Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHealth BenefitsHow to Do ItWhat Dentists SaySide EffectsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Health Benefits
How to Do It
What Dentists Say
Side Effects
Frequently Asked Questions
Oil pulling is an ancient practice inAyurvedicmedicine. It involves swishing edible oil around in your mouth.Oil pulling is thought to have benefits, including whitening teeth and improving oral health.
This article will explain what oil pulling is used for, including possible benefits and risks.
eternalcreative / Getty Images
Oil Pulling Benefits
Oil pulling dates back to a time before tooth brushing. It was believed to helpremove plaquefrom teeth and boost the health of your teeth, tongue, and gums.
Other suggested benefits of oil pulling include the following.
Fighting Bacteria
People who practice oil pulling say that it helps remove potentially harmful bacteria from the mouth and teeth.
While some dental experts say it may help remove bacteria from the mouth, that does not mean that oil pulling can kill the bacteria that can contribute to tooth decay and other oral health problems.
Preventing Plaque
Some research has suggested that oil pulling could help reduce the buildup of plaque on the teeth and possibly prevent it, but more (and bigger) studies are needed.
Can Oil Pulling Whiten Teeth?Some people claim that oil pulling—especially with coconut oil—can whiten your teeth. However, no research has confirmed that the practice has this effect.
Can Oil Pulling Whiten Teeth?
Some people claim that oil pulling—especially with coconut oil—can whiten your teeth. However, no research has confirmed that the practice has this effect.
Does Coconut Oil Whiten Yellow Teeth?
Preventing Tooth Decay
In some small studies, doing an oil pull with sesame oil appeared to have oral health benefits similar to using mouth rinses that help fight tooth decay and cavities.
Helping Bad Breath
Some small studies have suggested that swishing with oil like sesame oil could help fight bad breath (halitosis), and might even work as well as special mouth rinses like chlorhexidine.However, more studies are needed because most of the ones that have been done have been small.
Promoting Gum Health
Several studies that looked at whether oil pulling helped with dental problems also found that the practice seemed to improve overall oral health, including the health of the gums. Some researchers and Ayurvedic medicine practitioners attribute these benefits to the anti-inflammatory effects of the oils used.
Other Health Benefits
Research evidence has yet to prove that oil pulling will have these effects on your overall health.
How to Do Oil Pulling
Performing oil pulling is fairly simple. First, choose a high-quality edible oil. Sunflower oil, coconut oil, and sesame oil are all common types used for oil pulling.
Here are some steps to follow if you want to try oil pulling at home:
With time and practice, you can work up to longer oil-pulling sessions.
7 Natural Remedies for Healthy Gums
What Modern Dentists Say
The American Dental Association (ADA) does not endorse oil pulling for oral health.In a position statement, the ADA said there is no credible scientific evidence showing that oil pulling can reduce plaque orlower your likelihood of cavities.
Some research has suggested that oil pulling might combat plaque build-up, but the evidence is limited, and more research is needed.
Dental health experts also caution that oil pulling—and especially brushing right after—could weaken your teeth' enamel.While oil pulling may not directly damage your teeth, it could make them more vulnerable to damage.
How to Take Care of Your MouthAccording to the ADA, the best way to maintain a healthy mouth is tobrush twice a day with toothpaste that contains fluoride. Brush for two minutes at a time, andflossat least once a day. The ADA also recommends avoiding tobacco for good oral and overall health.
How to Take Care of Your Mouth
According to the ADA, the best way to maintain a healthy mouth is tobrush twice a day with toothpaste that contains fluoride. Brush for two minutes at a time, andflossat least once a day. The ADA also recommends avoiding tobacco for good oral and overall health.
Researchers have seen a link between oral health and overall health. For example, the condition that causes tooth decay (periodontitis) is linked to other serious health conditions like cardiovascular disease and pneumonia.
In that sense, there may be merit to the ancient Ayurvedic idea that caring for your teeth—which could include oil pulling—could improve your overall health.
Possible Side Effects
Even though the oils used for oil pulling are safe to have in your mouth and even to eat, try to avoid swallowing them. Swallowing these oils could cause GI upset and diarrhea. You’ll also want to avoid oils that you may be allergic to.
According to traditional Ayurvedic medicine, it’s also important not to swallow the oil you’re swishing because it contains toxins and bacteria from your mouth. Instead, spit the oil into the trash and brush your teeth when you’re done.
Summary
Oil pulling is a practice in Ayurvedic medicine that claims to improve your dental and overall health. While the scientific evidence for oil pulling is limited, your dental health provider might say that it’s fine for you to try as long as you other make brushing, flossing, and regular dental check-ups a part of your routine.
If you try oil pulling, make sure to use edible oil and work your way up to longer pulling sessions.
Frequently Asked QuestionsCoconut oil is frequently recommended for oil pulling, but any high-quality cooking oil can be used. Virgin coconut oil has antimicrobial properties that fight bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This gives coconut oil a healing edge over other types of fat.It’s usually recommended that you brush your teeth after oil pulling to help remove any remaining toxins or oil. However, some dentists recommend you wait at least 30 minutes to brush to protect the enamel on your teeth.
