The American Dental Association (ADA) has responded to the wide influx of information regarding the practice of "oil pulling" and its said advantages to oral and overall health. Sources ranging from social media sites, blogs, and even news bodies have claimed that oil pulling is effective in improving oral health.
However, ADA has made its official statement in its Science in the News publication service, saying that the practice of oil pulling and its effectiveness is not empirically supported and is still subject to further research. "Oil pulling is not recommended as a supplementary oral hygiene practice, and certainly not a replacement for standard, time-tested oral health behaviors and modalities," the ADA wrote in its statement.
Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic technique that involves swishing oil in the mouth for minutes then spitting it out afterwards. The oil is believed to dissolve or "pull" different kinds of bacteria, plaque, and toxins. This practice originated in India and is thousands of years old and was brought to the United States by Dr. F. Karach, a medical doctor, in the 1990s. Practitioners writing about oil pulling in various information sources have claimed to have noticed better oral health after consistently carrying out the method, such as whiter teeth, decrease in bad breath, and stronger gums, among others. Others have also asserted that the practice has helped alleviate conditions such as headaches, liver problems, hormonal imbalances, and arthritis.
he association has pointed out that although there have been some studies and reports on the positive effectiveness of oil pulling, these studies are unreliable due to factors such as small sample size, absence of negative controls, and lack of blinding. Despite the excitement brought about by oil pulling, the ADA has advised to continue with the conventional regimen of brushing the teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing, and using ADA-Accepted products.