title: Effect of Aloe vera mouthwash on periodontal health: triple blind randomized control trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With the increasing incidence of periodontal diseases and development of antibiotic resistance, the global need for alternative treatment modalities, safe, effective, and economical products is the need of time. Aloe vera is a medicinal plant which has the greater medicinal value and enormous properties for curing and preventing oral diseases disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to access the effect of Aloe vera mouthwash on the dental plaque and gingivitis and comparing it with the bench mark control chlorhexidine and placebo.
  
  
  METHODS
  345 healthy subjects were randomly allocated in 3 groups to the test group (n=115) - mouthwash containing Aloe vera, Control group (n=115) -chlorhexidene group, Distilled water - Placebo (n=115) . Plaque Index (PI) and Gingival Index (GI) were assessed at days 0, 15 and 30. Subjects were asked to rinse their mouth with the stated mouthwash, twice a day, during a 30-day period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our result showed that Aloe vera mouthrinse is equally effective in reducing periodontal indices as Chlorhexidine. The results demonstrated a significant reduction of gingival bleeding and plaque indices in both groups over a period of 15 and 30 days as compared to placebo group. There was a significant reduction on plaque and gingivitis in Aloe vera and chlorhexidine groups and no statistically significant difference was observed among them (p>0.05). Aloe vera mouthwash showed no side effects as seen with chlorhexidine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study indicate that Aloe vera may prove to be an effective mouthwash owing to its ability in reducing periodontal indices.
authors.affiliation: Post graduate student, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Teerthankar Mahaveer Dental College and Research Centre, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India; Tel: +91-9808683192; e-mail: drbushrakarim@aol.com.
authors.forename: Bushra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karim
authors.forename: Dara John
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bhaskar
authors.forename: Chandan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agali
authors.forename: Devanand
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Rajendra Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Ankita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Alpana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanwar