Even if you’re always up to date on the latest health and beauty trends, oil pulling might still be under your radar. I was surprised to learn that ladies everywhere have found a new way to use this year’s must-have fix for everything: coconut oil.

From being used in baked goods and hair conditioner to treating razor burn and seasoning cast iron skillets, it seems like coconut oil can fix or improve just about anything, so why should oral health be any different?

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic Indian remedy for oral health and detox. The oil pulls bacteria and fungus out of the mouth, teeth, gums and even the throat.

Among oil pulling’s numerous benefits are teeth and gum whitening, more energy, less migraines, and clearer sinuses. Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow swear by this new craze.

By the way, most people recommend a high quality coconut oil that is unrefined and organic for oil pulling.

So how does one go about oil pulling? Simple. Put a teaspoon of coconut oil into your mouth, swish (it melts into a liquid at room temperature) for no more than 20 minutes and spit it out into a trash can, as the substance will re-harden and clog a drain if spit out into the sink.

Then rinse your mouth out with warm water and brush your teeth as usual.

In a few online interviews, some dentists have expressed confusion over this method, saying that they do not believe that coconut oil will do much for mouth health and since it takes about 15 minutes, they predict that the general public will not jump on this bandwagon because it takes too long.

There are, however, a handful of scientific studies that show that oil pulling reduces plaque and gingivitis, can help reduce cavities, and reduces harmful bacteria in the mouth.

Chances are, there’s a jar of coconut oil already laying around your house somewhere, so why not grab a teaspoon and try oil pulling tomorrow morning?

Let me know about your results! [email protected]