Efficacy of a herbal mouthwash for management of periodontitis and radiation-induced mucositis - A consolidated report of two randomized controlled clinical trials.

Background: Oral diseases like periodontitis and mucositis often require home care using topical agents in the form of mouthwashes. Many herbal mouthwashes are found to be beneficial; however lack proper scientific evidence to support their use.

Objectives: Study 1 evaluated clinical efficacy of herbal mouthwash in the management of chronic periodontitis in comparison with chlorhexidine mouthwash. Study 2 aimed at assessment of herbal mouthwash in patients of radiation-induced mucosititis.

Methods: The novel herbal mouthwash used in the present study wa prepared from extracts of five plants namely Emblica Officinalis, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellerica, Glycyrrhiza glabra, and Azadirachta indica. 50 periodontitis patients were randomly allocated to two groups. As per allocation, they were instructed to use either herbal mouthwash or chlorhexidine mouthwash twice daily for two weeks after nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Similarly, patients with radiation-induced mucositis were randomly given herbal mouthwash and soda saline mouthwash. Intergroup and intragroup comparisons of continuous variables were conducted using paired and unpaired t-tests. Categorical variables were compared using the chi-square test.

Results: Significant reductions in gingival bleeding, plaque accumulation, and pocket depth were noticed in periodontitis patients in both groups. Patients reported acceptable taste, freshness, and satisfaction after the use of herbal mouthwash. The herbal mouthwash group noticed a significant reduction in the severity of radiation-induced mucositis and analgesic requirements. The intensity of pain, dryness of mouth, oral hygiene, and need for the use of antibiotic and antifungal during radiotherapy was not significant among the groups.

Conclusion: The results of this preliminary clinical trial support the use of the tested herbal formulation mouthwash as an adjunct in the treatment of periodontitis as well as radiation-induced mucositis.

Clinical Trial Registration Number: For Study 1: CTRI/2019/10/021574, Study 2: CTRI/2020/04/024851.