Evaluation Of Antiplaque Efficacy Of Licorice Extract Mouthrinse & Hypertonic Salt Solution And Their Comparison With Essential Oil & Chlorhexidine Mouthrinses-An Invitro & Invivo Study"

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory process accompanied by destruction of attachment apparatus of tooth and may lead to loss of teeth. It is a multifactorial disease, dental plaque being considered as primary etiologic factor in initiation and progression of disease. Control of periodontal disease by eliminating all pathogenic organisms of the microflora is, as yet, impossible but, it is theoretically an attractive aspect. Based on epidemiological studies there is a very strong correlation between the localization of dentogingival plaque and periodontal disease. Studies have clearly demonstrated that the ability to control the onset or progression of periodontal diseases is improved by regular plaque control practices. Although data shows that oral health can be improved through effective plaque control by mechanical means of cleaning but it fails to deliver optimal levels of oral health because the techniques are not being practiced consistently or thoroughly by all the individuals.

Over the past decade, various antimicrobial compounds have been investigated for their effectiveness to control plaque, but, chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) is still being considered to be the most effective plaque inhibitor against which other antiplaque agents are measured. Chlorhexidine mouthwash is regarded as Gold standard mouthwash but has many local side effects: extrinsic brown staining of teeth and tongue, taste disturbance, enhanced supragingival calculus formation, desquamation of oral mucosa, and even liver damage in rats.

Cost effectiveness of chlorhexidine also matters especially in underdeveloped and developing countries where prevalence ratio of periodontal diseases are very high. The prevalence of gingivitis and periodontitis, along with their severity and rate of progression is found to vary worldwide; high in developing countries with approximately 80% prevalence in India.

Plant essential oils (EO) have the potential to be used as therapeutic agents for chronic gingivitis and periodontitis conditions that have both bacterial and inflammatory components. These are useful as their long term daily use has no adverse effects on the health of an individual. Also, these are more cost-effective and easily available as over-the-counter products.

It is need of the hour / high time to conduct the research work on various traditional oral hygiene practices / medicines to see their efficacy in the field of periodontics, as various uses of traditional medicine are still untouched & unexplored and few/no any such scientific documents are available, worldwide. And thus, attempts should be made to search for an alternative; Antiplaque, Plaque inhibitory, Anti gingivitis, Host modulating agent, and any other way acting on various levels of prevention of Gingival / Periodontal diseases by using traditional oral hygiene practices/ indigenous products/ homemade remedies/ medicines for maintenance of oral hygiene. Such research work may not only give an alternate antiplaque / plaque inhibitory, and anti-gingivitis agents but, at the same time may give different avenues in imparting treatment modalities on various levels of prevention of Gingival and Periodontal diseases. They may be more effective, more practical, less time consuming, and within the reach of each & every individual of the world in comparison to gold standard 'Chlorhexidine Gluconate Mouthrinse' and various other expensive therapeutic procedures.