Effect of Herbal Mouthwash on the Inhibition of Decayed Teeth and Gingivitis in Primary School Students

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the inhibitory activity of decayed teeth and gingivitis from different herbal mouthwashes in primary school students. Three herbal mouthwashes including Mangluck (Ocimum americana Linn), Takrai (Cymbopogon citratus (De ex Nees) Stapf), Saranair (Mentha cordifolia Opiz) were evaluated using drinking water as control. The subjects (students) were selected from 4 primary schools in Jungharn District, Roi Et province, Thailand. The subjects from each of the 4 schools were to gargle by a mouthwash after brushed the teeth at noon every day for 4 months. The data was collected by dental health record. The detection rate of decayed teeth and gingivitis were compared after the experiment in each group. The results showed that the rate of decayed teeth and gingivitis after gargled by mouthwashes in 4 groups were significantly different (p<0.05). The students who gargled with mangluck mouthwash showed the highest reduction rate of decayed teeth (21.20%), follow by those with takrai mouthwash (19.40%) and saranair mouthwash (10.00%); which was in contrast with students gargling by water mouthwash who showed increased rate of tooth decay (16.30%). In addition, students who gargled with saranair mouthwash showed the highest number of gingivitis level A (normal gingivitis) (82.50%) follow by takrai mouthwash (75.00%), mangluck mouthwash (72.73%) and drinking water (67.44 %), respectively. In conclusion, mangluck mouthwash is found to be the most effective for inhibition of tooth decay and saranair mouthwash is the most effective for inhibition of gingivitis. Promotion on the use of both products were recommended.