Coconut oil is frequently recommended for oil pulling, but any high-quality cooking oil can be used. Virgin coconut oil has antimicrobial properties that fight bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This gives coconut oil a healing edge over other types of fat.
It’s usually recommended that you brush your teeth after oil pulling to help remove any remaining toxins or oil. However, some dentists recommend you wait at least 30 minutes to brush to protect the enamel on your teeth.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Naseem M, Khiyani MF, Nauman H, Zafar MS, Shah AH, Khalil HS.Oil pulling and importance of traditional medicine in oral health maintenance.Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2017;11(4):65-70.Kaushik M, Reddy P, Sharma R, Udameshi P, Mehra N, Marwaha A.The effect of coconut oil pulling on streptococcus mutans count in saliva in comparison with chlorhexidine mouthwash.J Contemp Dent Pract. 2016;17(1):38-41. Published 2016 Jan 1. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1800Downton Dental.Does oil pulling really work?.Vadhana VC, Sharath A, Geethapriya PR, Vijayasankari V.Effect of sesame oil, ozonated sesame oil, and chlorhexidine mouthwash on oral health status of adolescents: A randomized controlled pilot trial.J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2019;37(4):365-371. doi:10.4103/JISPPD.JISPPD_244_19Wheater M.Effect of oil pulling on tooth whitening in vitro. 2016.Journal of Advanced Oral Research. doi:10.1177/2229411220160104King A.BAD SCIENCE: Oil pulling. 2018;224(7):470-470. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.281Asokan S, Kumar RS, Emmadi P, Raghuraman R, Sivakumar N.Effect of oil pulling on halitosis and microorganisms causing halitosis: a randomized controlled pilot trial.J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2011;29(2):90-94. doi:10.4103/0970-4388.84678Asokan S, Emmadi P, Chamundeswari R.Effect of oil pulling on plaque induced gingivitis: a randomized, controlled, triple-blind study.Indian J Dent Res. 2009;20(1):47-51. doi:10.4103/0970-9290.49067Colgate.Oil pulling.Woolley J, Gibbons T, Patel KN, Sacco R.The effect of oil pulling with coconut oil to improve dental hygiene and oral health: A systematic review. 2020;6(8):e04789-e04789. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04789American Dental Association’s Mouth Healthy.Oil pulling.Saunders DDS.Five dental treatments that could be damaging your teeth.Karagounis TK, Gittler JK, Rotemberg V, Morel KD.Use of “natural” oils for moisturization: Review of olive, coconut, and sunflower seed oil.Pediatr Dermatol. 2019;36(1):9-15. doi:10.1111/pde.13621Shilling M, Matt L, Rubin E, et al.Antimicrobial effects of virgin coconut oil and its medium-chain fatty acids on Clostridium difficile.J Med Food. 2013;16(12):1079-85. doi 10.1089/jmf.2012.0303.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Naseem M, Khiyani MF, Nauman H, Zafar MS, Shah AH, Khalil HS.Oil pulling and importance of traditional medicine in oral health maintenance.Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2017;11(4):65-70.Kaushik M, Reddy P, Sharma R, Udameshi P, Mehra N, Marwaha A.The effect of coconut oil pulling on streptococcus mutans count in saliva in comparison with chlorhexidine mouthwash.J Contemp Dent Pract. 2016;17(1):38-41. Published 2016 Jan 1. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1800Downton Dental.Does oil pulling really work?.Vadhana VC, Sharath A, Geethapriya PR, Vijayasankari V.Effect of sesame oil, ozonated sesame oil, and chlorhexidine mouthwash on oral health status of adolescents: A randomized controlled pilot trial.J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2019;37(4):365-371. doi:10.4103/JISPPD.JISPPD_244_19Wheater M.Effect of oil pulling on tooth whitening in vitro. 2016.Journal of Advanced Oral Research. doi:10.1177/2229411220160104King A.BAD SCIENCE: Oil pulling. 2018;224(7):470-470. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.281Asokan S, Kumar RS, Emmadi P, Raghuraman R, Sivakumar N.Effect of oil pulling on halitosis and microorganisms causing halitosis: a randomized controlled pilot trial.J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2011;29(2):90-94. doi:10.4103/0970-4388.84678Asokan S, Emmadi P, Chamundeswari R.Effect of oil pulling on plaque induced gingivitis: a randomized, controlled, triple-blind study.Indian J Dent Res. 2009;20(1):47-51. doi:10.4103/0970-9290.49067Colgate.Oil pulling.Woolley J, Gibbons T, Patel KN, Sacco R.The effect of oil pulling with coconut oil to improve dental hygiene and oral health: A systematic review. 2020;6(8):e04789-e04789. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04789American Dental Association’s Mouth Healthy.Oil pulling.Saunders DDS.Five dental treatments that could be damaging your teeth.Karagounis TK, Gittler JK, Rotemberg V, Morel KD.Use of “natural” oils for moisturization: Review of olive, coconut, and sunflower seed oil.Pediatr Dermatol. 