Evidence supporting the use of: Sesame Oil
For the body system: Teeth

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Sesame oil has a long history of traditional use in oral health, particularly in the practice of oil pulling—a technique originating in Ayurvedic medicine. Oil pulling involves swishing sesame oil in the mouth for several minutes, and it is claimed to help "pull" out toxins, strengthen the teeth and gums, and improve overall oral hygiene. The traditional rationale is that the oil binds to bacteria and debris, thereby reducing harmful organisms and promoting oral health.

Scientific studies on sesame oil's effectiveness for oral health are limited but suggest some minor benefits. A few small clinical trials have shown that oil pulling with sesame oil can reduce oral bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans, which are implicated in tooth decay, and may modestly improve markers of gum health (such as plaque and gingival indices) when compared to water or chlorhexidine mouthwash. However, these studies are often limited by small sample sizes, short durations, and lack of rigorous controls.

Overall, while sesame oil is widely used in traditional oral health practices, robust scientific validation is lacking. Most dental professionals do not recommend sesame oil as a replacement for conventional oral hygiene practices but acknowledge it is unlikely to be harmful and may offer minor supplementary benefits.

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