Oil Pulling – Does It Work? Let’s Ask Science!
Oil pulling. It’s the newest ancient trend in alternative health and beauty treatments, but what exactly is it and what does it do? And is there science to back up the claims being made about it? I was skeptical of it to begin with, but decided to give it a good honest try. How could I be skeptical if I didn’t? Before I sat down to write this article, I put about half a tablespoon of coconut oil in my mouth to swish around. We’ll get you the results later.
What is oil pulling?
Oil pulling is an ancient beauty and health ritual. It involves putting unrefined oils, like coconut or sesame oil, in your mouth and swirling it around for about 20 minutes twice a day. There are thousands of articles online that discuss what it does for your health. It’s supposed to whiten your teeth, help with grinding your teeth, improve breath, decrease the impact of TMJ, and some believe it can even pull toxins out of your bloodstream. That’s a lot for just a little bit of oil! But how true are the claims?
Where’s the science?
There have been studies done on oil pulling, and their results aren’t exactly supportive of the claims many people make about it. There are incredibly few clinical studies on oil pulling, and the ones that actually do exist point to very small improvements in oral health. Most of the studies were conducted in India, home of the practice.
There is absolutely no medical proof that oil pulling cures any kind of disease. There is no sensible scientific explanation for how swishing oil around in your mouth could accomplish any of the lofty claims people make about it. Have cancer? Insomnia? Hormonal imbalances? Don’t assume you can treat yourself with oil pulling.
The dubious claims are where we find ourselves getting grumpy with all of the people who claim great medical benefits. When you lie online about ways to improve your health, you hurt people. Encouraging people to simply practice unfounded health techniques becomes harmful when you encourage people not to take traditional medication too.
What can we expect from oil pulling?
Not much. Studies show that it won’t detoxify your body. Only your liver and kidneys do that. Here’s a tip: drink more water and less alcohol. You’ll detox. But there’s nothing wrong with oil pulling if you like it. It is possible that you’ll notice whiter teeth. It’s possible that you’ll have improvements to your oral health. But it won’t likely fix your cavities, nor really any other ailment you might have.
My conclusion from oil pulling? It was a little hard to stomach at first, but I will admit, my breath is fresh and coconutty. No complaints. But I won’t likely do it again.
Image source: Veganbaking.net, Flickr
