Oil pulling has been a part of Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years, and it has recently seeped into Western consciousness as well. The practice itself is simple—swishing oil in the mouth for 10 to 20 minutes—however, its purported benefits are enormous. They include everything from curing hangovers to preventing diabetes, but many people turn to oil pulling for its potential as a teeth whitener. Whether it actually works or not remains to be seen, but here’s what we know about using the practice for whitening so far:
The Good
Many people have claimed to have great success in whitening their teeth with oil pulling. While there is little medical research to indicate that it works well for these purposes, this does not necessarily mean it isn’t true. This is because there is very little research about oil pulling in general—it could easily be the case that it whitens teeth and we just haven’t given oil pulling the attention it deserves yet.
In instances like these, the only thing you can do is try it yourself and see if it’s effective. The good news is that even if oil pulling doesn’t whiten your teeth, it won’t make things any worse than they already are. Despite its almost-nonexistent track record, many dentists and oral experts take the position that doing something to improve your teeth is better than doing nothing at all.
In addition to its purported whitening benefits, oil pulling has one other, more established, oral health benefit. Common oil varieties used for pulling, such as coconut or olive, have proven antimicrobial properties, which makes them great for promoting the overall health of your mouth.
The Bad
While there’s the possibility that oil pulling can whiten your teeth, most people would agree that it’s not the most effective way to achieve a flashy smile. Even people who have reported success with the practice note that the whitening isn’t quick—some indicating that it took months of consistent use to see results. At-home whitening strips can provide you with faster and more dramatic results than that.
It also should be noted that using oil pulling to promote general oral health isn’t any more effective than traditional methods like using mouthwash. It is, however, a much more expensive way of getting things done.
