‘Oil pulling’: Viral dental trend on TikTok explained. Is it beneficial?
TikTok never fails to leave the internet by storm with its latest trends and challenges. The recent one is 'oil pulling', the practice of swishing oil around your mouth as a treatment for teeth. Oil pulling has become a viral trend, with the hashtag #oilpulling having over 163 million views on TikTok and several creators claiming to have received results such as brighter teeth in a week and the reversal of cavities. But is it beneficial for real?
READ MORE
Hot Girl Walk: What is this TikTok fitness trend? 4 tips to do it right
5 TikTok workout challenges that are worth trying at home
What is 'oil pulling'?
The process of oil pulling involves swishing around a small amount of oil — it can be coconut, sesame seed, or sunflower — in the mouth for around 20 minutes and then spitting it out like a mouthwash. The idea is that the oil acts like a magnet, drawing out toxins and bacteria from the mouth that eventually leaves you with a cleaner, healthier smile.
A user on Twitter wrote, "Idk who needs to hear this but you should start oil pulling".
Is it beneficial?
Experts suggest that in dental care, there is no magic wand. Doctors suggest that swishing the mouth with any kind of liquid alone won’t do much for oral care without brushing and flossing. The most important thing is that oil pulling should be done rightly. The oil softens hardened plaque on the surface of the teeth before it's spit out. This activity also helps improve circulation in the gums by massaging them gently with this medium-viscosity substance.
According to a 2017 study (Forbes), oil pulling works by generating antioxidants that damage the cell wall of microorganisms, eventually killing them. This leads to the removal of bacteria that creates bad breath, gingivitis, tooth decay, and gum disease from the dental cavity.