title: Effect of oil gum massage therapy on common pathogenic oral microorganisms - A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  (i) To assess reduction in Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus species count in saliva sample after ten minutes of oil gum massage therapy (massage of gingival tissues) per day for three weeks with sesame oil, olive oil, and coconut oil in three different groups of subjects. (ii) To compare the efficacy between three different oils and the "gold standard" chlorhexidine gel. (iii) To assess reduction in gingival scores and plaque scores of study subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study design - Single center, parallel design, and triple blind randomized clinical study with four treatment groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  32 of the 40 study subjects working as housekeeping personnel at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal; aged 18-55 years completed the three-week study period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were randomly assigned to massage their gingiva everyday for three weeks with sesame oil, olive oil, coconut oil (tests), and Chlorhexidine gel (control). Oral health status and paraffin stimulated saliva samples were obtained at baseline and after three weeks of oil gum massage therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microbial culture, plaque index, and gingival index.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paired t test and Kruskal Wallis test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant reduction in mean Streptococcus mutans count, Lactobacillus count, plaque scores, and gingival scores in all four groups after the study. However, there was no significant difference found in percentage reduction of these variables between the four groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These oils can be used as valuable preventive agents in maintaining and improving oral health in low socioeconomic status population. However, it is recommended that further research should be conducted in other populations with a larger sample and longer duration of follow-up period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Nishu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singla
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Shashidhar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kasturba Medical College International Centre, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Suganthi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martena
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Ritesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singla
keywords: Chlorhexidine gel; gum massage; oils; oral microorganisms; randomized clinical trial