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Reducing GingivitisNCT07826390

Effectiveness of Coconut Oil Pulling and Moringa Mouthwash Versus Chlorhexidine in Reducing Gingivitis in Diabetic Children

A study testing Chlorhexidine mouthwash, Moringa olfera mouthwash and coconut oil pulling in people with Reducing Gingivitis and Clinical Effect, run by Amira Yehia Zakaria at 1 site in Egypt.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Gingivitis is a common and reversible inflammatory condition, mainly caused by dental plaque, and is particularly prevalent among children. Children with diabetes mellitus are more susceptible because of altered immune responses, impaired healing, and changes in the oral microbiota. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 6 to 12 years
Conditions the study is for
Reducing Gingivitis, Clinical Effect
What is being tested?
Chlorhexidine mouthwash, Moringa olfera mouthwash and coconut oil pulling
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
30 participants
Where
1 siteEgypt
Study dates
1 Oct 2026to 1 Nov 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 6 to 12 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Age from 6 to 12 years.
  • Both males and females.
  • Diabetic Children with mild to moderate gingivitis.
  • Medically stable, without other systemic conditions affecting oral health.
  • Written informed consent obtained from parents or legal guardians and assent from the child.

Who cannot join

  • Severe gingival or periodontal disease
  • Hypersensitivity or allergy to coconut oil, moringa, chlorhexidine, or any component of the study interventions.
  • Presence of systemic conditions other than diabetes that may affect results
  • Antibiotics use, corticosteroids, that may influence gingival health within the past 4 weeks.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Egypt1 site
  • Faculty of dentistry cairo university

    Cairo, Cairo,Egypt, 11511

Other trials in Egypt

About this study

Official title: Effectiveness of Coconut Oil Pulling and Moringa Mouthwash Versus Chlorhexidine in Reducing Gingivitis in Diabetic Children: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Gingivitis is a common and reversible inflammatory condition, mainly caused by dental plaque, and is particularly prevalent among children. Children with diabetes mellitus are more susceptible because of altered immune responses, impaired healing, and changes in the oral microbiota.

Although mechanical plaque control is the primary method of prevention, poor oral hygiene compliance in children highlights the need for safe adjunctive treatments. Chlorhexidine, while highly effective, can cause staining, taste alteration, and mucosal irritation, limiting its long term pediatric use.

Read more

Natural alternatives such as coconut oil and Moringa oleifera have attracted attention because of their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Coconut oil, particularly its lauric acid content, may reduce oral pathogens, plaque, and gingival inflammation. Moringa contains bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and isothiocyanates that may help reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, and microbial load.

However, comparative clinical evidence on coconut oil versus Moringa for managing gingivitis in diabetic children remains limited, highlighting the need for further clinical research to determine their safety and effectiveness in this vulnerable population.

Read the detailed description

Gingivitis represents one of the most prevalent inflammatory diseases affecting the gingival tissues and remains a major public health concern worldwide, particularly among pediatric populations. It is primarily induced by dental plaque biofilm accumulation along the gingival margin, resulting in gingival inflammation characterized by redness, swelling, bleeding on probing, and discomfort. Although gingivitis is considered a reversible condition, if left untreated, it may progress to periodontitis, leading to irreversible destruction of periodontal supporting structures and eventual tooth loss.

Children with systemic conditions, especially diabetes mellitus, exhibit a higher susceptibility to gingival inflammation due to altered immune responses, impaired wound healing, and changes in oral microbial flora.

Mechanical plaque control through tooth brushing and professional prophylaxis remains the cornerstone of gingivitis prevention and management. However, compliance with routine oral hygiene practices among children is often suboptimal. Therefore, adjunctive therapeutic agents with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties have gained increasing attention. Chlorhexidine mouthwash is widely considered the gold standard chemical plaque control agent; nevertheless, its long-term use is associated with adverse effects including tooth staining, taste alteration, and mucosal irritation, limiting its acceptability among pediatric patients. This has led to growing interest in exploring natural and herbal alternatives that are safe, cost-effective, and well tolerated. Coconut oil has recently gained popularity as a natural oral health agent, particularly through the practice of oil pulling, which is a traditional Ayurvedic technique involving swishing oil in the oral cavity. Coconut oil contains a high concentration of medium-chain fatty acids, predominantly lauric acid, which possesses potent antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Lauric acid has demonstrated effectiveness against various oral pathogens, including Streptococcus mutans and Candida species, by disrupting microbial cell membranes and inhibiting biofilm formation. Additionally, coconut oil may reduce gingival inflammation by modulating inflammatory mediators and enhancing tissue healing. Several clinical studies have reported improvements in plaque and gingival indices following coconut oil use, suggesting its potential as a safe adjunctive therapy in managing gingivitis.

