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Is coconut oil good for brushing teeth?

Author

Emily Sparks

Published Jan 06, 2026

Current research shows that coconut oil may help to decrease plaque buildup on your teeth and reduce inflammation to fight gum disease. In one pilot study, oil pulling with coconut oil for 30 days significantly decreased plaque buildup and signs of gingivitis in 60 participants with plaque-induced gum disease ( 12 ).

Can you brush your teeth with just coconut oil?

In addition to using oil to brush their teeth, patients can significantly improve their overall health by swishing coconut oil in their mouths for a few minutes per day.

Can coconut oil replace toothpaste?

Coconut oil is an ingredient that provides several benefits to your body, from improving the quality of your hair to your skin. It can also be used along with baking soda as a substitute for toothpaste. Other oils like sesame and sunflower can also be used for oil pulling to keep your teeth clean.

Should I brush my teeth before or after using coconut oil?

You do not need to brush your teeth before oil pulling as the practice will remove food and bacteria from the mouth. However, it is important to brush afterwards to ensure that all of the toxins that are drawn out of the mouth are removed. If it feels weird, keep going.

Does coconut oil make teeth white?

There is good news and bad news. The good news is that using coconut oil on your teeth is unlikely to cause any damage. The bad news is that it won't whiten your teeth. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that coconut oil has any benefits for oral health.

18 related questions found

Can coconut oil reverse cavities?

Can Oil Pulling Reverse Cavities? While oil pulling may be beneficial for reducing bacteria and preventing tooth decay or gum disease, it must be said that no amount of oil pulling can reverse cavities. A dental cavity, also known as carie, is a permanently damaged area of the enamel or dentin layer.

Does coconut oil make your breath smell better?

If you struggle with bad breath, oil pulling with coconut oil may help. Coconut oil contains antimicrobial properties that may rid the mouth of odor-causing bacteria. What's more, it may help to reduce build-up of food debris on the teeth, inner cheeks, and tongue ( 16 ).

How often should I oil pull with coconut oil?

Performing oil pulling is simple—you just put a tablespoon or so of oil into your mouth, and move it around. 1 To get the benefits, you need to keep the oil moving around your mouth for a long time—five to 20 minutes each day.

Can you swallow coconut oil?

You swallow the coconut oil following the pulling process. When you finish oil pulling, be sure to spit out the oil that has collected bacteria in your mouth. Swallowing it may result in stomach discomfort or diarrhea. You totally replace all toothbrushing, flossing, and other oral care with coconut oil pulling.

What kind of coconut oil is good for teeth?

It has the added effect of whitening teeth naturally and evidence even shows that it is beneficial in improving gums and removing harmful bacteria!" If you're ready to try it, both Wellness Mama, Trina Holden, and my sister suggest cold-pressed, unrefined virgin coconut oil.

What does coconut toothpaste do?

Coconut oil toothpaste helps to keep the teeth clean and healthy, helps prevent deposition of plaque, bleeding of gums, formation of bad breath. Even coconut toothpaste helps to restore dental enamel. It is easy to make, and is a safe, inexpensive substitute for the synthetic toothpastes available on retail.

Is coconut oil toothpaste healthy?

Fights Bacteria and Cavities

Whether you use coconut oil toothpaste, or coconut oil pulling, the ingredient itself does the work. The enzymes in coconut oil attach themselves to the bacteria on your teeth, and pull them off. As you're swishing the oil in your mouth, you can effectively remove a lot of harmful bacteria.

What are the negatives of coconut oil?

Increased Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke

As stated earlier, coconut oil contains more than that (14 grams) in one serving, meaning it's easy to overdo saturated fat in your diet when you consume coconut oil. Too much saturated fat can lead to high cholesterol, increasing risks of heart disease and stroke.

What are the side effects of coconut oil?

Ingesting too much coconut oil right off the bat can lead to nausea, consumer advocates warn. Other coconut oil-linked side effects include headache, dizziness, fatigue, swollen glands, joint or muscle pain, stomach upset, chills, hives or rashes, or other adverse skin conditions.

What happens if we drink coconut oil in empty stomach?

Empty stomach: Taking virgin coconut oil empty stomach helps in curing stomach inflammation, reduces bacteria and improve digestion. At the time of breakfast: Virgin coconut can also be taken at the time of breakfast or in the early morning as it helps reducing belly fat faster.

Does coconut oil pulling really work?

There is no evidence that oil pulling can prevent cavities, detoxify the body, strengthen teeth, treat cancer or reduce headaches, despite such claims made online.

How soon will I see results from oil pulling?

Proponents of oil pulling claim that, when practiced properly and with regularity, users can expect to start seeing results such as reduced plaque, cavity prevention and stronger gums in 2 – 3 months. Some users also claim that oil pulling helped remove stains from their teeth.

How long does it take oil pulling to work?

The oil needs to be swished around long enough for it to turn a milky white, which indicates that the bacteria has been “pulled” off. After roughly 20 minutes the solution is filled with bacteria, viruses and other organisms; at this point, the person spits out the oil and rinses thoroughly with water.

Do you oil pull before or after brushing?

You don't have to brush your teeth before oil pulling. It's better to brush afterwards so you can completely remove the oil and bacteria from your mouth. Oil pulling involves swishing an edible oil around in your mouth to remove bacteria.

Is coconut oil good for mouthwash?

Both mouthwash and coconut oil were found to reduce the number of bacteria found in saliva ( 8 ). Decreasing the number of bacteria in the mouth can help support proper oral hygiene and prevent some conditions.

Can coconut oil grow hair?

This can help prevent a dry, flaky scalp and dandruff, as well as split ends and hair breakage. For these reasons, coconut oil might make your hair look shinier, stronger, and longer. However, there's not yet evidence that coconut oil can make your hair grow faster or longer.

Does coconut oil pulling remove plaque?

Oil pulling has been proven to be an effective method in reducing plaque formation and plaque induced gingivitis. This preliminary study shows that coconut oil is an easily usable, safe and cost effective agent with minimal side effects which can be used as an adjuvant in oral hygiene maintenance.

How do you use coconut oil for your teeth?

Put a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth. Swish the oil around for 15–20 minutes, pushing and pulling it between teeth. Spit out the oil (into the trash since it can clog sink pipes). Brush your teeth.

What happens when you eat coconut oil everyday?

Eating a spoonful of coconut oil daily will help you speed up your metabolism, making it easier for your body to burn fat and eventually lose weight. It is especially helpful to burn belly fat.

Does coconut oil clog your arteries?

Eating foods that contain coconut oil can increase your risk for heart problems. Fatty plaque buildup causes the artery walls to harden and narrow, making it difficult for blood to deliver the oxygen and nutrients your organs need.