A woman can be seen on a TikTok video, indulging in oil pulling, a practice originating from ancient Indian Ayurvedic medicine. This involves swishing edible oil, such as coconut, sunflower, olive, or sesame, around her mouth for roughly 10 minutes before expelling it into a bin. She follows this regimen two to three times each week.
While oil pulling claims to encourage healthier oral microbiome, prevent dental issues such as gum recession, gingivitis, and cavities, and even whiten teeth, these claims lack scientific backing, according to dentist Dr Parul Dua Makkar who doesn’t endorse the practice at all.
The theory behind oil pulling lies in the idea that the oil’s viscosity prevents bacterial growth by coating the oral surfaces. Dr Deborah Foyle, a periodontist at Texas A&M University School of Dentistry, also suggested that the oil’s antioxidant properties could interact with harmful bacteria, possibly reducing their growth and decreasing gum inflammation.
However, a 2022 analysis of nine smaller trials indicated that although oil pulling might lower bacteria levels in the mouth, it didn’t not reduce gum inflammation, plaque, gum redness, or bleeding. Foyle also mentioned the limited and poorly conducted studies on oil pulling that hint at benefits like bad breath reduction but are too unreliable to draw from.
Both the British Dental Journal and the American Dental Association state that there’s insufficient scientific evidence supporting the supposed benefits of oil pulling. The American Dental Association does not support the practice, expressing that there are “no trustworthy scientific studies demonstrating that oil pulling reduces cavities, whitens teeth or enhances oral health and wellbeing”. The risks associated with this practice are yet another concern.
Dr Mark S Wolff, a restorative dentist at Penn Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, comments that oil pulling isn’t necessarily harmful, but it could have some negative implications. Typically meant to be conducted on an empty stomach, it theoretically reduces the amount of food residues the oil has to interact with. However, ingesting the oil could provoke stomach discomfort, Dr Wolff cautioned.
Additionally, the use of coconut oil in this health practice could lead to plumbing issues, as it tends to solidify at ambient temperature and therefore can block drains if spat into the sink.
Dr Wolff also raised a concern about the time-consuming nature of oil pulling, as it implies swishing oil around in your mouth for extended periods, noting that even five minutes can feel exhaustive, much less twenty.
The benefits of oil pulling may have been more prevalent in historical periods when people lacked toothbrushes and toothpaste, added Dr Makkar. However, it’s not a necessary practice with today’s dental hygiene resources.
Despite the negatives, if individuals still wish to experiment with oil pulling, Dr Wolff advises that it should not be considered as a replacement for conventional brushing or flossing. Dr Makkar echoed this sentiment, emphasising that it’s a myth that oil pulling could serve as a substitute for standard dental hygiene routines, so don’t retire your toothbrush and floss just yet.