Moringa oleifera, commonly referred to as the "miracle tree," is another herbal product that has gained considerable attention for its medicinal and nutritional benefits. It is rich in bioactive compounds including flavonoids, phenolic acids, vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids. Moringa extracts exhibit strong antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of oral microorganisms and possess significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. These properties are primarily attributed to phytochemicals such as quercetin, chlorogenic acid, and isothiocyanates, which reduce oxidative stress and suppress inflammatory pathways. Recent experimental and clinical studies have suggested that moringa based formulations may improve periodontal health by reducing plaque accumulation, gingival inflammation, and microbial load, making it a promising natural therapeutic agent.

Despite the documented therapeutic potential of coconut oil and moringa individually, comparative clinical studies evaluating their effectiveness in reducing gingivitis, particularly among diabetic children, remain limited. Pediatric diabetic patients constitute a vulnerable group requiring safe, well-tolerated, and effective adjunctive oral health interventions. Natural herbal agents such as coconut oil and moringa may provide affordable and culturally acceptable alternatives, especially in developing countries where access to conventional dental care may be limited.

Being tested
Chlorhexidine mouthwash, Moringa olfera mouthwash, coconut oil pulling
Keywords
Moringa olfera, Coconut oil pulling, Diabetic children

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Chlorhexidine mouthwashOther

    Active comparator

  • Moringa olfera mouthwashOther

    Intervetion

  • coconut oil pullingOther

    Intervention

Study groups in NCT07826390
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Moringa olfera mouthwashExperimentalChildren will swish aqueous extract preparation from moringa leaves for 1 minute daily for 4 weeks
Receives: Other: Chlorhexidine mouthwash
Coconut oil pullingExperimentalOil pulling with 5 mL of virgin coconut oil will be used for swishing for 1 minute once daily under parental supervision.
Receives: Other: Chlorhexidine mouthwash
Chlorhexidine mouthwashActive comparator0.12% chlorhexidine mouthwash will be used for Swishing for 1 minute once daily for 4 weeks
Receives: Other: Moringa olfera mouthwash; Other: coconut oil pulling

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Gingival Health

    Clinical examination using the Gingival Index Score 0-3 where: 0 Normal gingiva; no inflammation

    1. Mild inflammation: slight change in color and slight edema; no bleeding on probing
    2. Moderate inflammation: redness, edema, and glazing; bleeding on probing
    3. Severe inflammation: marked redness and edema, ulceration, and spontaneous bleeding

    Measured: baseline immediately after week 2 week 4.

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Porphyromonas gingivalis count

    Microbiological analysis manual colony counting using agar

    Measured: baseline immediately after week 2 week 4

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted17 Sep 2026
  2. Study start1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion1 Nov 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Nov 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Will use moringa mouthwash in one group and coconut oil pulling in another group versus the standard chlorhexidine mouthwash
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
30 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07826390
Sponsor's protocol ID
Gingivitis reducing mouthwash
Status last verified
Sep 2026
First submitted
12 Sep 2026
Last updated
22 Sep 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: supporting information

Publications

  • 23. Zeeshan, A., Munir, M. & Sadia, S. 2024. Unlocking the promise of the "miracle tree: A review on therapeutic applications and phytochemistry of moringa oleifera l. J bioresour manag, 11, 18-22.

  • Kamath NP, Tandon S, Nayak R, Naidu S, Anand PS, Kamath YS. The effect of aloe vera and tea tree oil mouthwashes on the oral health of school children. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2020 Feb;21(1):61-66. doi: 10.1007/s40368-019-00445-5. Epub 2019 May 20.

