Dental plaque and gingivitis are common oral health problems among school children. Mechanical plaque control, such as tooth brushing, is essential but may be insufficient for maintaining optimal oral hygiene. Chlorhexidine mouthwash is considered the gold standard chemical plaque control agent; however, its long-term use is limited by side effects such as tooth staining and taste alteration. In recent years, herbal mouthwashes have gained attention as natural alternatives with fewer adverse effects. This randomized, single-blinded clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of two herbal mouthwashes - pomegranate peel extract and neem extract - compared with 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash on oral health among school children aged 8-12 years in Mansoura City, Egypt. A total of 156 participants were divided into three groups based on the type of mouthwash used. Plaque index, gingival index, and salivary Streptococcus mutans levels were assessed at baseline and after three weeks. The study aimed to determine whether herbal mouthwashes could provide comparable benefits to chlorhexidine in reducing plaque, gingivitis, and bacterial load, while offering better safety and compliance in children.
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Plaque Index (Silness & Löe)
Timeframe: baseline , 1 week , 2 weeks, 3 weeks
Gingival Index (Löe & Silness)
Timeframe: baseline , 1 week , 2 weeks, 3 weeks
Salivary Streptococcus mutans Level
Timeframe: Baseline and 3 weeks after start of intervention