A daily mouthful of regular oil could ‘whiten your teeth’, says dentist

A dentist has explained how an ancient beauty regimen can make your teeth shine naturally. Oil pulling has been claimed to help people whiten their teeth and freshen their breath.

Originating in India and South Asia, oil extraction has been around for thousands of years. The method involves swallowing the edible oil in the mouth for a while and then spitting it out, similar to traditional mouthwash.

Coconut oil is often the go-to solution for this technique. However, the American Dental Association noted a lack of scientific evidence to support claims of oil pulling benefits for oral hygiene or general health.

Despite this, practitioners swear by its positive effects on brighter smiles and overall oral health. London-based dentist Dr. Shaadi Manouchehri weighed in on the topic via TikTok, addressing the potential benefits and her “only issue” with how some approach the concept.

With nearly ten years of experience in dental health, she said, “I get this question a lot from a lot of people, both online and offline, if they should oil pull to protect their teeth.”

She broke down the supposed science behind it, the main idea being that the oil clings to the bacteria on the teeth. By stirring, the oil acts like a magnet, attracting the bacteria and effectively removing it from the mouth with a quick spit.

The surface of the teeth should then be more slippery, making it “harder for things like stains to build up again – thus protecting your teeth”. It’s all just theory, though, she adds.

Dr. Manouchehri acknowledged that there isn’t much evidence-based research to show that this works. Among the few studies available, one from 2016 involving 60 adults found that using coconut oil for oil pulling for 10 minutes each day resulted in a significant decrease in the amount of S. mutans in saliva in just two weeks, compared to using distilled water.

Currently, no studies confirm the benefit of teeth whitening. These online statements often come from personal experiences with the practice and may not be the most accurate from person to person.

The dentist said: “What we know works is brushing twice a day for two minutes, using fluoride toothpaste, flossing, cleaning the tongue.” She went on to say that there is no problem with adding oil pulling to your regular routine to keep your teeth clean.

But, she draws the line at an idea. She said: “What I have a problem with is that people think oil pulling is a substitute for proper tooth brushing, flossing and using flour.

“I understand that people want to be natural in their oral hygiene routine and want to avoid flour, so what you could use instead is a nanohydroxy appetite that can also protect the teeth. Using oil as a substitute is never an option in my book. .”