Does Oil Pulling Work?

It is called oil pulling, which sounds like hitching your horse or your tractor to a tank full of petroleum.

But the oil in question is plant-derived oil, such as sesame or coconut, and the pulling refers to swishing oil around in your mouth. The latest trend in alternative medicine, oil pulling is actually an ancient Ayuvedic health practice called Kavala Graha or Gandusha.

The idea is simple: By swishing or holding plant oils in your mouth for up to 20 minutes (but not swallowing it!), various bodily toxins are drawn out of the body supposedly.

Once the swishing is complete, you simply spit out the oil, along with the toxins.

While ancient writings promise that oil pulling cures a whole array of diseases, those who practice it today do so primarily for dental purposes, since it is supposed to strengthen gums, whiten teeth and eliminate plaque.

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“I recommend it for patients who have active gum disease,” says Dr. Sona Georgian, DDS, who practices in Westlake Village, Calif., outside Los Angeles. “It is also good for gingivitis, because it controls the amount of bacteria.”

The American Dental Association does not recommend oil pulling as an oral hygiene practice, either as a supplement or a replacement. The ADA says that “scientific studies have not provided the necessary clinical evidence to demonstrate that oil pulling reduces the incidence of dental (cavities), whitens teeth or improves oral health and well-being.”

Even dentists who do recommend it say patients should continue a regular regimen of brushing and flossing.

But recent research conducted mostly at Indian universities shows that oil pulling is as effective as chlorhexidine, the main anti-bacterial used in mouthwash. The studies show that oil pulling with sesame oil or coconut oil decreases plaque and reduces the “gingival indices” of bad bacteria in the mouth.

Related: Something in the Water

This is the key to the ancient puzzle, says Dr. Sangeeta Pati, director of the SaJune Medical Center in Orlando, Fla., and a lecturer on holistic medicine. “There is now data to show that (oil pulling) has a strong antibacterial effect and therefore you are able to reduce plaque and gingivitis and mouth odor,” said Dr. Pati. “The jump would be that you are therefore able to reduce cardiovascular events and general inflammation in the body.”

Cardiac surgeons have long been aware of the relationship between oral and cardiovascular health, so much so that any good heart surgeon won’t operate if a patient has periodontal disease or has visited a dentist before surgery. That can stir up bacteria, which causes infection.

Taking it a step further, most doctors agree that inflammation is the root cause of modern lifestyle diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and various cancers — and that this inflammation is directly related to the “microbiome” of bacteria in the body.

“Inflammation in the body starts with the intestinal tract, which starts with the mouth,” says Dr. Pati. ”Are we going to trust this 4,000-year-old stuff? I don’t know. But if you clear up your gums, your health is going to be better.”

“Inflammation in the body starts with the intestinal tract, which starts with the mouth.”

Dr. Georgian, the California-based dentist, recommends a tablespoon of coconut oil swished through the mouth for 20 minutes — with the caveat that you then deposit the used oil the waste basket, not down the drain. Coconut oil hardens at 75 degrees F and can clog drains.

Dr. Pati prefers sesame oil, based on the studies that used it; it doesn’t clog drains. She also finds that just three to five minutes of swishing in the mouth can be adequate.

Dr. Georgian claims the results are remarkable. “In my practice I have seen the improvement, and the improvement has been tremendous.” In cases of severe gum disease, where she has had to use deep cleaning lasers and antibiotics, patients who also swish oil have healthier looking gums and smaller “pockets” between the teeth.

Dr. Georgian also recommends brushing your teeth after you swish. If you try it, you’ll know why.

Oil Pulling Particulars:

• Proponents say it pulls toxins from the body and can help cure up to 30 diseases.
• Proponents also say it reduces plaque, gingivitis, and the bacteria that causes bad breath.
• The oil should never be swallowed.
• The American Dental Association does not recommend it as an oral hygiene practice, either as a supplement or a replacement. A regimen of regular flossing and brushing should be followed.
• Science notes a direct connection between mouth bacteria and general health.