A study conducted in the year 2014 by the Journal of Clinical and Dental Research discovered that oil pulling with Sesame oil was able to help reduce bad breath by eliminating the microbes responsible. In fact, the study found that the oil pulling was able to achieve equal results to a Chlorhexidine treatment.

Does oil pulling really help gum disease?

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 long does it take oil pulling to work?

Twenty minutes of swishing is a long time, and while the longer you pull, the more bacteria you'll remove, 5 or 10 minutes will still offer some benefit.