    PubMed 31111439
  • Woolley J, Gibbons T, Patel K, Sacco R. The effect of oil pulling with coconut oil to improve dental hygiene and oral health: A systematic review. Heliyon. 2020 Aug 27;6(8):e04789. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04789. eCollection 2020 Aug.

    PubMed 32923724
  • Van der Weijden GAF, van Loveren C. Mechanical plaque removal in step-1 of care. Periodontol 2000. 2023 Dec 26. doi: 10.1111/prd.12541. Online ahead of print.

    PubMed 38148481
  • 20. Srivastava, A., Bhatt, N., Raghunath, V., Bhatt, S., Tekam, D. A. & Sagar, S. 2025. Herbal dentistry: A comprehensive review. JAMDSR 13, 1-5.

  • Shafiq NE, Mahdee AF. Moringa oleifera Use in Maintaining Oral Health and Its Potential Use in Regenerative Dentistry. ScientificWorldJournal. 2023 Oct 17;2023:8876189. doi: 10.1155/2023/8876189. eCollection 2023.

    PubMed 37881795
  • Rao W, Hussain M, Naseem N, Siddiqui WA. The intricacies of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in diabetic neuropathy. 3 Biotech. 2026 Jan;16(1):24. doi: 10.1007/s13205-025-04652-4. Epub 2025 Dec 8.

    PubMed 41376890
  • 17. Priya, R., Kaur, N., Rawat, A., Sharma, V., Bhalla, M. & Gupta, R. 2023. Effect of coconut oil pulling on plaque-induced gingivitis: A prospective clinical study. J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent, 21, 238-41.

  • Peedikayil FC, Sreenivasan P, Narayanan A. Effect of coconut oil in plaque related gingivitis - A preliminary report. Niger Med J. 2015 Mar-Apr;56(2):143-7. doi: 10.4103/0300-1652.153406.

    PubMed 25838632
  • Pardinas Lopez S, Garcia-Caro ME, Vallejo JA, Aja-Macaya P, Conde-Perez K, Nion-Cabeza P, Khouly I, Bou G, Cendal AIR, Diaz-Prado S, Poza M. Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial efficacy of coconut oil for periodontal pathogens: a triple-blind randomized clinical trial. Clin Oral Investig. 2025 Mar 14;29(4):182. doi: 10.1007/s00784-025-06267-8.

    PubMed 40085302
  • 14. Nitbani, F. O., Tjitda, P. J. P., Nitti, F., Jumina, J. & Detha, A. I. R. 2022. Antimicrobial properties of lauric acid and monolaurin in virgin coconut oil: a review. ChemBioEng Rev, 9, 442-61.

  • 13. Mohapatra, S., Mohandas, R., Rajpurohit, L. & Patil, S. 2024. Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of cetylpyridinium chloride mouthwash and chlorhexidine mouthwash in plaque reduction: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Curr Oral Health Rep, 12, 32-40.

  • Maia MB, Souza JGS, Bertolini M, Costa RC, Costa GS, Torres SAS, Ferreira EF, Martins AMEBL. Knowledge of bidirectional relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease among diabetes patients: A systematic review. Int J Dent Hyg. 2023 Feb;21(1):28-40. doi: 10.1111/idh.12586. Epub 2022 Feb 4.

    PubMed 35080344
  • 11. Kulkarni, V. K., Dixit, M., Balasubramanian, S. & Jetpurwala, A. 2023. Gingival and periodontal diseases in children. Pediatr Dent, 21, 264-70.

  • 10. Jadon, A. S., Kaushik, M. P., Anitha, K., Bhatt, S., Bhadauriya, P. & Sharma, M. 2024. Types of diabetes mellitus, mechanism of insulin resistance and associated complications. Biochemical immunology of diabetes and associated complications. Elsevier. 1-18.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Chlorhexidine mouthwash, Moringa olfera mouthwash and coconut oil pulling in people with Reducing Gingivitis and Clinical Effect, run by Amira Yehia Zakaria at 1 site in Egypt.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Egypt. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Amira Yehia Zakaria (+02 01226000741, amira.zakaria@dentistry.cu.edu.eg), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Gingival Health (time frame: baseline immediately after week 2 week 4.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07826390, which also lists 24 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Sep 2026.

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