Effect of Coconut Oil Pulling and Benzydamine Hydrochloride Mouthwash in the Management of Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis: a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Introduction: Oral mucositis is a painful and debilitating inflammation of the oral mucosa, commonly occurring as an acute side effect of radiation therapy in patients with head and neck cancer. The condition is often aggravated by secondary infections, such as candidiasis, complicating its management. Although coconut oil has shown promising therapeutic properties, particularly through the practice of oil pulling, its role in the treatment or prevention of radiation-induced oral mucositis remains clinically unexamined. Method: A total of 127 individuals with clinically and histopathologically confirmed oral malignancies, scheduled for radiation therapy, were selected from the Radiotherapy and Oncology Department of a tertiary care centre in Mangalore. The study compared two interventions: coconut oil pulling in one group and benzydamine hydrochloride mouthwash (Tantum) in the other. Swab samples were collected before and after the study to assess the reduction in candida growth. Patients were evaluated biweekly for mucositis, pain, and trismus. At the end of the trial, participants completed a quality of life questionnaire to further assess the outcomes. Results: The coconut oil group demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the total colony count of Candida species from pre to post-treatment ( Conclusion: Coconut oil pulling exhibited significant antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties, effectively reducing and preventing radiation-induced oral mucositis and its associated complications.