Topline
Oil pulling—the practice of swishing oil around your mouth as a treatment for teeth—has blown up on social media sites like TikTok, and has been around for centuries, but little research has been done on it, and dentists caution against considering it a quick fix.
A person in the act of pouring liquid in their mouth to gargle.
Key Facts
Oil pulling has become a viral trend, with the hashtag #oilpulling having over 163 million views on TikTok and several creators claiming to have received results such as brighter teeth in a week and the reversal of cavities.
The process of oil pulling involves swishing around a small amount of oil—typically coconut, sesame seed or sunflower—in the mouth for around 20 minutes and then spitting it out like a mouthwash, Sheila Samaddar, a spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry told Forbes.
The practice is believed to have originated in ancient India over 3,000 years ago as a part of Ayurvedic medicine, which encourages the use of natural remedies to help create “balance to the body, mind and spirit,” according to the National Cancer Institute.
Healthy People 2020 (the U.S. government’s avenue for addressing prominent health risks that affect the country each decade) labeled oral health as one of the 10 leading health indicators, noting good oral health allows humans to function properly (i.e. eating, smiling, speaking and smelling), and poor dental health can lead to serious health conditions such as gum disease and oral cancers.
Gum disease (also called periodontal disease) is a leading cause of tooth decay, negatively affecting the soft and hard structures of the teeth; 46% of adults over the age of 30 show signs of gum disease, and 9% are affected by severe gum disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
According to the CDC, cavities are one of the “greatest unmet health treatment needs,” with 90% of adults aged 20 years or older having had at least one cavity in their lifetime.
Potential Benefits
Although oil pulling is an ancient practice, not much research has been done on it. According to a 2017 study, oil pulling works by generating antioxidants that damage the cell wall of microorganisms, eventually killing them. This leads to the removal of plaque building bacteria that creates bad breath, gingivitis, tooth decay and gum disease from the dental cavity. A separate study had 60 adolescents between the ages of 16 and 18 practice oil pulling for 30 days. At the end of the trial, they found a 50% decrease in plaque and gum bacteria, coming to the conclusion oil pulling reduces plaque induced gingivitis and plaque formation. However, according to Samaddar, “in dental care, there is no magic wand.” As for whether oil pulling does in fact reverse cavities or brighten teeth, she said swishing the mouth with any kind of liquid won’t do much for oral care without brushing and flossing.
Potential Dangers
Though oil pulling on its own isn’t believed to have many benefits, it also doesn’t pose many dangers, either. “The only time that I would consider oil pulling dangerous is if someone doesn’t do recommended treatment that we know works because they’re counting on oil pulling to do something that it doesn’t do,” American Dental Association spokesperson Matt Messina told Forbes.
Tangent
Oil pulling was invented before the practice of tooth brushing was widely accepted. Ancient Romans also practiced oil pulling, Messina said. Instead of the traditional oils, they used olive oil to clean their teeth. Ancient peoples from around the world developed different methods of teeth cleaning, such as the ancient Romans who made toothpaste out of honey and crushed eggshells, according to Messina. These weren’t the only tooth cleaning methods that Romans practiced. According to the Smithsonian, ancient Romans used urine as a tooth whitening agent, relying on the ammonia found in urine to lift stains away. A fourth century A.D. Egyptian toothpaste recipe used salt, pepper, mint and dried iris flower. Dentist Heinz Neuman made the recipe in 2003, and although it made his gums bleed, he told the Telegraph that his “mouth felt fresh and clean,” and that it was a big improvement from toothpastes later made during World War II. Ancient civilizations like the Egyptians used toothbrushes, or “chew sticks,” that were essentially thin twigs with frayed ends, according to the Library of Congress. The Egyptians would often preserve them in their tombs alongside other valuables. The Chinese are thought to have invented the first bristle toothbrush in the 1400s, using pig hair for bristles and bamboo or bones for the handle.
Crucial Quote
“I wouldn’t recommend [oil pulling] to my patients. I’m going to recommend things that we know have had scientific studies that show they’re very beneficial for us,” Messina said.
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