The plaque reducing efficacy of oil pulling with sesame oil: a randomized-controlled clinical study

To compare the plaque reducing efficacy of oil pulling with sesame oil compared to distilled water in a randomized, controlled, examiner-blinded parallel group study.

Forty probands without advanced periodontal disease of the University Hospital for Restorative Dentistry and Periodontology, Medical University of Innsbruck (Austria) were randomized allocated to test- (sesame oil) or control group (distilled water) and asked to pull daily in the morning for eight weeks with their allotted fluid for 15 min. Rustogi Modified Navy Plaque Index (RMNPI) and gingival bleeding index were assessed at baseline and after four and eight weeks. Plaque samples underwent microbiological analysis.

Pulling with sesame oil was significantly more effective in reducing full mouth RMNPI compared to distilled water after eight weeks (median reduction 18.98% versus 10.49%; p = 0.023), and was most pronounced in anterior, buccal, and lingual subscales. On approximal surfaces, significantly higher plaque reduction was found in the test group after four (24.07% versus 14.29%) and eight weeks (16.00% versus 5.36%) of intervention (p < 0.05). No significant changes in gingival index and mirobiological analysis could be detected.

Plaque reduction was statistically significantly higher with oil pulling than with distilled water, however, a study bias cannot be ruled out. Further high-quality trials are needed to understand the mechanisms and effectiveness of oil pulling, to finally clarify the evidence.

Oil pulling may be recommended as an adjuvant to mechanical dental cleaning. Individuals with keratosis may experience adverse effects.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06327841.