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Oil pulling
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>Oil pulling stems from traditional <a href="/facts/Ayurvedic_medicine/XCgFAdb3">Ayurvedic medicine</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> whose practitioners may use <a href="/facts/Sunflower_oil/WIxPvWz8">sunflower oil</a>, <a href="/facts/Olive_oil/ae1Qnt2I">olive oil</a>, or other <a href="/facts/Essential_oil/cq8V5ocP">herbal oils</a> instead of <a href="/facts/Coconut_oil/mULGkRTS">coconut oil</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="criticism">Criticism</h2> <p>There is no <a href="/facts/Evidence-based_medicine/InK1lB9l">high-quality research</a> on oil pulling,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> no understanding of a possible mechanism explaining how it would work,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> and no evidence that it provides any benefit.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> The <a href="/facts/American_Dental_Association/3L66R0kK">American Dental Association</a> agrees that there are no reliable scientific studies supporting the practice of oil pulling for any benefit to oral hygiene or overall wellbeing.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> </p><p>The <a href="/facts/Canadian_Dental_Association/KNI7udoD">Canadian Dental Association</a> assessed the practice of oil pulling in 2014 stating: "We sense oil pulling won't do any harm, we're not convinced there are any particular benefits to it."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Traditional_medicine/WLUmXCHz">Traditional medicine</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_topics_characterized_as_pseudoscience/UCJYnI6Q">List of topics characterized as pseudoscience</a></li></ul> <h2 id="further-reading">Further reading</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Brian_Dunning_(author)/d8rJhp62">Dunning, Brian</a> (8 April 2014). <a href="https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4409">"Skeptoid #409: Oil Pulling"</a>. <i><a href="/facts/Brian_Dunning_(author)/d8rJhp62">Skeptoid</a></i>.</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>King A (13 April 2018). "Bad science: Oil pulling". British Dental Journal. 224 (7): 470. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.281. PMID 29651060. S2CID 4808148. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Butler, Bethonia (20 March 2014). "Everyone is talking about 'oil pulling.' But does this health practice actually work?". The Washington Post. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/03/20/everyone-is-talking-about-oil-pulling-but-does-this-health-practice-actually-work/" target="_blank">https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/03/20/everyone-is-talking-about-oil-pulling-but-does-this-health-practice-actually-work/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>King A (13 April 2018). "Bad science: Oil pulling". British Dental Journal. 224 (7): 470. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.281. PMID 29651060. S2CID 4808148. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>King A (13 April 2018). "Bad science: Oil pulling". British Dental Journal. 224 (7): 470. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.281. PMID 29651060. S2CID 4808148. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Novella, Steven (12 March 2014). "Oil Pulling Your Leg". Science Based Medicine. Retrieved 22 April 2017. Oil pulling is a suggestive misnomer, implying that something bad is being pulled from the mouth (toxins and bacteria). What little scientific evidence exists shows that it is probably not as effective as standard mouth wash, and what benefit it has is likely entirely due to the mechanical act of swishing to remove particles and bacteria from teeth and gums ... Oil pulling for general health or any other indication is pure pseudoscience. Detox claims are based on nothing, as are all detox claims. There is no evidence or plausible rationale to recommend oil pulling for any indication other than as a poor substitute for oral care. <a href="/wiki/Steven_Novella" target="_blank">/wiki/Steven_Novella</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Kensche A, Reich M, Kümmerer K, Hannig M, Hannig C (April 2013). "Lipids in preventive dentistry". Clinical Oral Investigations (Review). 17 (3): 669–685. doi:10.1007/s00784-012-0835-9. PMID 23053698. S2CID 30589353. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Gbinigie O, Onakpoya I, Spencer E, McCall MacBain M, Heneghan C (June 2016). "Effect of oil pulling in promoting oro dental hygiene: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials". Complementary Therapies in Medicine (Review). 26: 47–54. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2016.02.011. PMID 27261981. To the best of our knowledge this is the first systematic review assessing the effect of oil pulling on oro dental hygiene. The results should be interpreted with caution because of the small number of included studies. Furthermore, the included studies were not adequately powered, and small sample sized studies could lead to misleading results <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>King A (13 April 2018). "Bad science: Oil pulling". British Dental Journal. 224 (7): 470. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.281. PMID 29651060. S2CID 4808148. