Can coconut oil give you a Hollywood smile?

The popularity of a gleaming white Hollywood smile has led many people to investigate all kinds of ways to whiten their teeth. Many claims are being made for cheap and ‘natural’ methods. Some of these hark back thousands of years.

Ayurveda medicine is one of the world’s oldest healing systems. It dates back 3,000 years in India. Its ancient practice of oil pulling involves using coconut or sesame oil as a mouthwash to help maintain a healthy mouth.

Swilling this oil round your mouth for up to 20 minutes a day is now being promoted as a way of brightening and cleaning your teeth. However, I believe this practice has no oral health benefits whatsoever. I was recently quoted in the Mail on Sunday as saying just that. It won’t do your teeth any harm but it won’t do them any good either. It’s just a waste of time. There’s no better alternative than using a fluoride toothpaste to clean your teeth every day. If you want to have your teeth whitened, then by all means speak to your dentist. It is important to have this done professionally in a way that will not harm your teeth or gums.