A new health craze called "oil pulling" has been sweeping the internet, but does the practice really work?
The health technique originated in ancient India and is used to cleanse the mouth and body of toxins. "Oil pulling" is when one swishes a vegetable oil such as olive or coconut around their mouth for a period of time, Discovery reported.
"Oil pulling is said to treat chronic pain, insomnia, cavities, allergies, thrombosis, diabetes, asthma, bad breath, gingivitis, digestive issues, meningitis, low energy, heart disease, kidney disease, 'toxic bodily waste,' PMS, leukemia and even AIDS. Oil pulling, it would seem, is truly a life-changing medical miracle," science writer Mike Rothschild wrote on his blog, Discovery reported.
The method had never been scientifically proven to have health benefits, but many people swear by it.
"It's amazing! It really makes your teeth whiter, because the plaque on your teeth is not water soluble, it's fat-soluble. So the lipids have to dissolve in fats, which is why oil works in your mouth," actress Shalene Woodley told Into the Gloss.
Sally J. Cram, a D.C.-based periodontist and a consumer adviser for the ADA is more skeptical about the practice.
"There's nothing in those oils that is anti-bacterial," she told the Washington Post.
Kasia Kines, a licensed nutritionist,told the Post that she often prescribes oil pulling to clients enrolled in her detox program but said she does not use the technique herself because her plant-based diet keeps her healthy.
It is recommended the oil be swished around the mouth for between 10 and 15 minutes.
"For many Americans, it's not very palatable," Kines told the Washington Post.
Cram warned that toothaches and similar ailments could be indications of an underlying problem and should be taken seriously.
"The first place I would start, before trying anything like that, would be to go to your dentist and get an exam," she said.
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