened in anybody else? Thank you, I need your guidance.

@Jannis: Same thing happened to me. Oil Pulling is an effective detox method as well as oral hygiene BUT if one has some type chronic infection or perhaps parasitic infestation, the oil reservoir in the mouth draws those poisons and over-saturates until the mouth and teeth become filthy. In this case, one must always use an antiseptic mouth rinse (natural or synthetic) before and after the oil pull. Hydrogen Peroxide will be one of the mandatory cleaners on your list.

Now, lets back up and treat that chronic infection w/ some natural antibiotic herbs like Garlic, Oregano, Grapefruitseed, Olive Leaf, Pau de Arco, Cats Claw, Oregon Grape Root.

If you get no lasting results from the above list of herbs do a parasite cleanse with Black Walnut Hulls, Clove, and Wormwood.

If you get no lasting results from above, a Colon Cleanse would be advised.

To Clio51 from Manchester. According to Ayurvedic books, oil pulling should be done in the early morning before drink or food with sesame oil. In twenty minutes the oil should look white when expelled. Then rinse mouth several times. The action is on all energy points on the tongue , that is why oil pulling benefits all body organs.

I have done it now for almost a year and loose teeth are firm again. Otherwise my teeth have whitened over time. Other benefits may be there as I have no other issues. Keep it up. Om

Hi AQ, I stumbled on some information about "organic" that I was pleased to read because I just never had a good feeling about "organic" anything. I don't have your post in front of me so I cannot recall the type of oil you said you used. It seems to me that because I was not exposed to organics in my youth, my system has adapted or maybe built up an immunity so that if I were to convert to organics I would have some kind of reaction. I cannot remember exactly what the article said but I remember it said that the soil organics are grown in is not good. I'll try to locate it if you are interested. If you weren't brought up on organics maybe you're having a reaction to that oil. If not, I was taught that gum recession comes from improper brushing. I was a dental assistant part-time when in high school. I was in one of the school-to-work programs. I remember the dentist telling the children to brush their teeth the way they grew with a soft brush. Brush from the gums down on the uppers and up from the lowers, massaging the gums to keep them tight against the teeth. I wasn't taught to take care of my teeth at a young age but when I applied that brushing technique I think it helped to preserve them. You're twice that age so I don't know if it's too late but it sure wouldn't hurt to try. Just let me know if you are interested in the article about "organics" and I'll try to locate it. I forwarded it to a couple of friends so it is here somewhere.

I read for several hours about OP and then drove 20 minutes to town to fetch "OILS"... I have a sinus infection and was very uncomfortable and needed some relief. Sunflower oil for 20 minutes and my nose opened up and the sinus pressure is gone. I intend to continue with OP to see if the claims of better stomach health are true. It was not easy at first... There is a gag reflex, and I must admit that my mouth feels really fresh and clean. The baking soda brushing felt great also... Drink plenty of water and I am sure your experience will be just as good. I am amazed!

I saw the discussion regarding mouth wash vs. using Baking Soda after the oil pulling. It is really important, if you use baking soda (I do) to use one without Aluminum. Red Mill for example, makes Baking Soda that states on the package that it is Aluminum Free. Personally, I also mix in salt with the baking soda. I use Celtic Sea Salt.

All the best, Dorit

oil pulling is overall a good remedy. Swish 1 Tablespoon sunflower, or sesame oil between the teeth for around 15 minutes every day. DO NOT SWALLOW. This pulls poisons from your mouth. If you find that you gag, then spit it out ( in the toilet ) and then try again the next day. You will eventually build yourselft up to it. It is important to brush your teeth thoroughly after you spit the oil out either with natural soap or toothpaste. I use soap because it helps rid the poison residue. Oil pulling also cures certain ailments from the body over time. My dental exams have been excellent since I've been doing this. I try to do it everyday for about 2 to 3 weeks to cleanse thoroughly.

Hi - Tried oil pulling a while ago but didn't have much wrong with me so only found the benefit of whiter teeth. A couple of years ago I went to my dentist about a bad taste in my mouth - he said he couldn't see anything wrong but gargle with mouth wash. I did try this but it didn't really work. Since then my tooth is very sensitive to cold and hot things and I have been restricted to eating on one side of mouth. Its been like this for well over a year and I have been thinking I must go to the dentist (but didn't really want to).

Anyhow bought some Safflower oil the other day and started to oil pull in the mornings. I have only done this for 3 days and I can now eat on both sides and don't have a problem with hot or cold. I normally don't believe people when they say "Oh yes it was amazing" but here I go "Yes it was amazing, and I'm telling the truth". I'm so happy I don't have to go to the dentist. I think I'm always going to oil pull now. NB A few of my friends have been put off oil pulling because of the 20 mins - but if you keep busy instead of waiting for the 20 mins to be up you find it actually flies by. Hope this helps someone. Jules

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

I have been pulling oil for about six weeks & though I'm not cured, my condition is dramatically better than on any previous day over the past 10 years.

