The influence of herbal ingredients on the plaque index and bleeding tendency of the gingiva.

The effectiveness of medicinal herbs in both a toothpaste and oral rinse on dental plaque, sulcus bleeding, and the pH of total saliva was investigated in a single-blind study on 50 dentistry students between the ages of 23 and 28 years. Over a period of 4 weeks, 25 students used either placebo or preparations containing medicinal herbs. Parameters measured were the approximal plaque index (API) and sulcus bleeding index (SBI). These were determined at the same time of day (12:00 P.M.), the last food intake having occurred at least 1 hour previously. Compared with the placebo preparations, the herbal ingredients significantly reduced both the API (initial value: 40.8%, final value: 23.9%) and the SBI (initial value: 33.4%, final value: 18.6%). The pH of the total saliva was significantly displaced into the alkaline range by the application of the herbal products, whereas the placebo products had a contrary effect. The results of this study suggest that herbal ingredients can be employed supportively in the therapy of periodontal diseases and for routine prophylaxis.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes