IADR Abstract Archives
Effect of Oil Pulling on Tooth Whitening In Vitro
Objectives: Oil pulling is the act of swishing a tablespoon of oil in your mouth for 15 to 20 minutes a day, and has been gaining popularity in recent years as people turn to the internet for natural health-improving home remedies. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of oil pulling on whitening teeth in vitro.
Methods: Thirty human extracted teeth were washed in ethanol and separated into groups of six. Each tooth had an intact crown with no restorations, and each group consisted of one molar, one premolar, two canines, and two incisors. Teeth were placed into a plastic tube with 30ml of phosphate-buffered saline and 15ml of commercially available coconut, sesame, or sunflower oil. As controls teeth were treated with 15% H2O2 or saline. The tubes were vigorously shaken for 20 minutes, then emptied, washed, and refilled with saline. This process was repeated for 14 days to simulate the oil pulling instructions available on the web. Tooth shades were measured before and after treatment using a VITA Easyshade® Compact, in both the classical A1-D4 shade guide format as well as in CIELUV color space.
Results: All six teeth treated with H2O2 showed a change in value (brightness or lightness) of three to seven shades according to the classic “value” reference shade guide. In all six teeth the brightness value increased. For teeth treated with sesame oil, sunflower oil or saline control one or two teeth of the six showed an increase in brightness value. For coconut oil zero teeth showed any change in value.
Conclusions: Our study suggests that despite purported oral benefits of oil pulling and anecdotal internet information that it can whiten teeth, there is no evidence to suggest that coconut, sesame, or sunflower oil has any effect on the whitening of teeth.
Methods: Thirty human extracted teeth were washed in ethanol and separated into groups of six. Each tooth had an intact crown with no restorations, and each group consisted of one molar, one premolar, two canines, and two incisors. Teeth were placed into a plastic tube with 30ml of phosphate-buffered saline and 15ml of commercially available coconut, sesame, or sunflower oil. As controls teeth were treated with 15% H2O2 or saline. The tubes were vigorously shaken for 20 minutes, then emptied, washed, and refilled with saline. This process was repeated for 14 days to simulate the oil pulling instructions available on the web. Tooth shades were measured before and after treatment using a VITA Easyshade® Compact, in both the classical A1-D4 shade guide format as well as in CIELUV color space.
Results: All six teeth treated with H2O2 showed a change in value (brightness or lightness) of three to seven shades according to the classic “value” reference shade guide. In all six teeth the brightness value increased. For teeth treated with sesame oil, sunflower oil or saline control one or two teeth of the six showed an increase in brightness value. For coconut oil zero teeth showed any change in value.
Conclusions: Our study suggests that despite purported oral benefits of oil pulling and anecdotal internet information that it can whiten teeth, there is no evidence to suggest that coconut, sesame, or sunflower oil has any effect on the whitening of teeth.