- 1Department of Periodontics, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
- 2Department of Periodontology and Oral Implantology, Dr. D.Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Pimpri, Pune, Mahrashtra, India.
- 3Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Government Dental College and Research Institute.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
An
antiplaque agent with minimal side effects that can be used as an
effective adjunct to mechanical plaque control is needed. The current
study is designed to evaluate efficacy of triphala (TRP) mouthwash in
reduction of plaque and gingivitis.
METHODS:
Ninety
individuals with chronic generalized gingivitis were randomly assigned
to three groups: 1) group I, placebo mouthwash; 2) group II, TRP
mouthwash; and 3) group III, chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash. All
individuals were instructed to rinse with their respective mouthwash
twice daily. 1) Plaque index (PI); 2) gingival index (GI); 3) oral
hygiene index-simplified (OHI-S); and 4) microbiologic colony counts
were recorded at baseline and at 7, 30, and 60 days.
RESULTS:
All
three groups showed gradual reduction in PI, GI, and OHI-S levels from
baseline to 7, 30, and 60 days. There was also significant reduction in
microbial counts in all groups at all time intervals except in group I. A
significant difference was noticed with respect to reduction in PI, GI,
OHI-S, and microbiologic counts in group I compared with groups II and
III. However, no significant differences were found between groups II
and III for any parameters at any time intervals.
CONCLUSIONS:
TRP
mouthwash was found to decrease inflammatory parameters from baseline
to follow-up intervals. Because improvement in gingivitis was comparable
with that of CHX mouthwash, TRP mouthwash can be considered a potential
therapeutic agent in the treatment of gingivitis.
KEYWORDS:
Chlorhexidine; dental plaque; gingivitis; herbal medicine; mouthwash
