Comparative evaluation of the effect of 0.2% chlorhexidine, 2% lemongrass oil, and 2% tea tree oil mouth rinse on salivary pH: An in vivo study

Abstract

Background: Mouthwashes containing essential oils are used in the prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases. Lemongrass oil (LGO) belongs to a section of andropogen called cymbogam of the family germineae and from it, the LGO is extracted. Tea tree oil (TTO) is extracted from Melaleuca alternifolia leaves (Myrtaceae family). Aim and Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the pH of saliva before and after using LGO and TTO mouth rinse and to determine its relevance to the oral health status. Materials and Methods: A purposive sample of 90 participants aged between 26 and 38 years were included in the study. The PH before and after the use of the chlorhexidine, LGO, and TTO mouthwashes are noted using the GC PH strips and a comparative study was made. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Comparative analysis was made with Wilcoxon signed-ranks test and found that the TTO gives a greater increase in salivary pH with a P = 0.001∗∗ (P < 0.05) which is found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: The study conducted shows beneficial effects of TTO and LGO mouth rinse. Further studies with larger samples may produce more reliable values.