A new practice called "oil swishing" or "oil pulling" has gone viral on the internet in recent months; the technique claims to have a number of health benefits including whiter teeth, healthier gums, and even reduced asthma symptoms.
The practice originated 2,500 years ago in the Indian culture; it is based on the traditional Indian medicinal practices known as Ayurveda, HealthDay reported.
""In Ayurveda we oil all the tissues of the body, from head to toe, every day. Studies have shown there can be an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory action," Marc Halpern, a chiropractor and president of the California College of Ayurveda told HealthDay.
People have reported all kinds of wonderful results from doing it, but you can't attribute every result to the practice," he said.
Allison Bennett of Palm City, Fla. used coconut oil to treat her toddler's eczema; when she heard about oil pulling she decided to give it a try.
"It wasn't bad," Bennett told HealthDay. "My mouth seemed quite clean after and my teeth seemed whiter even after just one time. I plan to make this a part of my daily routine each morning."
Even some celebrities swear by the method.
"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," "Divergent" actress Shalene Woodley told Into the Gloss.
The oil-based method has not been proven scientifically and can cause nausea in some individuals, HealthDay reported. The method should also not be used to replace modern oral hygiene techniques, such as brushing and flossing.
"I don't think the oil has an intrinsic effect other than the removal of plaque. It's hard to find a study that states that. Anything that swishes around for 20 minutes may have some effect, even water," Banker told HealthDay.
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