When Gwyneth Paltrow – founder of Goop and all-round wellness guru – says she oil pulls every morning, we too religiously stuff our mouths with oil and swish it around as we go about our morning routine. Odd? Absolutely. Worth it? Most definitely.
Thanks to her recent interview with WSJ Magazine, we now know that Paltrow “wakes up at 6:30 a.m. and goes straight to her sink, where she does an oil pull: she puts a big scoop of minty coconut oil in her mouth and swishes it around for 10 minutes while she goes about other parts of her routine.”
There are some ayurvedic practices – like hair oiling – that have become mainstream, tried-and-tested beauty trends across the Middle East and beyond, and oil pulling is set to be no different. This ayurvedic practice promises to pull toxins from the body while helping to whiten teeth. “I love it,” Paltrow said to WSJ Magazine. “You do that and then you have a tongue scraper – wow! Your mouth feels super fresh in the morning.”
WHAT IS AYURVEDA?
Ayurveda literally means “the science of life” in Sanskrit, and is traditionally an alternative medical system hailing from India. It aims to preserve your health and wellbeing – and therefore prevent illnesses, rather than treat them – by bringing the mind, body and spirit into balance. By nature, then, ayurvedic practices are often meditative and enjoyable, as well as beneficial to your body.
WHAT IS OIL PULLING?
Oil pulling had a moment back in 2016, and Gwyneth’s interview is a friendly reminder as to why. Oral health in general has been demanding more space within the industry recently, with more and more oral health brands rising to the top. Moon, for example, aims to “elevate the everyday oral care routine into an oral beauty experience”, and is endorsed by none other than Kendall Jenner. Then there’s the likes of Marvis, an industry veteran with deliciously exotic toothpastes using jasmine, ginger, cinnamon and more – all in an effort to transport you to another world. Not to mention Aesop and Foreo – both brands that have ventured into the oral health sector with toothpastes, mouth washes and toothbrushes. Each of these brands take your mundane mouth-maintenance routines and turn them into wellness rituals.
Oil pulling does this too, without any fancy tools or formulas; all you need is a bit of coconut, sunflower or sesame oil. By simply swishing it around your mouth – “pulling” the oil through your teeth and mouth – for five to 20 minutes, some claim it can treat tooth decay, neutralise bad breath, heal bleeding gums, prevent cavities and reduce plaque build-up. It reduces the harmful bacteria in your mouth, and is also believed to draw toxins from the blood and prevent heart disease. The book “Oil Pulling Therapy: Detoxifying and Healing the Body Through Oral Cleansing” suggests it has a cleansing and healing effect on the mouth, sinuses and body. It even goes on to say it can help with allergies, asthma, chronic fatigue, diabetes and migraines.
While many people – like Gwyneth Paltrow – swear by oil pulling, it’s important to remember that there’s a lack of solid scientific evidence to back up these claims. Ayurvedic medicine is ultimately steeped in pseudoscience, and The American Dental Association says there is “insufficient research” on oil pulling. According to Healthline, there are “currently no studies” to support the claims that oil pulling can whiten teeth, or that it draws toxins from the blood.
So, what does this mean? Despite inadequate evidence, there are tons of testimonials that say oil pulling is beneficial, and honestly, a claim from Gwyneth Paltrow is evidence enough for us.
