Perbandingan Efektivitas Virgin Coconut Oil dengan Herbal Mouthwash Lainnya terhadap Pengendalian Plak dan Gingivitis: Tinjauan Sistematis

Jurnal Riset Rumpun Ilmu Kesehatan (JURRIKES)
Vol. 5 No. 2 (2026): Jurnal Riset Rumpun Ilmu Kesehatan

Gingivitis is a common periodontal problem among university students and is closely associated with dental plaque accumulation. Although 0.2 percent chlorhexidine is effective as an antiplaque agent, long-term use may cause staining, dysgeusia, and mucosal irritation. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) with other herbal mouthwashes for plaque control and gingivitis management. A Systematic Literature Review using narrative meta-synthesis was conducted based on the PRISMA 2020 protocol. Literature searches were performed in PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus for publications from 2019 to 2024. From 1,247 initial records, 24 primary studies met the inclusion criteria based on the PICO framework. The synthesis showed that VCO through oil pulling reduced the Plaque Index by 20 to 52 percent and the Gingival Index by 18 to 47 percent from baseline. Neem, tea tree oil, Aloe vera, and green tea mouthwashes demonstrated effectiveness comparable to chlorhexidine, with better safety profiles. No head-to-head study directly compared VCO and herbal mouthwashes within one integrated design. These findings support herbal agents as promising adjunctive interventions in preventive dentistry for high-risk student populations.