Herbal Mouthwash Post-Implant Surgery: A Natural Shield against Plaque and Gingivitis

Abstract

Background The key aspect of preventing gingivitis and associated problems is effective plaque reduction. There are several chemical agents on the market that prevent plaque formation. Herbal remedies have been utilized in dentistry recently to counteract the adverse effects associated with chemical agents. This study compares the antiplaque and antigingivitis properties of herbal and chemical mouthwash following implant surgery. Materials and Methods A prospective clinical study was conducted among 50 patients who had undergone dental implant surgery. 50 individuals, among 20 to 50 years of age, were divided into two groups: Group A (Herbal mouthwash) and Group B (Chemical mouthwash). Silness and Loe Plaque Index (PI) and Loe and Silness Gingival Index (GI) were evaluated at baseline and after 1 month. Paired and independent t-tests were used for statistical analysis. Results A statistically significant improvement in PI and GI was observed in both the groups on intragroup comparison (p<0.05). Nevertheless, the results of the intergroup comparison showed that there was no statistically significant difference in PI and GI scores (p>0.05). Conclusion Following implant surgery, herbal mouthwash was equally effective to chemical mouthwash in preventing plaque formation and gingivitis.

Keywords: Bacterial plaque; Chemical plaque control; Gingivitis; Mouthwash; Phytotherapy