Comparative Effectiveness of a Commercial Mouthwash and an Herbal Infusion in Oral Health Care

Gabriela Ciavoi,Adrian Tohati,Ioana Scrobota,Luciana Dobjanschi,Timea Claudia Ghitea,Laurenta Lelia Mihai,Laura Gratiela Vicaș,Eleonora Marian,Farah Bechir,Gyongyi Osser,Enikő Béres,Raluca Ortensia Cristina Iurcov,Tunde Jurca,Annamaria Pallag,Mariana Eugenia Muresan

doi:10.3390/app11073008

Abstract

Mouthrinse solutions represent a group of products used for maintaining oral hygiene after tooth brushing. Substances contained by plants bring benefits for the whole mouth health. The purpose of this study was to comparatively evaluate the effectiveness of a commercial mouthwash and of an herbal infusion on dental plaque formation and gingival inflammation. The participants in the study (90 patients) were divided into two groups, the CM group, which rinsed with a commercial fluoride-containing mouthwash and the IM group, which used an herbal infusion. The Silness–Loe plaque index (PI) and the Loe–Silness gingival index (GI) were assessed at baseline and in three following monitoring sessions. Both mouthwashes used had good results in reducing plaque index and gingival index values. In all monitoring sessions, the average PI value calculated in the CM group was relatively lower than in the IM group, probably because of the fluoride contained in the commercial mouthwash. The average GI value calculated in the CM group was slightly higher in showing gingival inflammation than that of the IM group, therefore the IM group had a better average result than the CM group in GI value. Herbal mouthwashes are adequate to induce proper oral prevention through the preservation of good oral health.

Highlights

Polygonum aviculare L. (Polygonaceae family), Glechoma hederacea L. (Lamiaceae family), Matricaria chamomilla L. (Asteraceae family), and Mentha piperita Huds. (Lamiaceae family) plants were used in our study
We observed that the extract combination Mentha piperita Huds. (Mp):Matricaria chamomilla L. (Mc):Po:Glechoma hederacea L. (Gh) (1:1:1:2) had a well-balanced ratio regarding the bioactive compounds
There was a total of 372.82 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry weight extract (DW) content of total polyphenols and 6.85 mg QE/g DW of total flavonoids

Summary

Introduction

The formation of the dental biofilm is initially influenced by factors such as the surface free energy, which affects the wettability and the surface tension, the surface roughness, and the adhesion of the salivary proteins [1,2]. It is known that the initial attachment of bacterial biofilm to the dental surface is a result of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, respectively, in bacterial attachment to the dental surface [3]. Dental plaque-induced gingival inflammation is modified by various systemic and oral factors. The prevention of the formation of dental biofilm, respectively, the occurrence of dental cavities and gingival inflammation, is done by several means. Mouthwash is a mean often used to prevent the occurrence of dental biofilm and decrease the inflammation it causes [1]

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