Abstract
The present study was to investigate the action of a toothpaste made from the extract of Rosmarinus officinalis Linn. (rosemary) in a clinical randomized, controlled, open and double-blind trial. One hundred and ten volunteers fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were randomly separated into two groups according to the toothpastes used: Group A (experimental) and Group B (control). They were assessed at baseline and 30 days after the study using the gingival bleeding index (GBI) and the plaque index (PI). Data analysis was conducted to calculate the effects of the two toothpastes on gingival bleeding and plaque, using measurements such as the excess relative risk (ERR), the Relative Risk Reduction (RRR), the Absolute Risk Reduction (ARR) and the Number Needed for Treatment (NNT). The two toothpastes provided similar results in terms of the reduction in the risk of gingival bleeding (relative and absolute): a reduction of 38% in Group A, ERR=0.38; a reduction of 29.3% in Group B, ERR=0.293; A and B reduced by 18% ARR=0.18). The reductions in bacterial plaque were also similar (22.7% reduction in Group A, RRR=0.227; 28% reduction in Group B, RRR= 0.28). The number needed for treatment values for bleeding and plaque were A and B NNT=5 and A and B NNT=7, respectively. The rosemary-based toothpaste effectively treated gingival bleeding and reduced bacterial plaque, when compared with conventional toothpaste.
Highlights
The accumulation of dental biofilm is still a concern for dentists, given that it has been correlated with the etiology of diseases such as caries, periodontal disease and halitosis
Several plant species, including rosemary, have the power to inhibit the formation of dental biofilm by reducing the adherence of pathogens to dental surfaces, thereby avoiding the pathologies caused by its formation [2,6,7,8,9]
The mean gingival bleeding index (GBI) and plaque index (PI) values decreased after 30 days, the reduction was not statistically significant (p>0.05) in the non-parametric Wilcoxon test, which was used to compare paired means
Summary
The accumulation of dental biofilm is still a concern for dentists, given that it has been correlated with the etiology of diseases such as caries, periodontal disease and halitosis. As well as the mechanical removal of bacterial plaque through brushing, a concentration of 0.2% chlorhexidine has become the standard substance used to control plaque worldwide. Since this is a chemical product, it exhibits a series of adverse effects, such as an altered palate, as well as stains on the teeth, tongue and restorations, among others [3,4]. Their benefits have been universally accepted [6]. Several plant species, including rosemary, have the power to inhibit the formation of dental biofilm by reducing the adherence of pathogens to dental surfaces, thereby avoiding the pathologies caused by its formation [2,6,7,8,9]
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