PRELIMINARY ANTIPLAQUE EFFICACY OF ALOE VERA MOUTHWASH ON 4 DAY PLAQUE RE-GROWTH MODEL RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Due to increasing resistance to antibiotics and rising incidence of oral diseases, thereis a need for alternative treatment modalities to combat oral diseases. The aim of the present study was toaccess the effect of Aloe vera mouthwash on the dental plaque in the experimental period of 4 days andto compare it with the bench mark control chlorhexidine and placebo (saline water).MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 300 systemically healthy subjects were randomly allocated into3 groups: Aloe vera mouthwash group (n=100), control group (=100)–chlorhexidene group and salinewater-Placebo (n=100). To begin with, Gingival index (GI) and plaque index (PI) were recorded. Then,baseline plaque scores were brought to zero by professionally cleaning the teeth with scaling andpolishing. After randomization of the participants into three groups they were refrained from regularmechanical oral hygiene measures. Subjects were asked to swish with respective mouthwash (Aloe veramouthwash, 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash, or normal saline) as per therapeutic dose for 4days.RESULTS: The results showed that Aloe vera mouthrinse is equally effective in reducing plaque asChlorhexidine compared to placebo over a period of 4 days. There was a significant reduction on plaquein Aloe vera and chlorhexidine groups and no statistically significant difference was observed amongthem (p>0.05). Aloe vera mouthwash showed no side effects.CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicated that Aloe vera may prove an effectivemouthwash due to its ability in reducing dental plaque.