Oil Pulling: What Dental Reviews Found
Oil pulling means swishing edible oil in the mouth; reviews find very low certainty evidence for gum health, the ADA does not recommend it, and breathing oil in can cause lung harm.
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Oil pulling is not a replacement for brushing and flossing, and the oil must never be swallowed or breathed in. Case reports describe lipoid pneumonia, a lung illness caused by oily substances entering the lungs, in people who practiced oil pulling. [1][2] The authors say people at risk of aspiration (food or liquid going down the wrong way) should be informed of this risk. [1] If you have trouble breathing, chest pain or a cough that will not clear, see a clinician. Call 911 for severe trouble breathing.
The claim as marketed
Oil pulling is swishing an edible oil, often coconut, sesame, olive or sunflower, in the mouth. Claims say it whitens teeth, prevents cavities and improves health overall. [3] The practice is described by the American Dental Association (ADA) as a traditional folk remedy practiced for centuries in India and southern Asia. [3] Traditional use is not proof. For the tradition itself, see Ayurvedic dental and oral care.What dental sources and reviews found
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Population and oil studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Does it prevent cavities, whiten teeth or improve oral health? | The ADA says there are no reliable scientific studies showing this and does not recommend oil pulling as a dental hygiene practice. [3] | Insufficient evidence | ADA position, based on lack of scientific evidence |
| Gum health and plaque | A 2024 systematic review of 25 trials (1,184 people) found a probable benefit for gum health, but chlorhexidine mouthwash was better for plaque and the overall quality of evidence was very low. [4] | Promising but limited (very low certainty) | Mostly people with no reported oral problems; trials of 7 to 45 days; half used sesame oil |
| Traditional oral hygiene practices compared | A 2026 review of 31 studies found oil pulling with sesame or coconut oil showed moderate reductions in microbial load and improved gum health, with findings that varied against chlorhexidine. [5] | Mixed | Sesame or coconut oil in trials |
| Coconut oil specifically | A 2024 triple-blind trial of sesame, coconut and sunflower oil found all three effective for gum health, with coconut oil more effective. [6] A 2026 trial of 100 dental students compared coconut oil, black cumin seed oil and others with chlorhexidine and water. It found the oils had lower anti-plaque effect than chlorhexidine but less tooth discoloration, and concluded oil pulling might be an add-on, not an alternative. [7] | Promising but limited | Small trials in young dental students and clinic patients |
| Bad breath | A 2021 systematic review found insufficient evidence that alternative therapies add value for halitosis, and the studies had high risk of bias. [8] | Insufficient evidence | Mixed alternative therapies |
Proper evidence not found in the sources we read (we searched PubMed for oil pulling reviews on cavities, whitening and bad breath, and the ADA's MouthHealthy page) for oil pulling preventing cavities or whitening teeth.
What the ADA recommends instead
The ADA continues to recommend brushing twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between the teeth once a day, and not using tobacco. [3] We do not give oil pulling instructions here.Frequently asked questions
Does oil pulling whiten teeth or stop cavities?
The ADA says there are no reliable scientific studies showing it does. [3]
Can oil pulling help gums?
A 2024 review found a probable benefit for gum health but called the evidence very low certainty, and chlorhexidine was better for plaque. [4]
Is coconut oil better than other oils for pulling?
One triple-blind trial found coconut oil more effective for gum health than sesame or sunflower oil, but it was small. [6]
Can oil pulling cause pneumonia?
Case reports describe lipoid pneumonia in people who did oil pulling. [1][2]
Should I stop brushing if I oil pull?
No. The ADA recommends brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice a day and cleaning between teeth daily. [3]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety and who should ask first
- Lung risk: one report describes two people with lipoid pneumonia after repeated sesame oil pulling, one describes two people with a history of tongue cancer, and a third describes recurrent lipoid pneumonia associated with oil pulling. [2][1][9] These are case reports of a rare problem, not a measure of how often it happens.
- People who should ask a dentist or doctor first: anyone with swallowing problems or a history of aspiration, which the case-report authors flag as the at-risk group, and anyone with lung disease or a history of mouth cancer. [1] The sources we read do not describe children, so we make no claim for them.
- Gum disease and tooth pain need a dentist, not a home routine. See oral microbiome research for background.
- Medicines, pregnancy and allergies: not described in the sources we read for oil pulling, so we make no claim.
- See coconut oil, natural ingredients not meant to be swallowed and when to seek medical help after a natural remedy.
References
- Wong CF, et al. Exogenous lipoid pneumonia associated with oil pulling: report of two cases. Monaldi Arch Chest Dis. 2018;88(3):922. PubMed 30203635. Read 2026-10-23.
- Kuroyama M, et al. Exogenous lipoid pneumonia caused by repeated sesame oil pulling: a report of two cases. BMC Pulm Med. 2015;15:135. PubMed 26518258. Read 2026-10-23.
- American Dental Association. Oil Pulling. MouthHealthy (ADA consumer site); page undated. Read 2026-10-23.
- Jong FJX, et al. The effect of oil pulling in comparison with chlorhexidine and other mouthwash interventions in promoting oral health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Dent Hyg. 2024;22(1):78-94. PubMed 37635453. Read 2026-10-23.
- Shahzad M, et al. Traditional oral hygiene practices and their effectiveness: a systematic review of the evidence. Oral Health Prev Dent. 2026;24:107-118. PubMed 41670379. Read 2026-10-23.
- Mehta M, et al. Comparison and evaluation of the efficacy of sesame oil, coconut oil, and sunflower oil pulling on gingival health: a triple-blind randomized clinical trial. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2024;16(Suppl 4):S3683-S3685. PubMed 39926945. Read 2026-10-23.
- Sahin AB, Aydin T. Clinical evaluation of edible oils used in traditional oil pulling therapy for plaque control and tooth discoloration: a randomized trial. Healthcare (Basel). 2026;14(13):1985. PubMed 42450995. Read 2026-10-23.
- Wylleman A, et al. Alternative therapies in controlling oral malodour: a systematic review. J Breath Res. 2021;15(2). PubMed 33227726. Read 2026-10-23.
- Kim JY, et al. Recurrent lipoid pneumonia associated with oil pulling. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2014;18(2):251-252. Case report; title read, no abstract available. PubMed 24429325. Read 2026-10-23.