Research Article

Content and Usefulness of YouTube Videos on Oil Pulling: A Cross-Sectional Study

Volume: 29 Number: 3 September 30, 2026
Cumhuriyet Dental Journal Cover
Cumhuriyet Dental Journal
PDF Download
EN TR

Content and Usefulness of YouTube Videos on Oil Pulling: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: The increasing use of social media as a source of health information has raised concerns regarding the scientific accuracy of online educational content. This study aimed to evaluate the content and usefulness of Turkish- and English-language YouTube™ videos related to oil pulling and to compare their educational value according to upload source. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a YouTube™ search using the keyword “oil pulling” was performed on May 21, 2021. The first 305 videos retrieved using the default search settings were screened, and 178 eligible videos were included in the analysis. Video duration, upload year, numbers of views, likes, dislikes, and upload sources were recorded. Content was evaluated using a predefined 10-item usefulness scoring system, and videos were classified as not useful, slightly useful, useful, or highly useful. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square test, Spearman's correlation analysis, and Cohen's kappa coefficient. Results: Among the 178 analyzed videos, 60.7% were classified as useful and 21.9% as highly useful. Verbal explanation of the procedure (94.9%) and information regarding oral health effects (92.1%) were the most frequently presented content items, whereas references to scientific evidence were identified in only 17.4% of videos. Videos uploaded by healthcare professionals demonstrated significantly higher educational usefulness than those uploaded by individual users or websites. No significant correlations were found between usefulness scores and video popularity indicators, including views, likes, dislikes, or upload year (p > 0.05). Interobserver agreement was almost perfect (Cohen’s κ = 0.935). Conclusion: Although most YouTube™ videos on oil pulling provided useful educational information, evidence-based content remained limited. Videos uploaded by healthcare professionals demonstrated superior educational value, while viewer popularity did not reflect scientific quality. Greater involvement of oral healthcare professionals and academic institutions in producing evidence-based digital educational content may help improve oral health literacy and reduce misinformation.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

none

Ethical Statement

Ethics Statement This study evaluated only publicly available YouTube™ videos and did not involve human participants, patient data, or identifiable personal information. Therefore, ethics committee approval was not required.

Thanks

none

References

  1. 1. Desai T, Shariff A, Dhingra V, Minhas D, Eure M, Kats M. Is content really king? An objective analysis of the public's response to medical videos on YouTube. PLOS one. 2013;8(12):e82469.
  2. 2. Bağcı N, Taka K, Peker İ. Ağız kanseri konusundaki YouTube videolarının değerlendirilmesi. 7tepe Klinik Dergisi. 2021;17(2):102-107.
  3. 3. Yaung J, Park SH, Al Khalifah S. A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Oil Pulling on YouTube Shorts. Dentistry Journal. 2025;13(7):330.
  4. 4. Lad V. An introduction to Ayurveda. Alternative therapies in health and medicine. 1995;1(3):57-63.
  5. 5. Asokan S. Oil pulling therapy. Indian Journal of Dental Research. 2008;19(2):169.
  6. 6. Asokan S, Rathan J, Muthu M, Rathna PV, Emmadi P. Effect of oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans count in plaque and saliva using Dentocult SM Strip mutans test: a randomized, controlled, triple-blind study. Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry. 2008;26(1):12-17.
  7. 7. Sood P, Narang R, Makkar DK. Comparative efficacy of oil pulling and chlorhexidine on oral malodor: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research: JCDR. 2014;8(11):ZC18.
  8. 8. Naseem M, Khiyani MF, Nauman H, Zafar MS, Shah AH, Khalil HS. Oil pulling and importance of traditional medicine in oral health maintenance. International journal of health sciences. 2017;11(4):65-70.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Restorative Dentistry

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Kübra Taka
0000-0002-0328-7516
Türkiye

Meryem Toraman
0000-0003-0908-8304
Türkiye

Publication Date

September 30, 2026

Submission Date

July 6, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 27, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 29 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7126/cumudj.1988337