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Puri, Nividita (2015) "Holistic Approach of Oil Pulling in the Dental World: a literature review". The Dental Assistant 20–23 <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Bronson Gray, Barbara (18 April 2014). "Oil-Swishing Craze". WebMD. <a href="http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/news/20140418/oil-swishing-craze-snake-oil-or-all-purpose-remedy" target="_blank">http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/news/20140418/oil-swishing-craze-snake-oil-or-all-purpose-remedy</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Cheshire, Sara (6 August 2014). "Does oil pulling work?". CNN. Turner Broadcasting System. <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/06/health/oil-pulling" target="_blank">http://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/06/health/oil-pulling</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>King A (13 April 2018). "Bad science: Oil pulling". British Dental Journal. 224 (7): 470. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.281. PMID 29651060. S2CID 4808148. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Mulson, Jennifer (19 August 2014). "Live Well: Oil pulling draws fans, skeptics in Colorado Springs". The Gazette. Colorado Springs, Colorado. Archived from the original on 23 August 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140823044203/http://gazette.com/live-well-oil-pulling-draws-fans-skeptics-in-colorado-springs/article/1535792" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20140823044203/http://gazette.com/live-well-oil-pulling-draws-fans-skeptics-in-colorado-springs/article/1535792</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>King A (13 April 2018). "Bad science: Oil pulling". British Dental Journal. 224 (7): 470. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.281. PMID 29651060. S2CID 4808148. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Novella, Steven (12 March 2014). "Oil Pulling Your Leg". Science Based Medicine. Retrieved 22 April 2017. Oil pulling is a suggestive misnomer, implying that something bad is being pulled from the mouth (toxins and bacteria). What little scientific evidence exists shows that it is probably not as effective as standard mouth wash, and what benefit it has is likely entirely due to the mechanical act of swishing to remove particles and bacteria from teeth and gums ... Oil pulling for general health or any other indication is pure pseudoscience. Detox claims are based on nothing, as are all detox claims. There is no evidence or plausible rationale to recommend oil pulling for any indication other than as a poor substitute for oral care. <a href="/wiki/Steven_Novella" target="_blank">/wiki/Steven_Novella</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Gbinigie O, Onakpoya I, Spencer E, McCall MacBain M, Heneghan C (June 2016). "Effect of oil pulling in promoting oro dental hygiene: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials". Complementary Therapies in Medicine (Review). 26: 47–54. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2016.02.011. PMID 27261981. To the best of our knowledge this is the first systematic review assessing the effect of oil pulling on oro dental hygiene. The results should be interpreted with caution because of the small number of included studies. Furthermore, the included studies were not adequately powered, and small sample sized studies could lead to misleading results <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Lakshmi, T; Rajendran, R; Krishnan, Vidya (2013). "Perspectives of oil pulling therapy in dental practice". Dental Hypotheses. 4 (4): 131–134. doi:10.4103/2155-8213.122675. <a href="https://doi.org/10.4103%2F2155-8213.122675" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.4103%2F2155-8213.122675</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>King A (13 April 2018). "Bad science: Oil pulling". British Dental Journal. 224 (7): 470. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.281. PMID 29651060. S2CID 4808148. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Kensche A, Reich M, Kümmerer K, Hannig M, Hannig C (April 2013). "Lipids in preventive dentistry". Clinical Oral Investigations (Review). 17 (3): 669–685. doi:10.1007/s00784-012-0835-9. PMID 23053698. S2CID 30589353. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>Gbinigie O, Onakpoya I, Spencer E, McCall MacBain M, Heneghan C (June 2016). "Effect of oil pulling in promoting oro dental hygiene: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials". Complementary Therapies in Medicine (Review). 26: 47–54. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2016.02.011. PMID 27261981. To the best of our knowledge this is the first systematic review assessing the effect of oil pulling on oro dental hygiene. The results should be interpreted with caution because of the small number of included studies. Furthermore, the included studies were not adequately powered, and small sample sized studies could lead to misleading results <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>"Oil Pulling". American Dental Association. <a href="https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/o/oil-pulling" target="_blank">https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/o/oil-pulling</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>Anna Lazowski (5 June 2014). "Oil pulling: Ancient practice now a modern trend". CBC News. Retrieved 10 June 2014. <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/oil-pulling-ancient-practice-now-a-modern-trend-1.2664794" target="_blank">http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/oil-pulling-ancient-practice-now-a-modern-trend-1.2664794</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>