Effect of Herbal and Fluoride Mouth Rinses on Streptococcus mutans and Dental Caries among 12–15-Year-Old School Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract EN

To assess and compare the effect of herbal and fluoride mouth rinses on Streptococcus mutans count and glucan synthesis by Streptococcus mutans and dental caries, a parallel group placebo controlled randomized trial was conducted among 240 schoolchildren (12–15 years old).

Participants were randomly divided and allocated into Group I (0.2% fluoride group), Group II (herbal group), and Group III (placebo group).

All received 10 ml of respective mouth rinses every fortnight for a period of one year.

Intergroup and intragroup comparison were done for Streptococcus mutans count and glucan synthesis by Streptococcus mutans and dental caries.

Streptococcus mutans count showed a statistically significant difference between Group I and Group III (p=0.035) and also between Group II and Group III (p=0.039).

Glucan concentration levels showed a statistically significant difference (p=0.024) between Group II and Group III at 12th month.

Mean DMF scores showed no statistical difference between the three groups (p=0.139).

No difference in the level of significance was seen in the intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis.

The present study showed that both herbal and fluoride mouth rinses, when used fortnightly, were equally effective and could be recommended for use in school-based health education program to control dental caries.

Trial registration number is CTRI/2015/08/006070.