title: The myth of oral hygiene using synthetic mouthwash products.
abstract: The synthetic oral cleansing and teeth whitening products like mouthwashes exert adverse effects on teeth, gums and mucous membrane of oral cavity and their extensive use is being criticized. Determining the effect of frequent use of mouthwashes, human cheek cells and their DNA have been studied. Five mouthwash brands were tested and their effects were examined on membrane and DNA of human cheek cells which were found to be very expressive and severe. The DNA, also, received severe damage and breaks developed in its double stranded structure resulting in detachment of small fragments from DNA. The statistical analysis, also, showed significant difference P < 0.005 between the values obtained for DNA double strand breaks for different mouthwashes (and standard mutagen) as compared to untreated control. The study revealed that damage to DNA increases many folds when different mouthwashes are combined. Essential oils of six spice plants (black pepper, clove, black seasam, cinamon, carom seeds and cumin) were evaluated for possessing anti-mutagenic property. These essential oils were found effectively protective against the DNA damaging effect of mouthwashes but could not inhibit it completely. Black pepper, clove, black seasam, cinamon, and cumin were stronger protective as compared to carom seeds.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Molecular Biology (CAMB), University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ghulam Zahara
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Jahangir
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Durre Shahwar
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.affiliation: National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, Lahore, 53700 Pakistan.
authors.forename: Idrees Ahmad
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Nasir
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Molecular Biology (CAMB), University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Madeha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sadiq
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sobia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shahzad
authors.affiliation: National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, Lahore, 53700 Pakistan.
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Naz
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Molecular Biology (CAMB), University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Afifa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saeed
keywords: AP sites; Anti-mutagenic; Comet assay; DSB; Essential oils; Mouthwash