Effect of Coconut Oil on Salivary Total Bacterial and Streptococcus Mutans Counts
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Abstract
Objective: To investigate the effect of coconut oil in reducing the levels of total bacteria and Streptococcus mutans in saliva, and to compare its efficacy with that of 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthrinse.
Materials and Methods: Forty healthy undergraduate dental students at Chiang Mai University were randomly allocated into two groups, a control group (0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate) and an experimental group (coconut oil). All subjects were instructed to use the mouthrinses every day for two weeks. They were advised to perform their routine oral hygiene practice without any additional education. Oral examination and saliva collection were performed at baseline and day 14. Total bacterial and S. mutans counts in saliva were measured and compared between two groups.
Results: Thirty-five subjects in the coconut oil group completed the study. The percentage reduction in total bacterial count was 53% for chlorhexidine and 45% for coconut oil. The percentage reduction in S. mutans count was 60% for chlorhexidine and 39% for coconut oil. However, there was no significant difference between the two mouthrinses.
Conclusions: Two weeks of coconut-oil pulling showed a similar percentage reduction in total bacterial and S. mutans count to that produced by 0.12% CHX mouthrinse. Thus, coconut oil can also be an alternative mouthrinse in preventive therapy to maintain oral hygiene.
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References
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