Should I be oil pulling?

As if coconut oil didn't have enough accolades already, the recent craze of "oil pulling" puts it in the limelight once again. Coconut oil is said to have antibacterial properties that its sibling oils don't, which is why it's regarded as the best option for pulling.

What is oil pulling? 

Oil pulling involves swishing one tablespoon of vegetable-based oil in your mouth for 15-20 minutes then spitting it out and brushing your teeth like you normally would. Voila! Oil pulling complete.

This swishing—best done on an empty stomach—supposedly draws out toxins, improving your overall health and, more specifically, oral health.

What are the benefits of oil pulling?

Check out these reported benefits:

• whiter teeth
• fresher breath
• cavity prevention
• stronger teeth and gums
• alleviates sleep, sinus and skin issues like acne and eczema

Is oil pulling too good to be true?

Maybe. There isn't much formal reported data on the benefits of oil pulling; however, cleaning our mouths with coconut oil like we would with mouthwash can't hurt us. As anyone with an email address or Pinterest account may already know, coconut oil has some great, proven benefits as well as being very versatile, from being used in the kitchen to DIY beauty treatments.

In conclusion, oil pulling isn't necessarily the cure-all it may be credited to be, but if you can stomach swishing oil? Why not?