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Oil Pulling: Is It Simply a Celeb Fad?

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Kirby Beaton
Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Rachel Miller
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCSB chapter.

So… what exactly is oil pulling? It basically involves sticking a teaspoon or two of oil, be it coconut, olive, or sesame, and swishing it around in your mouth for twenty minutes. Every day. Sounds pretty disgusting, right? Well, upon hearing about its purported health and cosmetic benefits, I decided to give it a try. After all, stars like Shailene Woodley and Gwenyth Paltrow swear by it. And, according to Wikipedia, the ancient process supposedly helps with acne, migraines, digestion, and even teeth whitening. 

I used coconut oil because I had a jar lying around and it seemed like it would have the most mild taste (gargling sesame oil? EW!). The texture was the most difficult part: it was slimy and solid and took forever to melt in my mouth. When it finally did melt, it wasn’t so bad; there was no taste and it was just like rinsing with mouth wash, only for a lot longer. It was easy for me to get used to, but if you have a bad gag reflex, you might want to start out with 1/2 a teaspoon and work your way up. 

I’ve been oil pulling for a few weeks now, and I’m totally used to it. I usually do it in the morning and simply do my hair or makeup while I swish. Immediately afterwards my teeth feel super clean, almost as if I just came back from the dentist. On top of that, my teeth are now significantly whiter. If you’re looking for a natural, chemical free teeth whitener – this is it!

Overall, I would suggest oil pulling as a daily part of your routine. Once you become accustomed to the strange texture, it’s easy to do it while you straighten your hair or catch up on Instagram. Once you discover the lack of dental stains and the squeaky clean feeling, you won’t regret it!

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Kirby is a recent graduate from UCSB currently living in Los Angeles. As a proud Her Campus UCSB alum, she's happy to be back on the HC team covering one of her fave shows: "The Mindy Project." On any given day you can find her with her nose in a book (let's be real - it's a Kindle). In her free time, she likes petting dogs, binge-watching TV, and eating a lot of food. Find her on Instagram: @kirbynicoleb or @GirlBossEats. 
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Rachel is a senior at UC Santa Barbara and studies Communication and Global Peace and Security. Rachel is from a small, beautiful town in southern California called Palos Verdes. However, Palos Verdes is just one of the many places Rachel has lived. Rachel spent her childhood moving and traveling all over the world, living in places such as Indianapolis, Indiana; Santiago, Chile; Vienna, Austria; and Orlando, Florida. Rachel has found her heart and her home in California, choosing to spend her college years in sunny Santa Barbara. However, Rachel continued her wanderlust when she studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain in Fall 2012. At UCSB, Rachel is an immensely dedicated and involved member of her sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma, where she held the positions of Panhellenic Delegate, Inter-Greek Counselor, Rho Gam, and a member of the Nominating Slate. Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is a passion of Rachel's, as she is their Social Media Coordinator as well as an active and proud member. As a member of the Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honors Society, Rachel is able to implement her prowess and affinity for communication and communication-related issues. When Rachel is not writing, participating in Kappa events, or volunteering, you can find her in the gym, on the soccer field, watching Modern Family, or cooking. Rachel's love for sports, food, and writing often times go hand-in-hand, as one may see in her weekly blogs. For the past two summers, Rachel has been freelance writing for the Los Angeles Times, and hopes to continue her career pursuit of journalism after she graduates. Rachel is elated to be a part of Her Campus's fabulous team and loves every moment of it!