Coconut oil has proven itself to be somewhat of a beauty miracle. Aside from working as a healthy cooking oil alternative, it’s also great for moisturizing skin and hair, removing makeup and keeping your lips nice and soft. It looks like we might be overlooking one major health advantage the magical oil is capable of – oil pulling.
The general idea is that oil can work as a sort of natural mouthwash. We won’t say oil pulling is entirely new (the technique can be traced back to ancient India), but we will say we’ve seen a pretty dramatic resurgence in the idea since coconut oil recently rose to beauty superstardom. The practice isn’t officially backed by any major medical organizations — however, it is said to leave you with fresher breath and whiter teeth, all while fighting oral bacteria, plaque buildup and cavities. (Photo via @emjahn67)
Who Loves It
A couple of our favorite celebs to get granola with, Shailene Woodley and Gwyneth Paltrow both swear by oil pulling. Shailene tells Into the Gloss, “It really makes your teeth whiter, because the plaque on your teeth is not water soluble, it’s fat-soluble. So the lipids have to dissolve in fats, which is why oil works in your mouth. I prefer sesame oil, but they’re both good.” However, she also goes on to express her love for eating clay, which has been somewhat aggressively debated on the web, so maybe take that rave review with a grain of salt.
Lauren Conrad’s team also put the practice to the test, swishing for a whopping 20 minutes a day. They reported fresh breath, slightly whiter teeth and even a decrease in breakouts around the chin and jawline. (Photos via Jason Merritt/Getty)
How To Try It
1. The DIY Way: All you really need is a spoon and your oil of choice (coconut, sesame and sunflower are the most popular). It works best if you do it first thing in the morning after you’ve had a glass of water. Swish it around in your mouth for 5-20 minutes and then spit it out in the trash can (it will clog up your drain). Do your best not to swallow any, considering the oil is meant to be full of toxins and you don’t want that going back into your system. Rinse your mouth with salt water and then brush and floss like normal. (Photo via I Run on Nutrition)
2. Cocowhite ($20): If you’re up for something a little fancier, try these fun, flavored coconut oil sachets. While Cocowhite claims to give you all the benefits of oil pulling, their main focus is the idea that this is a natural way to whiten teeth. For $20 you’ll get a 14-day supply in the flavor of your choosing. It might seem a little steep for about a few tablespoons of oil, but if this is meant to be a competitor for big whitening products like Crest White Strips, the price is actually fairly comparable.
Have you ever tried oil pulling? What did you think? Share with us in the comments below.
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.