2019;36(1):9-15. doi:10.1111/pde.13621Shilling M, Matt L, Rubin E, et al.Antimicrobial effects of virgin coconut oil and its medium-chain fatty acids on Clostridium difficile.J Med Food. 2013;16(12):1079-85. doi 10.1089/jmf.2012.0303.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Naseem M, Khiyani MF, Nauman H, Zafar MS, Shah AH, Khalil HS.Oil pulling and importance of traditional medicine in oral health maintenance.Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2017;11(4):65-70.Kaushik M, Reddy P, Sharma R, Udameshi P, Mehra N, Marwaha A.The effect of coconut oil pulling on streptococcus mutans count in saliva in comparison with chlorhexidine mouthwash.J Contemp Dent Pract. 2016;17(1):38-41. Published 2016 Jan 1. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1800Downton Dental.Does oil pulling really work?.Vadhana VC, Sharath A, Geethapriya PR, Vijayasankari V.Effect of sesame oil, ozonated sesame oil, and chlorhexidine mouthwash on oral health status of adolescents: A randomized controlled pilot trial.J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2019;37(4):365-371. doi:10.4103/JISPPD.JISPPD_244_19Wheater M.Effect of oil pulling on tooth whitening in vitro. 2016.Journal of Advanced Oral Research. doi:10.1177/2229411220160104King A.BAD SCIENCE: Oil pulling. 2018;224(7):470-470. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.281Asokan S, Kumar RS, Emmadi P, Raghuraman R, Sivakumar N.Effect of oil pulling on halitosis and microorganisms causing halitosis: a randomized controlled pilot trial.J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2011;29(2):90-94. doi:10.4103/0970-4388.84678Asokan S, Emmadi P, Chamundeswari R.Effect of oil pulling on plaque induced gingivitis: a randomized, controlled, triple-blind study.Indian J Dent Res. 2009;20(1):47-51. doi:10.4103/0970-9290.49067Colgate.Oil pulling.Woolley J, Gibbons T, Patel KN, Sacco R.The effect of oil pulling with coconut oil to improve dental hygiene and oral health: A systematic review. 2020;6(8):e04789-e04789. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04789American Dental Association’s Mouth Healthy.Oil pulling.Saunders DDS.Five dental treatments that could be damaging your teeth.Karagounis TK, Gittler JK, Rotemberg V, Morel KD.Use of “natural” oils for moisturization: Review of olive, coconut, and sunflower seed oil.Pediatr Dermatol. 2019;36(1):9-15. doi:10.1111/pde.13621Shilling M, Matt L, Rubin E, et al.Antimicrobial effects of virgin coconut oil and its medium-chain fatty acids on Clostridium difficile.J Med Food. 2013;16(12):1079-85. doi 10.1089/jmf.2012.0303.
Naseem M, Khiyani MF, Nauman H, Zafar MS, Shah AH, Khalil HS.Oil pulling and importance of traditional medicine in oral health maintenance.Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2017;11(4):65-70.
Kaushik M, Reddy P, Sharma R, Udameshi P, Mehra N, Marwaha A.The effect of coconut oil pulling on streptococcus mutans count in saliva in comparison with chlorhexidine mouthwash.J Contemp Dent Pract. 2016;17(1):38-41. Published 2016 Jan 1. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1800
Downton Dental.Does oil pulling really work?.
Vadhana VC, Sharath A, Geethapriya PR, Vijayasankari V.Effect of sesame oil, ozonated sesame oil, and chlorhexidine mouthwash on oral health status of adolescents: A randomized controlled pilot trial.J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2019;37(4):365-371. doi:10.4103/JISPPD.JISPPD_244_19
Wheater M.Effect of oil pulling on tooth whitening in vitro. 2016.Journal of Advanced Oral Research. doi:10.1177/2229411220160104
King A.BAD SCIENCE: Oil pulling. 2018;224(7):470-470. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.281
Asokan S, Kumar RS, Emmadi P, Raghuraman R, Sivakumar N.Effect of oil pulling on halitosis and microorganisms causing halitosis: a randomized controlled pilot trial.J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2011;29(2):90-94. doi:10.4103/0970-4388.84678
Asokan S, Emmadi P, Chamundeswari R.Effect of oil pulling on plaque induced gingivitis: a randomized, controlled, triple-blind study.Indian J Dent Res. 2009;20(1):47-51. doi:10.4103/0970-9290.49067
Colgate.Oil pulling.
Woolley J, Gibbons T, Patel KN, Sacco R.The effect of oil pulling with coconut oil to improve dental hygiene and oral health: A systematic review. 2020;6(8):e04789-e04789. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04789
American Dental Association’s Mouth Healthy.Oil pulling.
Saunders DDS.Five dental treatments that could be damaging your teeth.
Karagounis TK, Gittler JK, Rotemberg V, Morel KD.Use of “natural” oils for moisturization: Review of olive, coconut, and sunflower seed oil.Pediatr Dermatol. 2019;36(1):9-15. doi:10.1111/pde.13621
Shilling M, Matt L, Rubin E, et al.Antimicrobial effects of virgin coconut oil and its medium-chain fatty acids on Clostridium difficile.J Med Food. 2013;16(12):1079-85. doi 10.1089/jmf.2012.0303.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
