Oil Pulling—Does it Work?

Many Dunwoody residents have gotten swept up the oil pulling trend.

Here’s what you need to know about this activity.

What Does Oil Pulling Do?

Oil pulling is an alternative therapy that involves swishing a tablespoon of oil (usually coconut) around your mouth like mouthwash for anywhere from five to twenty minutes on a regular basis.

Some of the supposed (but scientifically-unproven) benefits of oil pulling include:

• Cure headache
• Treat cancer
• Whiten teeth
• Remove toxins from the blood
• Reverse cavities

These are all medically-unproven and extremely unlikely outcomes since there is no physiological connection between swishing oil in your mouth and treating these conditions.

However, coconut oil may have some benefits. It has natural antimicrobial agents and vitamins which can help improve the health of your mouth. Even just the act of swishing oil around your mouth will help reduce plaque.

Oil pulling could be a great alternative to traditional mouthwash if you want to avoid certain ingredients found in most commercially-produced rinses.

Don’t Forget to Brush and Floss!

There is still not enough scientific research to back up oil pulling as an effective way to maintain a healthy mouth, let alone a healthy body.

The benefits are unproven and even if oil pulling does work, it can take a long time to show results. That’s why even dentists who support oil pulling still recommend flossing and brushing.

Oil pulling won’t harm you, but it’s also no cure for cavities, toothache, or receding gums.

If you want to try oil pulling, consult a Dunwoody dentist first. Our team will help you restore your oral health and get you started on an oral hygiene routine that includes oil pulling.