EVALUATION OF EFFICACY OF CHLORHEXIDINE AND A HERBAL MOUTHWASH ON DENTAL PLAQUE: AN INVITRO COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

An invitro study to compare the efficacy, safety and antimicrobial properties of a herbal mouthwash with chlorhexidine mouthwash invitro in patients with established plaque was conducted. A total of 20 plaque samples were collected from periodontitis patients and healthy patients and were streaked on blood agar plate. Well Diffusion method was used to compare chlorhexidine gluconate, herbal mouthwash and normal saline. The streaked blood agar plate was incubated at 37° for 24 h and examined for the zones of inhibition. There was no statistically significant difference P=0.062(P>0.05) in the antimicrobial property between the two mouthwashes (Chlorhexidine and Herbal). It was concluded that the herbal and chlorhexidine mouthwash were equally effective invitro suggesting that the herbal mouthwash may be used therapeutically in the future to inhibit oral microbial growth.