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA77YF48CW

Cite

RIS / Bibtex
APA
Haroğlu, D., Taka, K., Toraman, M., Peker, İ., & Yazıcı Akbıyık, S. (2026). Content and Usefulness of YouTube Videos on Oil Pulling: A Cross-Sectional Study. Cumhuriyet Dental Journal, 29(3), 526-531. https://doi.org/10.7126/cumudj.1988337
AMA
1.Haroğlu D, Taka K, Toraman M, Peker İ, Yazıcı Akbıyık S. Content and Usefulness of YouTube Videos on Oil Pulling: A Cross-Sectional Study. Cumhuriyet Dent J. 2026;29(3):526-531. doi:10.7126/cumudj.1988337
Chicago
Haroğlu, Dilara, Kübra Taka, Meryem Toraman, İlkay Peker, and Sema Yazıcı Akbıyık. 2026. “Content and Usefulness of YouTube Videos on Oil Pulling: A Cross-Sectional Study”. Cumhuriyet Dental Journal 29 (3): 526-31. https://doi.org/10.7126/cumudj.1988337.
EndNote
Haroğlu D, Taka K, Toraman M, Peker İ, Yazıcı Akbıyık S (September 1, 2026) Content and Usefulness of YouTube Videos on Oil Pulling: A Cross-Sectional Study. Cumhuriyet Dental Journal 29 3 526–531.
IEEE
[1]D. Haroğlu, K. Taka, M. Toraman, İ. Peker, and S. Yazıcı Akbıyık, “Content and Usefulness of YouTube Videos on Oil Pulling: A Cross-Sectional Study”, Cumhuriyet Dent J, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 526–531, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.7126/cumudj.1988337.
ISNAD
Haroğlu, Dilara - Taka, Kübra - Toraman, Meryem - Peker, İlkay - Yazıcı Akbıyık, Sema. “Content and Usefulness of YouTube Videos on Oil Pulling: A Cross-Sectional Study”. Cumhuriyet Dental Journal 29/3 (September 1, 2026): 526-531. https://doi.org/10.7126/cumudj.1988337.
JAMA
1.Haroğlu D, Taka K, Toraman M, Peker İ, Yazıcı Akbıyık S. Content and Usefulness of YouTube Videos on Oil Pulling: A Cross-Sectional Study. Cumhuriyet Dent J. 2026;29:526–531.
MLA
Haroğlu, Dilara, et al. “Content and Usefulness of YouTube Videos on Oil Pulling: A Cross-Sectional Study”. Cumhuriyet Dental Journal, vol. 29, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 526-31, doi:10.7126/cumudj.1988337.
Vancouver
1.Dilara Haroğlu, Kübra Taka, Meryem Toraman, İlkay Peker, Sema Yazıcı Akbıyık. Content and Usefulness of YouTube Videos on Oil Pulling: A Cross-Sectional Study. Cumhuriyet Dent J. 2026 Sep. 1;29(3):526-31. doi:10.7126/cumudj.1988337

Cumhuriyet Dental Journal (Cumhuriyet Dent J, CDJ) is the official publication of Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Dentistry. CDJ is an international journal dedicated to the latest advancement of dentistry. The aim of this journal is to provide a platform for scientists and academicians all over the world to promote, share, and discuss various new issues and developments in different areas of dentistry. First issue of the Journal of Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Dentistry was published in 1998. In 2010, journal's name was changed as Cumhuriyet Dental Journal. Journal’s publication language is English.


CDJ accepts articles in English. Submitting a paper to CDJ is free of charges. In addition, CDJ has not have article processing charges.

Frequency: Four times a year (March, June, September, and December)

IMPORTANT NOTICE

All users of Cumhuriyet Dental Journal should visit to their user's home page through the "https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/user" " or "https://dergipark.org.tr/en/user" links to update their incomplete information shown in blue or yellow warnings and update their e-mail addresses and information to the DergiPark system. Otherwise, the e-mails from the journal will not be seen or fall into the SPAM folder. Please fill in all missing part in the relevant field.

Please visit journal's AUTHOR GUIDELINE to see revised policy and submission rules to be held since 2020.