title: Antimicrobial and plaque inhibitory potential of herbal and probiotic oral rinses in children: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antimicrobial agents serve as an effective adjunct with mechanical means in plaque control. Chlorhexidine has been the gold standard in the field of dentistry, but these days a growing number of dentists are embracing the philosophy that natural agents are better for children's oral health, and the focus is shifted toward biogenic agents for oral hygiene maintenance in children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to evaluate antimicrobial and plaque inhibitory potential of herbal and probiotic rinses against Streptococcus viridans with commonly used antimicrobial agent like 0.2% chlorhexidine digluconate.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized clinical trial was conducted on 60 subjects aged between 6 and 14 years and were divided into three groups comprising 20 subjects in each group. Three oral rinses were administered twice daily for a period of 1 week. Estimation of plaque scores and S. viridans counts was done before and after intervention, and the results were statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The change in mean plaque index in Groups A, B, and C was 0.28 ± 0.16, 1.37 ± 0.43, and 0.60 ± 0.35 respectively. Furthermore, change in mean log 10 colony forming unit (CFU)/ml of S. viridans in Groups A, B, and C was 0.13 ± 0.06, 0.53 ± 0.17, and 0.22 ± 0.06 CFU/ml, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on observations done during the course of study herbal rinse proved equally effective as 0.2% chlorhexidine digluconate in reducing S. viridans counts and plaque accumulation after 1 week of intervention, whereas probiotic rinse was least effective. However, long-term clinical trial with larger sample size needs to be undertaken, especially to evaluate beneficial effects of biogenic agents such as herbal and probiotic rinses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Purvanchal Institute of Dental Sciences, Gorakhpur, India.
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: Shobha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tandon
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rathore
authors.forename: Molay
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banerjee
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control*; D029001:Herbal Medicine; D006801:Humans; D019936:Probiotics
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents