Oil pulling to relieve medication‐induced xerostomia: a randomized, single‐blind, crossover trial

paythelady.61 shared this article with you from Inoreader Oil pulling to relieve medication‐induced xerostomia: a randomized, single‐blind, crossover trial Via Oral Diseases Abstract Objectives To determine the subjective effectiveness of oilpulling on medication‐induced xerostomia with regard to symptom‐relief, quality of life, taste, mucosal moisture and oral parameters. Materials and methods In a randomized, single‐blind, crossover trial in participants with medication‐induced xerostomia (n=26; mean age 64.71 (standard deviation (SD) 15.60) years), we investigated oilpulling efficacy (sunflower oil) versus mineral water after one‐week use. Xerostomic burden (visual analogue scale, VAS), symptom‐relief and oral examinations (gingivitis‐index, plaque‐index, whole stimulated and unstimulated salivation rates) were investigated at baseline and the end of the follow‐up. Results Oilpulling reduced the xerostomic burden (baseline value 6.46 (SD 1.80), decreasing to 4.93 (SD 2.97)) (p=0.003), without difference between oil versus water (p=0.067). Baseline values for water were 6.08 (SD 2.17) decreasing to 5.72 (SD 2.17) (p=0.124). Compared to water, oil made swallowing easier (p=0.031), caused a pleasant mouthfeel (p=0.031) and caused less waking up at night (p=0.031). Effectiveness (p=0.002) and duration (p=0.007) of symptom‐relief showed differences between products in favour of oil. Conclusions Oil pulling alleviated the overall xerostomic burden. In the comparison between oil and water, no difference regarding symptom‐relief could be shown. Patients should be informed of possibilities and limitations of oilpulling as inexpensive and easy‐to‐obtain alternative to commercially‐available products for short‐term symptom‐relief. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.