EFFECTIVENESS OF HERBAL AND 0.12% CHLORHEXIDINE MOUTHWASH ON GINGIVITIS AND SALIVARY NEUTROPHIL COUNTS

Sharda S.*, Prasad K. V. V. and Shetty P. J.

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Use of mouthwashes as an adjunct in the daily oral hygiene regimen has been strongly recommended by the dentists worldwide. Chlorhexidine has in fact been proven to be a gold standard in mouthwashes and is known to significantly reduce/prevent gingivitis. But owing to its side-effects of tooth discoloration and transient taste alteration on its long term use, there has been a constant effort to discover an equally efficient mouthwash with minimal or no side-effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a commercially available herbal mouthwash (Himalaya HiOra Regular) in comparison to 0.12% Chlorhexidine mouthwash in reducing gingivitis and salivary neutrophil count. Methods and Materials: This study was a double blinded, randomized design. The herbal mouthwash (Himalaya HiOra Regular) was compared to 0.12% Chlorhexidine mouthwash (positive control).The patients gingival health status was evaluated using Gingival Index and Salivary Neutrophil Count (using Fluorescent Microscope) at baseline visit, 15th day and 30th day of intervention. Results: Out of the 36 subjects randomized, none were lost to follow up and a total of 18 were analysed in Group A(0.12% Chlorhexidine) and 18 in Group B(Himalaya HiOra Regular Mouthwash). Both the groups showed a significant reduction in Gingival Index Score ( Group A – 17.27% & Group B – 13.25% ) and in Salivary Neutrophil Counts (Group A – 35.38% & Group B – 32.12% ). There was no significant difference in between the two groups both in the Gingival Scores (p>0.05 ) and in the salivary neutrophil counts (p>0.05 ). Conclusions: This study has shown that herbal mouthwash is at par with the gold standard in reducing gingivitis in a 4 week period. Thus herbal mouthwash forms a promising adjunct to the daily oral hygiene regimen with no noted side effects reported.

Keywords: Herbal, HiOra, Chlorhexidine, Neutrophils, Fluorescent Microscope, Gingivitis.