Oil pulling, the practice of taking an oil like sesame or coconut oil and swishing it in your mouth for 10-20 minutes, is a traditional remedy that has been used in India for hundreds of years. The reported benefits of this toxin-removing practice range anywhere from increased oral health to healing immune disease. But there is a hidden danger to oil pulling.
A recent case study published in the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease detailed the story of a patient who came in for treatment for pneumonia four times over the course of six months. Doctors tried to figure out why she kept coming down with a very specific type of pneumonia called lipid pneumonia that’s caused by oil in the lungs. After asking about her diet in much detail, they finally found out that the patient had started oil pulling two weeks prior to her first hospitalization. The oil, full of bacteria from her mouth, had been inhaled in small amounts during her oil pulling and accumulated in her lungs, causing the pneumonia infection.
It seems the risk of lipid pneumonia is low for most people, as this is not a problem that’s widely known about or published, however it may be advised for populations such as children or the elderly who could have problems with controlling a swallowing reflex, or those with impaired sinuses who may have problems breathing easily through their nose, to avoid oil pulling.
It’s sounds like it’s more about the breathing than about the accidental swallowing. I have a deviated septum, I’ve started oil pulling 10 days ago and I realize that I make this extra effort to breathe while my mouth’s full with the oil, but it’s not like a super big effort either… I am happy with the results so far…. is this a big concern or an isolated cold from time to time? are there higher risks involved? will I inevitably have lipid pneumonia if I go on or was this a random case? thanks!!!!!!!!!
I have a lung disease, should I not pull oil? I have never tried it.
Interesting and a really good share because people with chronic lung disease may be at higher risk perhaps?
I think it would be more of a risk if you have an upper respiratory issue, like a deviated septum or other issues breathing through your nose.
Very very interesting article I would never have thought of these side effects, but makes so much sense. I have thought often about trying pulling for my dental health. The info from another reader about loosening filling concerns me more than anything! lol. Very expensive without dental insurance and even with it! I always like to find out more about things before I try them and like everything in this world you have to be careful, nothing is perfect. I still think it is a very helpful practice and still will consider doing it because I am very confident none will get down my throat.
I’ve been brushing my teeth with a product called TruthPaste http://www.amazon.com/TruthPaste-Natural-Toothpaste-Ayurvedic-Montmorillonite/dp/B00QU8WB5I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452632960&sr=8-1&keywords=truthpaste that has Sesame oil as the first ingredient. I haven’t had any issues using it as a regular toothpaste and I love how clean it leaves my mouth! I didn’t want to go as far as oil pulling, but wanted to still receive some of the benefits and the TruthPaste is the only thing I have found to do so. I’m not an affiliate or anything with the company and I’ve only been using it for almost a month now, but I’ve had so many past issues with my teeth and have tried every other “natural” toothpaste product out there (including the EarthPaste), and was ready to give up, but I’m trying to stick it out with the TruthPaste until my next dental appt. at least. It makes my mouth feel so clean and my teeth are the whitest they have been in years! 🙂
I just read on another holistic site that oil pulling, in some cases, can also cause your fillings to fall out. Especially if they are older fillings. Just when I was seriously considering oil pulling I read that and decided against doing it.
I do oil pulling each morning. I am careful to not swallow it (ewww) Note to Angry- one does not spit it into the sink (again ewww) I spit it into a Dixie cup and throw it away. It would certainly clog the drain! My mouth does feel much fresher after swishing, spitting, then brushing as usual. HOWEVER I’m grateful for Stephanie’s information. I will be aware and be careful.
Sounds like a repulsive practice. And what a mess in the sink/drain.
You don’t spit it in the drain. I always spirt mine into the garbage can. This practice helped get rid of my sensitive tooth problem. It took a while to realize it but one day I noticed that I didn’t have temperature sensitivity in my teeth any more.
It’s not nasty at all. Just swish it around your mouth like you do with mouth wash.
Then rinse with water after you are done.
Oil pulling is wonderful and has saved me from surgery on my glands which swell sometimes due to thickening my saliva. The oil is toxic after pullin and is spit in the trash or the ground not the sink.
really it isn’t hardly any mess at all. The dental assistant was shocked at my latest dental checkup–all gum depths improved greatly and I had just started oil pulling for a month. It is good for your gums–and I notice my teeth are more of a white color. I will continue to do this but when you are sick it makes sense not to.
Oh my gosh! Thank you for sharing this research. I was hesitant to “jump” onto the oil pulling bandwagon and now here is some research about it. Crazy! Did the study say how old the patient was?
Oil pulling is not a new practice. It has gained popularity in the states and just like all other holistic practices done without research it can be dangerous when done improperly. The oil pulls toxins from the body and should be treated as such by correctly disposing in the trash or on the ground and should not be swallowed or ingested in any way.