Oil Pulling for Oral Health: Does it work?

Does oil pulling improve dental health?

Oil pulling is the process of swirling oil around you mouth to whiten teeth, improve your oral health and pull toxins from the body – but is there any evidence that it actually works? 

What is oil pulling?

Oil pulling is a traditional Indian practice that originally stems from Ayurvedic medicine. You may have heard of it after it went viral on social media a few years ago. The process is simple — swish a  tablespoon of oil around your mouth to remove plaque and other debris. After 15 to 20 minutes of swirling, you can spit the oil (and anything it has extracted) out.

While you can use many different types of oil for this process, coconut oil is the most popular choice as it has a light taste and feel somewhat nicer than other types of oil.

How does oil pulling work?

Our mouths harbour a lot of bacteria – and some of it is harmful to our teeth and gums. Oil pulling works by pulling food, plaque and bacteria from behind and between your teeth and trapping it into the oil.

What are the benefits of oil pulling?

Oil pulling has been associated with a lot of benefits for improving our oral health, but only some of them are backed up by science. 

Reducing bacteria

A small study in 2016 compared the results of swilling with coconut oil, distilled water and chlorhexidine (an antiseptic). Subjects that swilled with coconut oil or chlorhexidine had a noticeable reduction of the bacteria Streptococcus mutans in their mouths. Subjects that swilled with distilled water didn’t experience a difference. 

Conclusion: The study concluded that coconut oil pulling is a safe alternative to oral antiseptics for reducing harmful bacteria but it’s worth noting that the number of patients used in the study was quite small. 

Reducing plaque and gingivitis

Gingivitis is the first reversable stage of gum disease. It’s caused by bacteria plaque buildup that causes puffy, tender gums. One 2020 study compared swilling with coconut oil for ten minutes to a control group of patients affected by gingivitis. Patients in the oil swilling group experienced improvements in reducing plaque formation and gingivitis when compared to the control group. 

Conclusion: The study showed promising improvements in reducing plaque and gingivitis but it also noted that the sample group of patients was too small to give consistent, repeatable results.

Another 2017 study showed similar results. The study noticed a significant difference in the amount of plaque present in the group swilling with coconut oil by day seven. 

Reducing bad breath

Bacteria produces gases that can make your breath smell bad. While the studies above suggest that coconut oil pulling reduces plaque and bacteria, which are both linked to bad breathe, there aren’t actually any studies that can support this claim.

Conclusion: Studies are needed in this area. What is probable is that coconut oil pulling won’t make bad breath smell worse. Really bad breath is usually caused by an underlying problem that coconut oil won’t solve.

Teeth whitening

Some people say that oil pulling can whiten your teeth. Oil pulling may remove some surface staining from the teeth but it’s not the only way to prevent staining. Drinking water right after you drink coffee or tea can sweep away tannins and prevent dark pigments from staining our tooth enamel.

Conclusion: Oil pulling may prevent tannins from sticking to our teeth but only if it’s done immediately after drinking. There’s little published evidence to support the claim that oil pulling can whiten teeth.  

Detoxification claims

Some oil pulling advocates say that the practice can detoxify the body, prevent cavities and even cure allergies, asthma and migraines. 

Conclusion: There are no scientific studies that support these claims. It won’t prevent cavities and shouldn’t be used as a replacement for proven techniques, medical advice or treatment. 

Are there downsides to oil pulling?

While it’s not clear just how effective oil pulling is at removing bacterial, there aren’t many downsides to adding it to your routine. Just make sure you’re not skipping brushing or using oil pulling as a replacement for flossing.

Do you have problems with plaque or bad breath?

Regular brushing and flossing are important for your oral health but they won’t remove all the plaque from your mouth. While oil pulling can’t hurt, a regular appointment with a hygienist is the best way to remove tartar buildup, prevent gum disease and keep your smile healthy. 

Get started by booking a clean and polish with one of our oral health therapists today.