Comparative evaluation of a herbal mouthwash (Freshol) with chlorhexidine on plaque accumulation, gingival inflammation, and salivary Streptococcus mutans growth.
BACKGROUND
Plaque accumulation and oral microorganisms are the main predisposing factors to various orodental infections and targeting these, therefore, can prove to be an effective way of combating these diseases. Herbal extracts have been of particular interest these days owing to various side effects associated with conventional modes of treatment.


OBJECTIVE
The present study was conducted to compare the efficacy of a commercially available homeopathic mouthwash with chlorhexidine on plaque status, gingival status, and salivary Streptococcus mutans count.


METHODS
Total sample of 55 children, aged 8-14 years, were randomly divided into two groups. Group A (35) and Group B (20) were given 10 mL of test mouthwash "Freshol" and chlorhexidine respectively during phases 1 and 3 of the clinical trial which was of 10 days each. Phase 2 of 14 days in between was the washout period during which no mouthwash was given.


RESULTS
Freshol was found to be better than chlorhexidine in reducing the salivary mutans streptococci count and equieffective to chlorhexidine in altering plaque and gingival scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Herbal alternatives can prove to be an effective and safe alternative to conventional modes of treatment.
Department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Maharana Pratap College of Dentistry and Research Centre, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Shivika
S
Mehta
Department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Science, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
Sudha
S
Pesapathy
Department of foresenic medicine and toxicology, Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery, Vikarabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Madonna
M
Joseph
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery, Vikarabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Prabhat K
PK
Tiwari
Department of Pathology, SDM College of Medical Science and Hospital, Dharwad, Karnataka, India.
Saurabh
S
Chawla
Chlorhexidine; Streptococcus mutans; gingival status; herbal mouthwash; plaque status