Oil Pulling
Oil pulling means swishing an edible oil in the mouth. See where it comes from, what trials of plaque and gum health found, why dentists are cautious, and the risks.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
What oil pulling is
Oil pulling is swishing an edible oil, such as sesame, olive, sunflower or coconut oil, around the mouth and then spitting it out. The American Dental Association (ADA) describes it as a traditional folk remedy practiced for centuries in India and southern Asia, with swishing times reported from 1 to 5 minutes up to 20 minutes or longer. [1] It is commonly linked with Ayurveda, the traditional medical system of the Indian subcontinent. See what Ayurveda is and Ayurvedic dental and oral care.How it is traditionally explained, and what is only proposed
Popular accounts say oil pulling keeps the mouth healthy and, in some retellings, removes toxins from the whole body. The whole-body "toxin" claim is a marketing claim and a traditional idea. The reviews below looked only at plaque, gum inflammation and mouth bacteria and none measured toxins. A proposed mechanism, such as oil trapping bacteria, is a hypothesis.What research shows
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Does it reduce gum inflammation? | A 2024 meta-analysis of 25 trials (1,184 participants, most with no reported oral health issues) found a probable gum benefit, but rated the evidence quality as very low. [2] [3] [4] [5] | Promising but limited |
| Is it better than an antiseptic rinse for plaque? | The same review found chlorhexidine, a prescription antiseptic rinse, was better at reducing plaque. [6] A 2026 trial in 100 dental students also found chlorhexidine reduced plaque more than coconut, black cumin or terebinth oil, though chlorhexidine caused more tooth discoloration. [7] | Chlorhexidine better |
| Does it change plaque or gum scores versus control? | A separate 2022 meta-analysis of nine trials found no significant difference in plaque or gum scores, though mouth bacteria counts were lower with oil pulling. [8] [9] [10] | Mixed |
| Does it beat plain water? | In an 8-week trial of 40 adults, pulling with sesame oil for 15 minutes reduced plaque more than distilled water, with no significant change in gum index; the authors say bias cannot be ruled out. [11] | Promising but limited |
| Earlier review | A 2016 review of five small trials (160 people) suggested possible short-term benefit and asked for more rigorous trials. [12] [13] | Promising but limited |
| Dry mouth from medicines | In a small crossover trial, oil pulling eased dry-mouth burden, [14] but oil did not beat plain water for symptom relief. [15] | Insufficient evidence |
A 2026 review of traditional oral hygiene practices found moderate reductions in microbial load and better gum health with sesame or coconut oil pulling, though results varied compared with chlorhexidine, and the authors urged cautious interpretation. [16]
Most trials were short and small and hard to blind, because people know whether they are swishing oil. That can inflate results through expectation. The ADA page says there are no reliable studies showing that oil pulling reduces cavities, whitens teeth or improves oral health, and it does not recommend oil pulling as a dental hygiene practice. [17] The ADA page shows no review date we could confirm, and its statement is more negative than the newer meta-analyses. A fair summary is that small, low-quality trials hint at a gum benefit and nothing shows it replaces standard care.
What a session involves
People usually swish in the morning, but we did not find a clinical source that sets a required routine, so we give no timing or amount. Never swallow the oil. Do not breathe it in.What to rely on instead
The ADA recommends brushing twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between teeth once a day, and not using tobacco. [20] Bleeding gums, a persistent bad taste, tooth pain or mouth sores need a dentist, not a home remedy. Oil pulling is not a substitute for dental care.Related pages
Oil pulling evidence and safety in detail, Ayurveda: evidence by specific practice, coconut oil and how to evaluate a therapy claim.Frequently asked questions
Does oil pulling whiten teeth or cure cavities?
The ADA says there are no reliable studies showing that oil pulling reduces cavities or whitens teeth. [17] Treat these as marketing claims.
Is oil pulling better than mouthwash?
Not for plaque in the reviews we read: chlorhexidine reduced plaque more. [6] The largest review did find a likely benefit for gum inflammation against other mouthwashes, with very low certainty. [5]
Which oil is best?
We found no trial proving one oil is best. Trials used oils such as sesame, coconut and sunflower. [5] [15]
Can oil pulling be dangerous?
Rarely, yes: inhaling oil into the lungs has caused lipoid pneumonia in case reports. [18] Avoid it if you have swallowing problems.
Can I stop brushing if I oil pull?
No. Brushing and cleaning between teeth remain the recommended basics. [20]
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.
How to read the evidence labels
Labels used on this page: promising but limited, mixed, insufficient evidence, marketing claim, evidence of harm (rare, specific risk).
Safety
- Lung risk. Case reports describe lipoid pneumonia, a lung inflammation caused by aspirating or inhaling oily substances, in people who oil-pulled regularly for months. [18] Authors of another report, on two women with a history of tongue cancer, advise that people at risk of aspiration be told of this risk. [19] If you cough, choke or have trouble swallowing, skip this practice.
- Mouth lining. The authors of the sesame-oil trial note that people with keratosis may experience adverse effects. [11]
- Stop if you get jaw ache, nausea or a cough that does not clear, and see a clinician about a persistent cough or breathlessness.
- Keep it away from young children who may swallow or inhale the oil.
Qualifications and regulation
References
- American Dental Association, MouthHealthy. Oil Pulling, description. Read 2026-10-22.
- Jong et al. 2024 (same review), size. PubMed. Read 2026-10-22.
- Jong et al. 2024 (same review), participants. PubMed. Read 2026-10-22.
- Jong et al. 2024 (same review), conclusion. PubMed. Read 2026-10-22.
- Jong et al. Oil pulling vs chlorhexidine and other mouthwashes: systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Dent Hyg 2024. Read 2026-10-22.
- Jong et al. 2024 (same review), chlorhexidine comparison. PubMed. Read 2026-10-22.
- Clinical evaluation of edible oils used in traditional oil pulling for plaque control and tooth discoloration: randomized trial. Healthcare 2026. Read 2026-10-22.
- Peng et al. 2022 (same meta-analysis), size. PubMed. Read 2026-10-22.
- Peng et al. Effectiveness of Oil Pulling for Improving Oral Health: A Meta-Analysis. Healthcare 2022. Read 2026-10-22.
- Peng et al. 2022 (same meta-analysis), bacteria counts. PubMed. Read 2026-10-22.
- Kapferer-Seebacher et al. Plaque reducing efficacy of oil pulling with sesame oil: randomized-controlled clinical study. Clin Oral Investig 2025. Read 2026-10-22.
- Gbinigie et al. Effect of oil pulling in promoting oro dental hygiene: systematic review of randomized trials. Complement Ther Med 2016. Read 2026-10-22.
- Gbinigie et al. 2016 (same review), conclusion. PubMed. Read 2026-10-22.
- Ludwar et al. 2022 (same trial), result. PubMed. Read 2026-10-22.
- Ludwar et al. Oil pulling to relieve medication-induced xerostomia: randomized crossover trial. Oral Dis 2022. Read 2026-10-22.
- Traditional oral hygiene practices and their effectiveness: systematic review. Oral Health Prev Dent 2026. Read 2026-10-22.
- American Dental Association, MouthHealthy. Oil Pulling. Read 2026-10-22.
- Kuroyama et al. Exogenous lipoid pneumonia caused by repeated sesame oil pulling: two cases. BMC Pulm Med 2015. Read 2026-10-22.
- Wong et al. Exogenous lipoid pneumonia associated with oil pulling: two cases. Monaldi Arch Chest Dis 2018. Read 2026-10-22.
- American Dental Association, MouthHealthy. Oil Pulling, standard care. Read 2026-10-22.