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Cited by 139Oral microbiology and periodontitis researchDental Health and Care UtilizationCoconut Research and Applications

Effect of coconut oil in plaque related gingivitis - A preliminary report

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Peedikayil, FaizalC, Sreenivasan, Prathima, Narayanan, Arun·2015·Nigerian Medical Journal
DOI 10.4103/0300-1652.153406PMC PMC4382606
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Oil pulling or oil swishing therapy is a traditional procedure in which the practitioners rinse or swish oil in their mouth. It is supposed to cure oral and systemic diseases but the evidence is minimal. Oil pulling with sesame oil and sunflower oil was found to reduce plaque related gingivitis. Coconut oil is an easily available edible oil. It is unique because it contains predominantly medium chain fatty acids of which 45-50 percent is lauric acid. Lauric acid has proven anti inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. No studies have been done on the benefits of oil pulling using coconut oil to date. So a pilot study was planned to assess the effect of coconut oil pulling on plaque induced gingivitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of coconut oil pulling/oil swishing on plaque formation and plaque induced gingivitis. A prospective interventional study was carried out. 60 age matched adolescent boys and girls in the age-group of 16-18 years with plaque induced gingivitis were included in the study and oil pulling was included in their oral hygiene routine. The study period was 30 days. Plaque and gingival indices of the subjects were assessed at baseline days 1,7,15 and 30. The data was analyzed using paired t test. RESULTS: A statistically significant decrease in the plaque and gingival indices was noticed from day 7 and the scores continued to decrease during the period of study. CONCLUSION: Oil pulling using coconut oil could be an effective adjuvant procedure in decreasing plaque formation and plaque induced gingivitis.

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Authors
Peedikayil, F., Sreenivasan, P., & Narayanan, A.
Affiliations
Kannur Dental College (IN)
ORCID
Sreenivasan, Prathima
Venue
Nigerian Medical Journal
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published
2015
Volume
56
Issue
2
Pages
143
ISSN
0300-1652 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.4103/0300-1652.153406
PMC
PMC4382606
OpenAlex
W2049701535
Cited by
139
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1
FWCI
10.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Nigerian Medical Journal (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
  • Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Dental Health and Care Utilization
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Inorganic Chemistry › Coconut Research and Applications
Keywords
coconut oil, oil pulling, plaque-induced gingivitis, dental plaque, lauric acid, medium-chain fatty acids, oral hygiene, adolescents, gingival index

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