Oil Pulling Therapy for Oral Health Management

Oil pulling is a traditional practice in which an edible oil—commonly sesame, coconut or olive—is swished through the oral cavity for a sustained period, typically ten to twenty minutes. The technique is believed to promote oral hygiene by emulsifying lipids, entrapping microbial cells within an oil–saliva matrix and mechanically dislodging biofilm from tooth surfaces and interdental areas. Certain oils contain bioactive compounds, such as medium-chain fatty acids and polyphenols, that exhibit antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Emerging evidence suggests reductions in cariogenic bacteria counts, plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation when oil pulling is used as an adjunct to conventional brushing and flossing. The simplicity, low cost and global accessibility of edible oils underpin the broad appeal of this approach, although reports of adverse effects—including mucosal irritation and lipid ingestion—highlight the need for standardised protocols. Despite promising pilot studies, current data are limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneity in oil type and duration of practice, and variable study quality. Ongoing research seeks to elucidate the mechanisms by which oil pulling may modulate the oral microbiome, inflammatory mediators and clinical indices of oral health.

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Oil Pulling Therapy for Oral Health Management publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in oil pulling therapy for oral health management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Biofilm: A structured community of microbial cells embedded in a self-produced extracellular matrix adherent to oral surfaces.

Plaque index: A quantitative clinical measure assessing the thickness and extent of dental plaque on tooth surfaces.

Gingival index: A scoring system evaluating the severity of gingival inflammation based on colour, swelling and bleeding on probing.

Microbial dysbiosis index: A composite metric reflecting the balance between pathogenic and commensal microbial taxa within the oral microbiome.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6): A cytokine that mediates inflammatory and immune responses in periodontal tissues.

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α): A pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in the regulation of host defence and tissue inflammation.

References

1. The plaque reducing efficacy of oil pulling with sesame oil: a randomized-controlled clinical study. Clinical Oral Investigations (2025).
2. Oil Pulling and Polyphenols: Treatment of Gingivitis Patients with ‘Itri Extra-Virgin Olive Oil’. Journal of Clinical Medicine (2023).
3. Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial efficacy of coconut oil for periodontal pathogens: a triple-blind randomized clinical trial. Clinical Oral Investigations (2025).
4. The effect of oil pulling in comparison with chlorhexidine and other mouthwash interventions in promoting oral health: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. International Journal of Dental Hygiene (2023).