Effect of green tea, ginger plus green tea, and chlorhexidine mouthwash on plaque-induced gingivitis: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Background: Dental plaque, a microbial biofilm, is the primary etiological factor leading to the initiation of gingivitis and dental caries. It is therefore important to prevent it by taking effective plaque control measures. This research aimed at comparing the anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis effects of green tea (GT), GT plus ginger (GT + G), and chlorhexidine mouthwash (CHX) in children. Materials and Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial, with a sample size of 60 children between the age group of 10-14 years with plaque and gingivitis. They were randomly allocated in three different groups, depending upon the mouthwash used: Group A (GT mouthwash), Group B (GT plus ginger mouthwash), and Group C (CHX mouthwash). Plaque index and gingival index were recorded at baseline, then at interval of 15 days and 30 days after using mouthwash. Results: The mean gingival score and plaque showed a significant reduction from the baseline among all the three groups when compared with subsequent recall visits (15 days after using mouth-rinse and 30 days after using mouthwash) with P < 0.05. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the results of all three groups are comparable and hence herbal mouthwash can be used effectively as an alternative to CHX and as an adjunct to mechanical plaque control.