Evaluation of Antiplaque Efficacy of Licorice Extract Mouthrinse & HSS and Their Comparison With EO & CHX Mouthrinse

Licorice, since years is known for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antiprotozoal, antioxidative, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, immunomodulatory and antitumour activity. Licorice can be beneficial for oral health. Glycyrrhizin, the sweet component of licorice root has antiplaque property. Pterocarpenes isolated from G. uralensis root extract exerts an antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans.

The antiseptic and bactericidal qualities of salt help in removing plaque which is a cause of gingivitis and caries. Warming water with a pinch of table salt can reduce or even be an alternative to anti-inflammatory drugs intra-orally. Its high osmolality reduces inflammation and can be microbicidal. Moreover, efficacy of luke warm hypertonic salt solution has shown antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties.

Essential oils have a wide application in folk medicine, food flavoring and preservation as well as in fragrance industries. The antimicrobial properties of essential oils have been known for many centuries. In recent years, a large number of essential oils and their constituents have been investigated for their antimicrobial properties against some bacteria and fungi. Essential oils have the potential to be used as therapeutic agents for chronic gingivitis and periodontitis conditions that have both bacterial and inflammatory components.

Chlorhexidine is a symmetrical bisbiguanide synthetic antiseptic. It is available in three forms, digluconate, acetate and hydrochloride salts. Which have broad spectrum antimicrobial activity; it is effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including aerobes and anaerobes, yeasts, fungi and lipid enveloped viruses. Chlorhexidine is considered to be the most effective plaque inhibitor against which other antiplaque agents are measured.

Distilled water is commonly placebo in various research projects and it is also useful in as placebo treatment.