The myth of oral hygiene using synthetic mouthwash products.

Ghulam Zahara Jahangir,Idrees Ahmad Nasir,Durre Shahwar Ashraf,Afifa Saeed,Farah Naz,Madeha Sadiq,Muhammad Iqbal,Sobia Shahzad

doi:10.1186/s40064-016-3158-5

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.

Highlights

With the changing trends and lifestyle the methods of oral hygiene have changed
1 2 3 4 5 6 78 damage (Parveen and Shadab 2012). These findings provide evidence to the results reported in this document that N. sativa helps to prevent DNA damage
This study concludes that the extensive use of mouthwashes for oral hygiene is not safe

Summary

Introduction

Commercial products of oral hygiene, made from synthetic chemicals, are preferred over natural sources and are being commonly used, perhaps because of easy availability and immediate results. These cleansing and whitening products like mouthwash and toothpaste are being extensively criticized because of their adverse effects on teeth, gums and mucous membrane of oral cavity. Serious and unrepaired mutations in critical genes can obstruct cell’s ability to perform its Present study investigates the (negative) impact of five different mouthwashes on the morphology and DNA of human cheek cells, in vitro; and estimates the protection efficiency of essential oils of spice plants against the mouthwashes.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion