People have all kinds of ideas about cleaning their teeth, from using charcoal toothpaste to apple cider vinegar. One of the homeopathic treatments regaining popularity is coconut oil pulling for teeth.
This treatment is supposed to rid your mouth of toxins, including bacteria that can cause tooth decay. But does it really work? Dr. Schroeder with Woodhill Dental Specialties is familiar with it and is happy to lend his insight on how well it works, if at all.
It may seem like something new, but oil pulling has been around for a long time. It originated in ancient India as a practice of Ayurvedic medicine. The practice began more than 3,000 years ago!
Oil pulling involves putting oil in one’s mouth and swishing it around and through the teeth for up to 20 minutes. Yes, minutes, not seconds! It originated with sesame or sunflower oil, but today’s oil-pulling versions can use olive or coconut oil.
Oil pulling with coconut oil is more popular today because of its antioxidants and antibacterial properties. It’s considered the best oil for oil pulling because it has a more pleasant taste than some of the others, making it easier to keep it in your mouth for a long time.
What are the oil-pulling benefits? It’s said to pull toxins from between your teeth and throughout your mouth. With oil pulling, you put about two tablespoons of oil in your mouth and swish it around for 20 minutes. You also “pull” it between your teeth to remove bacteria from between the teeth.
The oil draws out the bacteria and other toxins, pulling them from your teeth and gums. The idea is that oil pulling makes your mouth cleaner and healthier, which prevents tooth decay and gum disease.
After 20 minutes, you spit out the oil in the trash and rinse your mouth, spitting that out as well. The result is supposed to be a much cleaner mouth.
The oil pulling itself isn’t dangerous to your mouth, but swallowing a mouthful of toxic oil can be. Accidentally swallowing the oil can cause an upset stomach or diarrhea.
We asked Dr. Byron Schroeder at Woodhill Dental Specialties what he knows of oil pulling and whether there are any coconut oil pulling dangers in using the ancient practice.
“I would say that, in general, I do not see many negative possible side effects outside of potential allergic reactions,” Dr. Schroeder said. “However, I think 20 minutes is hard to fit into anyone’s schedule these days, and on top of that, we already have proven methods that provide the benefits that oil-pulling claims while taking less time out of your day.”
These methods include using alcohol-free mouthwash, brushing your teeth for at least two minutes at least twice a day, and flossing your teeth at least once a day before brushing.
Some people will swear by coconut oil-pulling benefits, while others saw no changes in their oral health. So, does oil pulling work as well as they say?
“Thinking logically, it does make sense that something oil-based would be able to collect and lock in certain plaque and bacteria on the surface of the teeth and oral tissues,” Dr. Schroeder said.
“Like many homeopathic remedies, however, there is no scientific data to support the claims,” he added.
Other sources agree that the practice provides no more benefit than rinsing your mouth for two minutes with mouthwash, which takes much less time. Dr. Schroeder points out that oil pulling won’t replace brushing and flossing.
“Adding something additional to your oral care routine would not be my recommendation,” he said, “especially if it takes away from proper brushing, flossing, or adherence to specific orthodontic treatment, such as wearing elastics on braces or wearing clear aligners.”
Oil pulling may be an ancient practice, but we have better and faster methods today to clean your teeth. Brushing and flossing can do the job well enough, and rinsing with mouthwash can remove bacteria and toxins on the teeth and gums.
It’s also important to visit your dentist at least twice yearly for checkups. We can check to ensure you have no tooth decay or gum disease — with or without oil pulling. You can schedule an appointment with Woodhill Dental Specialties in the Dallas, TX, or Rockwall, TX, areas for proper teeth cleaning.
Talk with us before you use homeopathic remedies or anything you’ve seen on social media. While oil pulling is mostly harmless, other trends can be dangerous for oral health. Remember, we are here if you need us!
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