DashJ

A shiny set of pearly whites is something we all strive for, right?

While teeth as blindingly white as the Love Island cast (we're looking at you, OG Connor), might be a step too far, a subtly brighter smile is universally flattering. I know we are sadly all confined to isolation right now but after completing GLAMOUR's very extensive list of things to do in isolation, I am tackling my beauty to-do list. I've used a gloss on my hair, had a go at threading my own eyebrows and given myself an at-home shellac but hours spent on Zoom calls made me realise my smile could do with a little 'spruce up'.

There's plenty of teeth whitening kits on the market, including the best-selling Crest Whitening Strips, but if you're looking for a more natural way to brighten your smile, coconut oil is apparently the answer. Plus, in lieu of being able to get out to Boots to buy an at-home teeth whitening kit, I thought I'd try out the tub of coconut oil that's been sitting in my cupboard for a few months.

Whilst there's no scientific studies to support some benefits of oil pulling, there's plenty of Ayurvedic research and celebrity endorsement to suggest it could give you whiter teeth and honestly, I'll do anything to beat the boredom at this point, results or no results.

The method was brought to the mainstream by none other than Gwyneth Paltrow. When asked if she has any favourite DIY skin treatments, Gwyneth preached the benefits of coconut oil: "I use coconut oil a lot. I do on my face, on my skin and in my cooking. And I just started oil pulling, which is when you swish coconut oil around [in your mouth] for 20 minutes, and it's supposed to be great for oral health and making your teeth white. It's supposed to clear up your skin, as well."

Gwyneth said: "It's really interesting; it's an ancient, ancient technique. I read about it on the Internet."

Since oil pulling is relatively new to the Western world, its health benefits have been vague, but a few published studies have confirmed that swishing oil does have value - especially for oral health.

In 2009, one study found that people who practiced oil pulling for 10 days showed a reduction in dental plaque comparable to plaque reductions seen in people who used chlorhexidine mouthwash during the same time period. And in 2008, another study found that oil pulling effectively reduced mouth bacteria in the plaque and saliva samples of study participants.

While we've heard that coconut oil isn't ideal for skin or hair, we were keen to find out if it could work wonders on our smile. Here's what happened when we tried daily oil pulling..

OIL PULLING REVIEW

I'm not seeking a TOWIE-esque white smile but those three daily coffees have been taking their toll on the hue of my teeth. In my humble opinion, everyone looks better with pearly whites so I was keen to achieve them.

I have super sensitive teeth and an attempt at having them professionally whitened ended, quite literally, in tears. After reading about the benefits of oil pulling not only for general health and wellbeing, but also for teeth discolouration, I thought I'd give it a whirl.

I opted for a tub of coconut oil from Neal's Yard Remedies and used a teaspoon in my mouth every morning. I swished it around for around 20 minutes while doing my makeup and followed up by cleaning my teeth as normal.

The taste is a little... acquired... but you'll quickly get used to it. After literally three days of oil pulling, people were commenting on my whiter smile in my daily Zoom calls. I continued to do it for a few weeks and noticed a major difference in the colour of my teeth.

The method is simple, pain-free and best of all, totally affordable.

My only word of advice? Don't spit the oil down the sink - spit it into a tissue and throw it away - or the method will be far from affordable when you have to fork out money on a plumber.

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