Comparative evaluation of efficacy of 0.2% Chlorhexidine, Listerine and Tulsi
extract mouth rinses on salivary Streptococcus mutans count of high school
children--RCT.
Author(s): Agarwal P, Nagesh L.
Affiliation(s): Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, K.M.Shah Dental College and Hospital, Piparia, Vadodara,
India. agarwaldrpooja@yahoo.com
Publication date & source: 2011, Contemp Clin Trials. , 32(6):802-8
OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare the effect of 0.2% Chlorhexidine mouth rinse,
Listerine mouth rinse and 4% Tulsi extract mouth rinse on salivary Streptococcus
mutans level.
METHODS: The present study is an experimental study of cross over type, employing
Latin square design. 45 school children aged 14-15 years were divided into three
groups/blocks. The baseline unstimulated saliva samples were obtained from each
group and assessed for Streptococcus mutans counts. The study was divided in to
three phases, each phase lasted for 8 days separated by a washout period of 15
days in between them. Groups A, B and C were treated with 0.2% Chlorhexidine,
Listerine and 4% Tulsi extract mouth rinses respectively in the phase I. The
study subjects were instructed to use the assigned mouth rinse twice daily for 1
min for 7 days. On day 8th the subjects were instructed to use the mouth rinse
only once in the morning. The follow up unstimulated saliva samples were
collected 1h after the use of the assigned mouth rinse and assessed for salivary
Streptococcus mutans counts. After phase I, mouth rinses were crossed over as
dictated by the Latin square design in phase II and III.
RESULTS: All the three mouth rinses have individually shown a statistically
significant reduction in the salivary Streptococcus mutans counts. When the three
mouth rinses were compared the difference did not reach statistical significance.
CONCLUSION: Tulsi has stood the test and is as effective as Chlorhexidine and
Listerine in reducing the salivary S. mutans levels.
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