Background: Plaque-associated oral disease affects a considerable portion of the population and is considered one of the major causes of tooth loss. The presence of plaque may be the reason for dental caries, gingivitis, periodontal problems, and halitosis. Many mechanical aids are used to control plaque, including toothbrushes, dental floss, mouth rinses, and dentifrices, and the most effective method of controlling gingivitis is supragingival plaque control.
Aim and objective: To evaluate and compare the anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis efficacy of commercially available herbal toothpaste (Meswak) and non-herbal toothpaste (Pepsodent).
Materials and method: 50 subjects aged between 10 and 15 years with a full complement of dentition were included in the study. The two toothpastes were provided to the subjects in plain white tubes by the investigator. Subjects were instructed to brush their teeth twice daily using the given toothpaste for 21 days. Plaque and gingival scores on days 0, 7, and 21 were recorded, and the data were subjected to statistical analysis.
Result: At the end of the 21-day study, there was a statistically significant difference between the groups for plaque and gingival scores.
Conclusion: The plaque and gingival scores were significantly reduced throughout the study in both groups. In comparison, the herbal dentifrices show more effectiveness in reducing plaque and gingival scores, but no statistically significant difference was seen between the two groups.
Keywords: dental plaque; dentifrice; gingivitis; herbal; non-herbal.
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