Long before toothpaste became the standard, people used edible oils to clean their mouths. That ancient routine, now widely known as oil pulling, has returned through social media videos showing users swishing spoonfuls of coconut oil between their teeth.

The modern routine mirrors the traditional technique. Participants place coconut, sunflower or olive oil in their mouths, swish it for five to 20 minutes, spit it out, and then continue with regular brushing and flossing several times a week.

Online claims surrounding the practice range from whiter teeth and fresher breath to a healthier oral microbiome. Some supporters also connect those proposed oral benefits with improved gut health, although dental experts say strong scientific support is missing.

Oil pulling dates back thousands of years and is rooted in Ayurvedic medicine, a traditional Indian healing practice. It was believed to pull toxins and impurities from the mouth before the oil was discarded.

Those supposed toxins referred to plaque buildup, which contains mouth bacteria and food particles that stick to teeth. Because oral health is connected with overall health, practitioners also believed oil pulling could detoxify the body.

By the early 20th century, toothpaste had overtaken the ancient practice. Toothpaste is medically proven to strengthen oral health, while oil pulling has resurfaced amid wider interest in natural wellness practices.

“There’s no scientific evidence that oil pulling is beneficial, but there is also no evidence that it’s detrimental,” said Dr. Matthew Messina, a consumer advisor for the American Dental Association and director of Ohio State Upper Arlington Dentistry.

A 2022 meta analysis found that oil pulling decreased bacterial counts in the mouth. However, evidence remains limited that it reduces gum inflammation or plaque buildup when compared with a typical oral hygiene routine.

Before toothpaste was available, oil pulling was “better than nothing,” Messina said. Today, spending as long as 20 minutes swishing oil appears to offer little beyond the familiar habits of brushing and flossing.

The American Dental Association says there are no “reliable scientific studies to show that oil pulling reduces cavities, whitens teeth or improves oral health and well-being.” Experts are not recommending the practice, although they are not describing it as dangerous either.

Some of Messina’s patients report that their mouths taste like a “salad” after oil pulling. That oily sensation can prompt them to brush longer afterward, unintentionally improving the part of their oral hygiene routine that has established benefits.

“In a backwards way, their oral hygiene actually gets better because they’re brushing longer, which I’m okay with,” Messina said. “That gets us the same end result.”

The larger concern arises when oil pulling replaces proven medical treatment. Someone with a gum infection or dental abscess should seek antibiotics rather than rely on oil’s unproven healing properties.

Accidentally swallowing the oil may cause gastrointestinal problems, though that is not necessarily harmful. Even so, the time devoted to oil pulling can create a misleading impression that meaningful dental protection has occurred.

Traditional mouthwash, unlike oil pulling, offers some documented benefits. Antibacterial ingredients can reduce bacteria associated with tooth decay and gum disease, while fluoride rinses can help strengthen teeth, according to Messina.

Mouthwash still serves only as a supplement and cannot replace brushing or flossing. “Oral rinses are best used to support a healthy regimen of brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between our teeth once a day with floss or an oral irrigator,” Messina said.

Dentist and orthodontic specialist Dr. Kami Hoss, who is based near San Diego, said oil pulling offers a “false sense of protection.” The 2022 research measured bacteria after oil pulling but did not provide enough evidence that the practice prevents cavities or periodontal disease.

Additional research using more randomized protocols and larger numbers of patients could be beneficial. For now, Hoss questioned whether daily oil pulling could take attention away from oral hygiene practices with established scientific rewards.