As beauty editors, we get bombarded with a ton of new products every day (we know—tough life). Reviewed is a series where we report on some of the best products we've tried. Whether it's a drugstore lipstick that lasted all day or a hand cream that saved us this winter, you'll find all of our favorites in this column. Enjoy!
If the thought of oil pulling makes you cringe, I'm with you. Fifteen to 20 minutes is a long time to commit to anything consecutively, let alone swishing coconut oil around in your mouth. I can barely make the full 30 seconds of rinsing with mouthwash before sputtering into the sink, so sucking oil through my teeth for half a sitcom doesn't sound like something I could do successfully (or happily). It also sounds a bit… unkosher. I imagine having a mouth full of oil would make me want to brush my teeth and get rid of the residue, but doesn't that defy the purpose? The fact of the matter is, though, that oil pulling removes bacterial plaque from your mouth, which in turn reduces inflammation and freshens breath. This is what we call a beauty give-and-take.
While I still haven't hopped on the oil pulling bandwagon, I've found a great replacement: Jāsön's new Simply Coconut Toothpaste ($6). It's made with unrefined, cold-pressed virgin coconut oil to mimic the antibacterial components of pulling. Unlike regular coconut oil, it comes in flavors like Coconut Cream (a blend of pineapple and strawberry to whiten teeth), Coconut Mint, Coconut Eucalyptus, and Coconut Chamomile. I tried the Coconut Mint variation, and it tastes incredible—quite possibly the best toothpaste I've ever tasted. The best part, though, is definitely the fact that it leaves my teeth feeling squeaky clean—not an ounce of tartar is left behind, and they appear whiter and more sparkly after every use.
If you want to give it a try yourself, you'll have to be patient, as it doesn't roll out to Whole Foods until May. But once it does, I seriously recommend snatching it up and trying it yourself. And when you do, please leave your thoughts in the comments.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used in the place of advice of your physician or other medical professionals. You should always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider first with any health-related questions.
