RESUMEN
Background: Green tea (Camellia sinensis) mouth rinse is found effective in reducing periodontitis. However, studies evaluating the effectiveness of green tea extracts in reducing oral halitosis and tongue coating on Indian population were scanty. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of green tea-based mouth rinse in comparison with 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate mouth rinse in reducing dental plaque, tongue coating, and halitosis among human volunteers. Materials and Methods: This was a parallel-arm double-blind randomized controlled trial conducted in two residential hostels in Mysuru city over 21 days. 90 adult participants were recruited and randomized into three groups: Group A: mouth rinse containing saline, Group B: 5% C. sinensis mouth rinse, and Group C: 0.2% chlorhexidine diluted to with equal quantity of water. Preintervention prophylaxis was done; tongue coating and oral halitosis scores were recorded and compared between the groups at baseline and after 21 days. Results: The mean plaque buildup at postintervention was highest in Group 1 (2.45 ± 0.38) followed by Group 3 (1.18 ± 0.12) and Group 2 (1.08 ± 0.11) in the descending order. The mean oral halitosis score was highest in Group 1 (3.00 ± 0.79) followed by Group 3 (1.53 ± 0.50) and Group 2 (1.50 ± 0.50) in the descending order. The mean tongue coating score was highest in Group 1 (1.17 ± 0.47) followed by Group 2 (0.75 ± 0.36) and Group 3 (0.69 ± 0.34) in the descending order. Conclusion: Five percent C. sinensis mouth rinse is as effective as commercially available 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash in reducing plaque deposition, tongue coating, and oral halitosis.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Mouth rinses are solutions or liquids used to rinse the mouth to have a therapeutic effect by relieving infection or preventing dental caries due to their antimicrobial properties. Aims: This study was carried out to compare the effect of 0.12% chlorhexidine mouth rinse and 0.5% green tea extract mouth rinse on the colony-forming units (CFUs) of Streptococcus mutans in plaque in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample for the study consisted of fifty schoolchildren aged 8-12 years with four or more (decay component) of decayed, missing, and filled teeth index. Children were divided randomly into two groups and were asked to rinse with the prescribed mouth rinse twice daily for 2 weeks under supervision. The plaque samples were collected at baseline (prerinsing) and postrinsing and tested for the CFUs of S. mutans. RESULTS: The results of the study indicate that there was a statistically significant reduction (pre- and postrinsing) in S. mutans colony count in both the study groups. There was no statistically significant difference in the reduction of S. mutans colony count between 0.12% chlorhexidine mouth rinse group and 0.5% green tea mouth rinse group. CONCLUSION: Green tea mouth rinse is effective against S. mutans - one of the major dental plaque microorganisms.