The Efficacy of Populus euphratica and Myrtus communis Herbal Mouthwash on Gingivitis in Pediatric Patients Diagnosed Clinically and with Photometric CIELab Analysis: An In Vivo Randomized Double-blind Clinical Study.

Abstract

Background: Children are more prone to develop gingivitis as a result of deficient oral hygiene, morphological variance, and a diet that encourages the growth of pathogenic oral bacteria.

Aim: The purpose of this randomized, double-blind clinical study is to compare the therapeutic effect of an herbal mouthwash made of decoction and ethanolic extract of Populus euphratica and Myrtus communis to that of chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthrinse.

Materials and methods: In this study, 60 patients aged between 8 and 10 years were divided into four groups, each with 15 patients. The first group was treated with a mouthwash made of ethanolic herbal extract, the second group was treated with a mouthwash made of herbal decoction, the third group was treated with CHX mouthwash (0.12%) (positive control), and the fourth group was treated with a placebo made with colored distilled water (negative control). Clinical parameters gingival index (GI) and plaque index (PI) were evaluated at the start, 1, and 2 weeks from ensuing the treatment. Preoperative and postoperative photographs of the maxillary anterior sextant were recorded to evaluate CIELab coordinates to monitor color changes.

Statistical analysis: One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey's honest significant difference (HSD) post hoc tests were used for data assessment.

Results: Significant reductions in GI and PI were found among the tested groups (p < 0.05). A significant reduction in a* value was observed, while L* value showed a significant increase between baseline and posttreatment (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Herbal-based mouthwash of Populus euphratica and Myrtus communis, whether prepared by boiling or ethanolic extraction, reduced gingival inflammation significantly and has a lot of potential for treating and preventing periodontal disease in young children. Digital photography is a reliable supplementary approach for diagnosing and monitoring gingival inflammation in pediatric patients.

How to cite this article: Mohamed-Ali SF, Jasim AA, Mahmood MAK, et al. The Efficacy of Populus euphratica and Myrtus communis Herbal Mouthwash on Gingivitis in Pediatric Patients Diagnosed Clinically and with Photometric CIELab Analysis: An In Vivo Randomized Double-blind Clinical Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(8):918-924.