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The Effect of a Novel Natural Oil-Pulling Oral Rinse on Oral Microflora, Dental Plaque, and Gingivitis: A
Chetan Patel1, Ghanashyam Patel2, Nile Desai3
1Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, GBR.
Aim:
Oral health conditions such as plaque accumulation, gingivitis, and halitosis are primarily caused by pathogenic oral microflora and remain a global concern due to their links with systemic diseases. While essential oil-based mouthwashes are effective, concerns over side effects such as dryness and taste alterations have spurred interest in natural alternatives such as oil-pulling rinses. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of a novel oil-pulling oral rinse compared to an alcohol-based anti-gingivitis mouthwash and placebo in reducing oral microbial counts, dental plaque, and gingivitis.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 63 adults (aged 18-50 years) with a modified gingival index (MGI) ≥ 1.75 and plaque index (PI) ≥ 1.95 were randomized into three groups: an oil-pulling oral rinse (test group), a marketed alcohol-based anti-gingivitis mouthwash (active comparator), and placebo. Participants used their assigned mouth rinse for 15 days. Primary outcomes included changes in oral microflora (colony-forming unit (CFU) counts of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and Candida albicans), MGI, and PI. Secondary outcomes assessed oral dryness (Clinical Oral Dryness Score (CODS)), breath freshness (Organoleptic Scoring Scale (OSS)), and tooth shade (VITA Shade Scale; VITA Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany). Adverse events (AEs) and safety parameters were monitored.
Results:
The test group demonstrated a numerically greater reduction in gram-positive bacteria (69.3%) compared with the comparator (63.5%) and placebo (51.6%); however, these differences were not statistically significant. Gram-negative bacterial reduction was significantly greater in the test group (24.9%) than in the active comparator (22.1%) and placebo (11.0%) groups (p = 0.004). MGI improved by 2.7% (p = 0.015), and PI was reduced by 30.6% (p < 0.001). The test group also showed improvements in oral dryness (p < 0.001), breath freshness (p < 0.001), and teeth shade (p = 0.011). No serious AEs were reported.
Conclusion:
The evaluated oil-pulling oral rinse showed potential to reduce oral microbial counts and improve plaque and gingival parameters during short-term use. It presents a natural, well-tolerated alternative to conventional mouthwashes.