I first heard of oil pulling in Dr Ott's column in our local newspaper, I then looked it up on the web. I bought a bottle of sesame oil at the grocery that tasted awful as it was pure but toasted. I misremembered what I'd quickly read/scanned on the web and bought a big bottle of safflower oil at a local health food store and started using it. I immediately began to see results and within a week or so my mouth was mostly healed up. The first time in over ten years without constant pain.

Enjoying such remarkable results I started reading more about oil pulling and realized that sunflower not safflower was the preferred oil. The next time I visited the health food store I picked up big bottles of sesame and sunflower and a bottle of hemp oil. I began pulling three times a day, with the very delicious hemp mid-day, in a couple of days I suddenly had day long diarrhea every 30-40 minutes followed by a half day of the same. I quit the hemp oil and my stool firmed up. I continued twice a day alternating between the sesame and sunflower, then I went to once a day first with sesame for a few days then sunflower for a few days all the while my old symptoms were resurfacing though not nearly so virulently. I then decided to revert to the safflower oil that seemed to have done so much good at first and my mouth seems better by the day; not perfect but lots better. Once a day seems sufficient though I sometimes pull at bedtime as well as morning.

My point here is that different oils definitely do different things and those things may differ with the individual. There is no question in my mind as to the power of oil pulling.

To give some idea of my condition:

I have had clinically diagnosed (biopsy) oral lichen planus which has persisted and worsened for more than 10 years. Modern medical science can only offer steroids to lessen symptoms (and the one med- pack I took didn't help at all) or oral steroid ointments, that also did no good. Alternative medicine offers three basic cures that list different countries of origin but all mail out of Pakistan, modest benefit if any. Limiting spicy and acidic foods helped slightly. Various homeopathic, vitamin, colloidal silver and nutritional protocols weren't helpful. A tea tree oil mouthwash did about as much as anything. For much of the time brushing my teeth was out of the question.

My condition has been a never ending series of almost healing for a few days followed by blisters that cover the inside of the cheeks and over the gums which burst and then peel in layers for days & weeks on end keeping the inside of my mouth raw to the point it hurt to drink water and it hurt even more when eating. As I write this I can still find sore spots in my mouth, but I have to seek them out. I am noticing other changes like smelling things I haven't smelled in years.

I am only 6 weeks into this we'll see how it is in 12. JTK

continuing with the oil-pulling may indeed reduce the bags under eyes. I have been pulling 3-5 times per week for about 9 months and one of the most noticeable benefits has been reduced under-eye puffiness. I mostly use coconut and olive oil and both seem to produce the same results. its such a bonus! I dont even use makeup to mask this area anymore : ))

This afternoon I oil pulled for the first time with about 1 tsp of EVCO and had an experience that I did not expect including a lot of mucus. This evening I read your post. You said that any water, oil or other liquid held in your mouth for twenty minutes would result in a mouth full of mucus. Because I do not like to be "fooled" about things I decided to test this before spending a lot of time oil pulling and fooling myself into thinking that the oil pulling was doing something special. My personal result is that after twenty minutes with a mouth full of water, all I ended up with was a mouth full of water and saliva. No other reaction even close to oil pulling with EVCO.

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...

I asked why wait four hours after eating and one hour after drinking water and never found an answer. Recently I added a second oil pulling, before bed--sometimes less than a full hour after drinking water--and I haven't noticed bad effects. I use coconut oil in the morning and olive oil at night.

I am mainly doing it for dental health and consider oil pulling an alternative to mouth wash. Rules like waiting four hours could just be part of making it sound mysterious and magical. I haven't noticed any magical cures, but my gums bleed much less during teeth cleanings and, for the first time, a dentist told me I have excellent oral hygiene.

This really works - sunflower and sesame oils tried!

