What the Hell is Oil Pulling and Should You Be Doing It?

By Andrew D. Luecke

The Daily Beast reports that oil pulling, a 3,000-year-old Ayurvedic practice, is the latest grooming trend to get the blogosphere in a tizzy. Practitioners claim that the simple process can whiten teeth, destroy halitosis, and even improve heart health. But why, suddenly, is this ancient technique on the tip of everyone's tongue? Yep, you guessed it: Gwyneth Paltrow just admitted to being an oil puller. And what Gwyneth does, the rest shall follow.

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Basically, to "oil pull," one swishes oil around the mouth, teeth, and gums for 20 minutes, in a procedure that supposedly pulls toxins out of the mouth and boosts overall health. Most practitioners use coconut oil (like GWYNETH), because it's delicious, but sesame or olive oil, and even the clarified butter known as ghee, all work.

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Though these oils are known to have antibacterial properties, The Daily Beast notes that experts like Dr. Sheila Patel of The Chopra Center for Well-Being, caution that oil should be used as an enhancement to a regular oral hygiene routine, can't replace brushing one's teeth, and won't help save your marriage from impending uncoupling of the conscious variety.


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