Fact Check: Can coconut oil pulling whiten teeth?

Can coconut oil pulling whiten teeth?

Claim: A social media post on Pinterest claims coconut pulling can whiten teeth. The post advises swishing 1 tbsp of coconut oil in the mouth for 20 mins after waking up and before brushing/breakfast spit out and brush teeth as normal. Repeating this 3-5 times a week will whiten teeth.

The link to the post is here.

FACT CHECK:

The claim is MOSTLY FALSE.

What causes the yellowing of teeth?

According to the American Dental Association, “Yellowing of teeth develop by repeated exposure to the same types of foods or beverages that would stain our clothes”(1) Drinks like coffee, tea, and red wine are the most common culprits. Smoking also can make your teeth yellow or even brownish. Intrinsic stains occur under your teeth' hard, outer surface, called enamel.

What is coconut oil pulling?

The oil-pulling procedure involves swishing a measured volume of oil around the mouth for some time, forcing the oil in between all the teeth and around the mouth. Examples of organic oils that are used include sunflower oil, sesame oil, and coconut oil. (2)

Can coconut oil pulling whiten teeth?

No, it doesn't. According to a study by Wooley et al coconut oil pulling improves oral health and dental hygiene overall, rather than whitening teeth specifically. The review mentions that coconut oil pulling may have potential benefits of coconut oil pulling, such as improvement in gingival health, reduction in inflammation and bleeding, resolution of symptoms of dry mouth/throat and chapped lips, reduced halitosis (bad breath), and enhanced oral hygiene. (3)

American Dental Association mentioned that there is an absence of documented tooth whitening derived from oil pulling, which has also been associated with adverse events ranging from lipoid pneumonia to upset stomach and diarrhoea. (4)

On talking to Dr Dr. Sindhu U Muktamath HOD - Dental Science, Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru she mentioned “While some people claim that coconut oil pulling can help whiten teeth, scientific evidence supporting this is limited. Coconut oil may remove some surface stains due to its abrasive nature, but it's unlikely to produce dramatic whitening results. Professional teeth whitening treatments or over-the-counter whitening products are typically more effective for noticeable whitening.

However, if an observable change needs to be noticed, one must try this method for a longer time. But if the person aims to achieve instant results, then they should look out for professional dental procedures.”

There is not much evidence but a paper by Saher et al mentioned that coconut oil pulling may reduce plaques.

Does coconut oil pulling have any benefits?

It may prevent plaque index, gingival index, salivary Streptococcus mutans count, and salivary bacterial colony count.      

 How safe is coconut oil pulling?

Dr. Sreekanth P Kunjumon, Resident at Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru explained “Although coconut oil pulling is generally safe, there may be minor side effects such as stomach discomfort or a greasy sensation in the mouth, especially if the oil is accidentally swallowed or if individuals have allergies to coconut. Be cautious not to exert excessive force when swishing, as it could lead to irritation and leave your mouth feeling oilier.”

Medical Dialogues final intake:

No coconut oil pulling does not whiten teeth. The limited evidence suggests that oil pulling with coconut oil may have a beneficial effect on improving oral health and dental hygiene problems but the claim of whitening teeth is mostly false.

References:

1.https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(20)30534-1/fulltext#:~:text=They%20develop%20by%20repeated%20exposure,of%20your%20teeth%2C%20called%20enamel.

2.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7475120/#:~:text=The%20procedure%20of%20oil%20pulling,and%20coconut%20oil%20%5B2%5D.

3.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7475120/#:~:text=The%20procedure%20of%20oil%20pulling,and%20coconut%20oil%20%5B2%5D.

4.https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/whitening.