I found this site just a week ago after coming home from the dentist extremely frustrated (on top of having a 1/2 numb face for the next two hours). Over the last few months I've been drawn to natural cures actually for my spouse, not myself, to help cure her polymyositis and fibromyalgia (off topic, but magnet therapy is helping). Anyway, after that trip to the dentist I said, "there HAS to be a better way!" Briefly, I'll state my history as having struggled with gum disease for at least the last ten years. It has gotten much worse in the last year. Unfortunately, I had an accident last fall that further irritated two of my teeth that were already slightly loose. When I went to the dentist last Thursday to see what could be done I was really upset that 1) my insurance wouldn't cover a deep cleaning because I'd had one within the last three years 2) I needed to get that cleaning (I agreed) to help keep my teeth clean and 3) that it would cost me ~$500 for just ONE side of my mouth ~ and the total would have been ~$1,600 out of pocket (includes injecting antibiotics directly into eight teeth/gum areas at ~$40/tooth)! Because I thought I *needed it,* I bit the bullet and got one side done but when I got home I was determined to find another way. It was too much discomfort and I didn't want to pay for it if I didn't have to. That's when I stumbled upon oil pulling. I thought it sounded absolutely too good to be true but with all of the testimonials and the fact that it had very little risk why not try it? Well, last Friday morning, 6/18/2010, I started with Sunflower oil. I lasted about 12 minutes. I thought it taste rather bland so I switched to organic, virgin sesame oil the next day and have been using that up until today, Friday, 6/24/2010. My results are as follows:

1-After day one I immediately noticed that my teeth became a little whiter
2-After day two I became really congested and had to blow my nose a LOT. I also had a couple of pimples pop up, which have since cleared. I think the sunflower was better for whitening quickly.
3-After day three I noticed that I was sleeping a lot deeper and had a ton of energy during the day
4-As of last night I noticed that both of my loose teeth are secured. I would say that one is 95% while the other is trailing at 90%!
5-My skin seems a little clearer.

I am ASTOUNDED by these results as I'm 29 years old and was worried to death about losing them. My own sibling who is a dentist in another state told me that something drastic needed to be done or I would lose them. :( Also, a dentist that I was going to every three months up until earlier this year (I've recently relocated) wanted to do a LASER procedure to penetrate the gums and fix the problem. I'm SO glad I didn't do that! The only reason I didn't do it is because the timing was bad with me preparing to relocate and that procedure would have also been ~$1,600 out of pocket. (My sister did tell me not to do laser because it was too invasive and not necessary).

At any rate, that's my report after a full seven days. I'm grateful to not lose my appetite like some others here because I'm underweight and am consuming a lot in order try and gain 10 pounds. That is another journey in itself, but it's coming along now that I'm tracking my caloric intake. OP has made junk food less appealing, which is a good thing. My process is to brush and floss as usual, OP for 5-10 minutes, spit, rinse, brush with water and baking soda and rinse one more time. It sounds like a lot but it's not that bad. Fifteen minutes go by quickly if you just fill it by checking your email. Besides, 15 minutes a day to save thousands of dollars and unnecessary pain is worth it! Oh, I also cut down on sodas tremendously over the last week. I had about three rather than one a day. I drank mostly water - had no desire for soda.

I'm so excited about this I want to tell my family and friends but I'm going to wait until 30 days go by. I know they're going to be skeptical, especially the dentist, but if she can get a hold of my dental records then there will be proof! My wife has now decided to try it. Yesterday was her first day and not more than ten minutes after doing it she felt "different" and had to release phlegm. This morning she woke up with me at 5:00 as chipper as ever, very energetic without the aid of coffee, an energy drink or Adderall. We're both amazed. I do worry that her healing process may be unbearable as she's been struggling with chronic illnesses for at least eight years, but it would worth it if she no longer had to deal with them or prescription drugs with horrific side effects.

Sorry, this post is a lot longer than I intended it to be.

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.

It is my understanding that genetically modified means roundup is infused into the seeds to kill insects to protect the plant. This is the reason bees are dying. And this is the reason that wheat and corn are so dangerous to eat. And this is the reason some countries have outlawed Roundup. Farmers flood their wheat fields with roundup to create a stronger crop to make more money which is wiping out the bee population. Without bees, we have no food. It's a scary situation. Genetically modified is a misnomer.

I'm so so excited. I posted a few months ago and want to provide an update. I had a sever case of gum disease. NO MORE! I started oil pulling a few months ago, daily. I use Sunflower oil and Coconut oil.

I went to the dentist today and I was told my pockets are normal, except for a few and my gums look great! He told me I didn't need deep scaling and a simple cleaning was all I needed! I'm over joyed.

I also use coconut oil in my hair, it looks great. I use it all over my body and I simply feel terrific. I have told tons of people about this site and will continue to do so.

Lots of Love, Ari

I have tried caster oil while oil pulling. It makes me very sleepy. After I pull.

Hi pibbles I use VCO in the mornings for OPing and in the evening before bed I use Castor Oil and like Vince it makes me sleepy.... other benefits I noticed is that it usually helps my teeth if they have been aching and it's so darn thick that when I'm finished my jaw is usually to tired to 'grind' in my sleep which I have had a problem with on and off at nights, that leaves my jaw sore, and with a bad headache but with CO haha, no more.

