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VOLUME 17 , ISSUE 1 ( January, 2016 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

The Effect of Coconut Oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans Count in Saliva in Comparison with Chlorhexidine Mouthwash

Roshni, Mamta Kaushik, Pallavi Reddy, Pooja Udameshi, Neha Mehra, Aditya Marwaha

Citation Information : R, Kaushik M, Reddy P, Udameshi P, Mehra N, Marwaha A. The Effect of Coconut Oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans Count in Saliva in Comparison with Chlorhexidine Mouthwash. J Contemp Dent Pract 2016; 17 (1):38-41.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1800

Published Online: 01-06-2016

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2016; The Author(s).


Abstract

Objectives

Oil pulling is an age-old practice that has gained modern popularity in promoting oral and systemic health. The scientific verification for this practice is insufficient. Thus, this study evaluated the effect of coconut oil pulling on the count of Streptococcus mutans in saliva and to compare its efficacy with that of Chlorhexidine mouthwash: in vivo. The null hypothesis was that coconut oil pulling has no effect on the bacterial count in saliva.

Materials and methods

A randomized controlled study was planned and 60 subjects were selected. The subjects were divided into three groups, Group A: Study Group: Oil pulling, Group B: Study Group: Chlorhexidine, and Group C: Control Group: Distilled water. Group A subjects rinsed mouth with 10 ml of coconut oil for 10 minutes. Group B subjects rinsed mouth with 5 ml Chlorhexidine mouthwash for 1 minute and Group C with 5 ml distilled water for 1 minute in the morning before brushing. Saliva samples were collected and cultured on 1st day and after 2 weeks from all subjects. Colonies were counted to compare the efficacy of coconut oil and Chlorhexidine with distilled water.

Results

Statistically significant reduction in S. mutans count was seen in both the coconut oil pulling and Chlorhexidine group.

Conclusion

Oil pulling can be explored as a safe and effective alternative to Chlorhexidine.

Clinical significance

Edible oil-pulling therapy is natural, safe and has no side effects. Hence, it can be considered as a preventive therapy at home to maintain oral hygiene.

How to cite this article

Kaushik M, Reddy P, Roshni, Udameshi P, Mehra N, Marwaha A. The Effect of Coconut Oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans Count in Saliva in Comparison with Chlorhexidine Mouthwash. J Contemp Dent Pract 2016;17(1):38-41.


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