Oil Pulling v 2.0: Oil-Pulling Mouthwash Review

By now I'm sure you've all heard of oil-pulling since it's everywhere, I'm sure even the sewer rats in NYC do it. To quickly break it down if you don't know already, oil-pulling is when you take a small amount (usually half a tablespoon is suggested) of oil and swish it around your mouth for 15-20 minutes at the beginning or end of your day and then you spit it out. The point of this process is to pull toxins from your mouth, face, and body, and to leave you with whiter teeth, fresher breath and a healthier complexion.

Whenever I oil pull, which is around 3-4 times a week, I take a half tablespoon of coconut oil and follow the usual procedure of swishing it around for 15-20 minutes and then spitting it out. Afterwards I brush my tongue with my toothbrush I will then take a swish from a mouthwash, gargle to get any leftover oil and spit it out. This completes my oil-pulling process each night. Traditionally oil-pulling is done in the morning but I find it's easier for my gag reflexes at night.

About a week ago I discovered a company who's changing the oil-pulling game, and if you haven't joined the game, well then I tag you in. Right now.

One week ago on discovery day my boyfriend and I were walking around our local Lassens when this really cute girl in celestial-patterned tights asked if I had ever heard of the company The Dirt and their organic toothpaste. I love anything organic, homepathic and/or pretty much covered in dirt, so I of course walked up and tried a sample. Seeing that I wasn't going to buy the toothpaste since I already have toothpaste at home, she then jumped seamlessly into talking about oil-pulling and asking if I had ever done it. Hesitantly I said "Yes", not sure what tricks she had up her nymph-like sleeves. It was at that moment she pulled up a bottle of The Dirt "Oil Pulling Mouthwash" and began to talk about the benefits of this particular bottle of oil over traditional coconut oil and/ or using a different mouth wash.

I was intrigued, partly due to the packaging, partly due to her tights and partly due to the fact that the bottle had a liquid in it and not a solid. Unrefined coconut oil is naturally solid at room temperature. Before I can even begin the process of swishing the product around my mouth, I first have to let it sit in my mouth for a solid 5 minutes+ to let it melt and get to a liquidious state. The process, no matter how beneficial, is time-consuming. The smaller bottle she held before me was $20 for 4oz while the larger bottle on the table went for $40 for 8oz. The girl claimed that the smaller bottle will last for a month while the larger bottle will last for around two if you oil-pull often.

In cost-comparison, a large bottle of unrefined coconut oil retails for $7.95 at Walmart and will last in the 2-3 month range if you oil-pull/smoothie/cook with it relatively often. Many people use oil-pulling in place of mouthwash,however, I actually keep both oil and mouthwash in my bathroom, making my habit a bit more expensive than others. This product is essentially 2-in-1 for people like me who like to use both, but is it actually worth the price?

I take a small swig and immediately begin oil pulling rather than having to wait for it to melt, and I don't have to use a second product afterwards. I also am head-over-heels in love with the taste. It tastes mint-y, clove-y and smells like earthy heaven. This product is also a space saver, rather than having two products, I only have one. Rather than having to wash a spoon every time I oil-pull I just take a swig from the bottle, saving me washing more dishes. Using it as oil-pulling works beautifully, and using it as a mouthwash is amazing too. My breath felt way fresher than using any traditional brand of mouthwash I'd ever used.

For anyone who doesn't use mouthwash, this product isn't worth it due to the price for the smaller quantity, but if you like to use both mouth wash and do oil-pulling, this product is out of this world. If you were to buy coconut oil and mouth wash separately, you would end up paying the same price as this product. This mouthwash will not last you as long as a bottle of coconut oil, but I feel that if you're willing to try this fun, innovative and tasty product that it will be worth the little extra splurge.