Oil pulling
Alternative medical practice
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Oil pulling is an alternative medical practice in which an edible oil is swished around the mouth for a period of time and then spat out, similar to mouthwash.[1] It originates from Ayurvedic medicine.
Practitioners of oil pulling claim it is capable of improving oral health.[2] Its promoters claim it works by pulling out toxins,[1] but there is no credible evidence to support this.[1][3][4][5]
History
Oil pulling stems from traditional Ayurvedic medicine,[1][6][7][8] whose practitioners may use sunflower oil, coconut oil, olive oil, or other herbal oils.[1][9]
Criticism
There is no high-quality research on oil pulling,[1][3][5] no understanding of a possible mechanism explaining how it would work,[10] and no evidence that it provides any benefit.[1][4][5] The American Dental Association agrees that there are no reliable scientific studies supporting the practice of oil pulling for any benefit to oral hygiene or overall wellbeing.[11]
The Canadian Dental Association assessed the practice of oil pulling in 2014 stating: "We sense oil pulling won't do any harm, we're not convinced there are any particular benefits to it."[12]