The Effect of Oil Pulling on Oral Health-related Quality of Life

The Effect of Oil Pulling on Oral Health-related Quality of Life

To date, there are no studies assessing the impact of mouth rinses on the oral health-related quality of life in healthy patients with gingivitis. Thus, this study aimed to assess the effect of oil pulling on the OHRQoL using the 14-item OHIP questionnaire (OHIP-14). The null hypothesis stated, that there would be no significant difference in OHIP-14 scores between individuals with gingivitis performing oil pulling with sesam-based oil and those using distilled water over an eight-week period.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age ≥ 18 years
• contractual capability
• the presence of ≥ 10 teeth,
• community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN) grade 1 or 2

Exclusion Criteria:

• missing consent
• community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN) grade 0, 3 or 4
• pregnancy or breastfeeding
• systemic diseases or conditions that are associated with an increased risk of infection or necessitate concomitant antibiotic therapy with dental treatment
• mental and behavioral disorders that impede (verbal) communication
• allergy against sesame(oil)
• intake of antibiotics 6 months prior to or during study duration
• intake of medication potentially influencing gingival inflammation or bleeding (e.g. anticoagulants, cortisone)
• infectious diseases (e.g. HIV, hepatitis B or C)
• fixed orthodontic appliances
• ongoing oil pulling or mouth rinsing
• adult guardianship
• insufficient nasal breathing