It’s been a few years since oil pulling made its way into the (quasi) mainstream health scene.
Celebrities swore by it as the secret to good health, but at the time, there wasn’t much evidence to support it. Five years after the practice gained prominence, it’s seeing a revival in popularity, even though most research shows minimal benefit—it might improve your oral health to some degree, but it’s no substitute for brushing your teeth and flossing.
Wait…oil pulling?
This is a practice from Ayurvedic medicine, a centuries-old set of holistic beliefs from India. The idea is to swish your mouth with oil, which will draw out toxins known in Ayurveda as ama.
Tradition dictates sesame oil, but some contemporary followers prefer coconut oil. You take 1 tablespoon of oil into your mouth and swish it around for 20 minutes without swallowing. Then you spit the oil out and rinse your mouth with water.
People who have tried oil pulling claim it can improve oral health by preventing tooth decay, bloody gums, and throat dryness, and it can even be shown to stave off disease, cure hangovers, and prevent diabetes. (Again, these are the claims that people have made.)
So, does it work?
Health experts say no. The American Dental Association does not recommend oil pulling as an effective dental hygiene practice and maintains that the best way of preventing tooth decay and keeping your gums healthy is to brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss between your teeth once a day.
Does oil pulling offer any benefits?
The Cleveland Clinic notes that oil pulling won’t necessarily hurt you, as long as you don’t swallow the oil regularly. So, if you’re maintaining good dental hygiene and like the way oil pulling makes your mouth feel, go for it. Some studies have shown regular oil pulling does diminish levels of Streptococcus mutans, bacteria that cause tooth decay, and rinsing with oil could be just as effective as mouthwash in reducing your risk of gingivitis.
