What is oil pulling? Explaining the TikTok dental hygiene trend

Have you heard of oil pulling?

So what is oil pulling and how can it impact your dental health and hygiene?

What is it?

Oil pulling is an ancient Indian remedy claimed to whiten your teeth, freshen your breath, and improve your oral health as a whole.

It somehow made its way to TikTok and now anyone who sees it has more questions than answers.

People who regularly do it claim that it reduces the amount of harmful bacteria in the mouth.

The theory is that if you swish some oil around in your mouth, coconut for example, the bacteria get swept away and dissolve into it.

A 2016 study in 60 adults showed that oil pulling with coconut oil for 10 minutes daily significantly reduced the number of S. mutan bacteria in saliva in as little as 2 weeks, compared to distilled water.

While this information is promising, more research is needed to prove just how effective coconut oil is.

Unproven claims

With so many influencers making claims about oil pulling, it's important to separate facts from fiction.

One common claim is that oil pulling can whiten your teeth but currently, no studies confirm this benefit.

Some people also believe that oil pulling is a type of detox that draws toxins from the blood yet there is evidence that supports this idea.

Finally, there is no scientific evidence that this remedy helps treat diseases other than those affecting the mouth.

Though some of them might have seen these benefits there is no conclusive research to support these claims.

How to oil pull

First things first make sure you're using a high-quality edible old such as sunflower, coconut, or sesame oil

• Put about 1 tbsp (15 ml) of oil in your mouth
• Swish the oil around your mouth for about 15–20 minutes
• Spit out the oil, then brush your teeth

To dispose of the oil, it's best to spit it onto a piece of paper and put it in the pin, as it might otherwise clog your pipes over time.

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