new way to care for your pearly whites? Nowadays, oil pulling, a folk remedy that originated in India, is all the rage again, thanks to social media sites like Facebook and Pinterest.
The practice involves swishing edible oil (sesame, coconut, or olive) in your mouth for up to 20 minutes. When you’re done, the oil will have gone from clear to white, with proponents saying it had drawn out bacteria from your teeth and mouth.
Ancient Indian legends suggest the practice can cure migraines, asthma, diabetes, and numerous other ailments. And that makes some sense, considering poor oral health has been linked to higher risks of heart disease, stroke, and even pancreatic cancer. In developing countries, oil pulling may be used in place of modern oral care.
But when Men’s Health spoke to representatives at the American Dental Association about oil pulling, they couldn’t condone the practice. While there have been a handful of clinical studies and a recent unpublished study from Loma Linda University that found oil pulling effectively decreases the levels of Streptococcus mutans, a bacteria associated with cavities, “additional research is needed,” says the ADA. As for the claims that it can be a cure-all for other health problems, these have yet to be proven.
Although oil pulling shouldn’t take the place of your normal dental hygiene regimen, you can supplement your routine with it, says Men’s Health dentistry advisor Mark Wolf, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Here’s how to do it: Use one or two teaspoons of oil, and swish it around your gums and mouth every morning. Spit it out in a trashcan once it turns white, which usually takes about 20 minutes. Whatever you do, don’t swallow the bacteria-filled oil.
If the thought of oil pulling makes you want to gag (or it leaves a bad taste in your mouth), nix the ancient way to clean your mouth. Instead, spend the extra 20 minutes a day using your trusted toothbrush, floss, and mouthwash,
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