Antimicrobial Efficacy of Herbal Mouthwash Formulations Versus Chlorhexidine: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Studies comparing the antibacterial efficacy of herbal mouthwashes with that of traditional chemical formulations have been stimulated by the increasing interest in natural alternatives to conventional oral hygiene products. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to compare two herbal mouthwash formulations with 0.12% chlorhexidine in terms of their antibacterial efficacy. The participants in the trial were 60 healthy individuals. Plaque samples were tested for microbial colony-forming units (CFUs) before and after the intervention. The findings indicated a notable decrease in microbes in all groups (p < 0.001), with chlorhexidine showing the highest effectiveness, followed by Herbal Mouthwash A and Herbal Mouthwash B. Tukey HSD, analysis of variance, and paired t-tests all showed statistically significant differences between the formulations. Herbal mouthwashes do have antibacterial activity, but chlorhexidine is still better, according to the results. However, some herbal mixtures could be good alternatives.