Effects of Natural Propolis Extract-Containing Chewing Gum on Dental Plaque Accumulation and Gingivitis

Plaque is the primary etiological factor of periodontal diseases and as a result, inflammation of the gingiva can clinically lead to irreversible consequences such as bone and attachment loss and even tooth loss. Removing the plaque is the most important criterion in preventing inflammation. Plaque should be removed by brushing and the use of interface cleansing agents such as dental floss. However, it has been reported in studies that manually brushing teeth reduces plaque by 70%.

Propolis, which has anti-inflammatory effects, has been used for years in the treatment of infections and wound healing. Propolis has been used and studied in dental applications such as reduction of dentin sensitivity, prevention of dental caries, treatment of oral mucositis caused by chemotherapy, treatment of gingival diseases and replantation of avulsed teeth. Therefore, we hypothesized that daily pure propolis containing chewing gum can improve periodontal results in gingivitis patients by reducing plaque accumulation. The purpose of this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of chewing gum containing pure propolis in addition to mechanical treatment.

This study was planned as a double-blind, parallel design, randomized-placebo-controlled study. The sample size was calculated minimum 24 with 80% power. Considering the possible drop-outs, our study will consist of two groups (test and placebo), each of which includes 30 participants. The test group will chew the gum containing propolis 5 times a day for 10 minutes. Participants in the placebo group will chew the placebo gum, prepared with the same color, appearance and consistency, 5 times a day for 10 minutes. Both groups will be asked to chew the gums for 3 weeks after meals (3 main meals - 2 snacks)

Baseline periodontal records including plaque index and gingival index of all participants will be taken and scaling and root planing will be performed. All periodontal treatments and measurements will be made by a single periodontologist. Periodontal measurements will be performed on 4 surfaces of all teeth (mesio-buccal, mid-buccal, disto-buccal, mid-lingual) using a Williams periodontal probe. Patients who are eligible to participate in the study will be assigned to the placebo or test group by the closed envelope method.

Plaque index, gingival index, temporomandibular joint pain, sensation change, taste change will be evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). All parameters will be evaluated 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks after the procedure. The data recorded in the form will be analyzed.