Comparative Study on the Efficacy of Commercially Available Chemical and Herbal Mouthwash against Oral Microorganisms

Aim: The present study was done to determine the activity of Naturally prepared licorice mouthwash in comparison to chlorhexidine mouthwash.

Introduction: Maintenance of oral hygiene is very important in preventing the growth of a sticky film of bacteria and food particles that accumulates on teeth and hence Mouthwashes are prescribed in dentistry for treatment of several oral conditions and for prevention against various microorganisms. Licorice is derived from "liquiritiae” which is shrub or herb and the yellow colour of it is due to the flavonoids content of the plant, which includes liquiritin, isoliquiritin and other compounds. Herbal Mouthwashes (mouth rinses) are solutions or liquids intended to reduce the microbial load in the oral cavity.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in Saveetha Dental Hospital, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. The liquorice was extracted and formulated as mouth wash. Fig. 1 denotes the salivary samples were obtained from 20 volunteers (10 test group, 10 control group) and then, the participants were asked to rinse their mouth with freshly prepared licorice mouthwash(test group), chlorhexidine mouthwash (control group) and then paired saliva samples were obtained immediately after and before the mouthwash and finally the Colony forming units were recorded for pre and post usage of both the herbal and commercially available mouthwash.

Results: Study showed that there was a mean reduction in the colony-forming units with herbal mouthwash and Chlorhexidine mouth washes. Herbal mouthwash showed reduction in colony forming growth after usage of herbal mouthwash.