I oil pull with Cod Liver Oil. It is a popular brand that has lemon and mint added. I can't taste the fish at all. I love oil pulling with the cod liver oil. My mouth is clean and healthy. And it is great for my skin. I don't injest any cod liver oil. I do take Omega 3 fish oil caps though. I feel that plenty of the vitamin A gets into my blood stream with the oil pulling. I also oil pull with Avacado oil, and extra virgin coconut oil. The avacado oil is great for your hair. Makes it healthy and shiny. And they are all good for your skin.

hello, i staretd oil pulling 3 days ago,all i can say is WOW, my teeth are whiter already and the black streaks on them disipated, by the way i still drink coffe,presently i use Siberian cedar nut oil (cold pressed)and only use a sip of it for pulling and 1Tsp, internally for tonifyng the organs. amazing !!!

Hello! I live in windsor too, I am very interested in a natural healthy lifestyle, but I dont know where to get oils and herbs, do you know a herbal store? any help would be much appreciated.

The best oil for oil-pulling is Mustard Oil.

Some people are allergic to coconut, so I wonder if the tingling isn't an allergic reaction.

Have you been diagnosed with periodontal disease? I wonder if your gums aren't bleeding...

In response to Rebecca from Bronx NY: I also wondered about oil pulling. I did it for two months with no evidence of it helping with anything. I was hoping it would alleviate pain from exposed nerves due to receding gums as well as with acne and general detox. I stopped the oil pulling for a couple of months but was desperate for some sinus relief with a cold one afternoon. I pulled two afternoons in a row and had really great results. Help with sinuses, no tooth pain, and major colon cleanse! I figured out what I must have been doing wrong for two months when I saw no results. I was pulling in the mornings while getting ready for work and getting my daughter ready for school so it didn't really have my full attention. Sometimes I would be distracted and would stop swishing or swallow a little (not the actual oil, but just whatever mucus or saliva was rising up in the back of my throat). When I pulled in the afternoons, it was a time I could just focus on the pulling. I don't pull very often now since it is rare for me to have an empty stomach anytime besides morning (I'm a grazer) and I'm not willing to get up at 4:30am to have enough time to focus on pulling before I start my day. Hope this helps.

I have now been oil pulling for two months both morning and night. Twenty-eight years ago I was exposed to agent orange here in Hawaii from the pineapple fields. It had gotten into the water supply. I have been ill ever since, I especially suffered from migraines. To make things worse I have heavy metal poisoning that is off the charts.

Two friends put their grandmother's rosaries on me and prayed for me by my request... as I had been feeling so terrible.. kept telling my friends that my blood feels poisoned. That night I found EarthClinic and my prayer was answered. My life has been restored to me. Glory be to Buddha, Marys, Christ, angels and all the Saints! HO!

I have consistent energy. I no longer feel poisoned, my blood feels joyous! I am sleeping so deeply from the very first day I tried it. Now that I feel so good, I understand how deeply sick I've been all this time. My body feels so relieved not to start the day with a toxic overload. A new acquaintance of mine said that since she's known me she can't believe the quality of my skin...

I have tried for over 28 years many modalities, herbal medicines, prescription medicines.. nothing helped me.. I began to feel I was the only person on earth who could not heal... and I'm a healer... I am healing and everyday I am amazed, startled, surprised, delighted that I wake up feeling grrreat! Blessed Be!

I would be extremely hesitant to use any oil that wasn't organic and unrefined. Canola oil specifically undergoes about 147 steps in its processing including being treated with hexane gas, then burnt to remove the majority of hexane, and finally bleached. Yummy!

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

I have been oil pulling and while my gums are benefiting I'm wondering about a red fungal looking rash I have on my stomach and my face is red, am I detoxing?

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.

Hi all. My local supermarket, here in Ecuador, has started selling Sacha Inchi "extra virgin" olive oil. I'd never heard of it before. Has anyone any experience of the oil or the seeds? I used it for the first time yesterday to oil pull and the detoxing effect was higher than when I've pulled with sunflower oil or virgin olive oil. Headaches, flu type symptoms, etc. I will, however, continue and see what happens after I've finished the bottle. Thanks in advance.

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.

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.

What is Ur homemade toothpaste that you use, if you do not mind me asking please?I just love the oil pulling. Thanks everyone

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?

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.

Oil pulling with amalgams.

I have been researching tooth issues for awhile, and have seen cautions for oil pulling if you have amalgam fillings. This makes sense to me as mercury vaporizes in the mouth via chewing and even microcurrents across metal surfaces reacting to each other. So oil pulling could potentially erode mercury/amalgams faster.

Thank you for statement. Would you kindly grace the rest of us with your sources and information proving your allegation? I would certainly like to see the research . It would save me from my own experimentations with DMSO. If there is already conclusive evidence that this process works and that plain sesame oil is the best then, please stop withholding from the rest of us your sources so that your peers here can review them. Thank you.