Comparitive Effects of SILCA Herbal and Chlorhexidine Mouthwashes on Reduction of Bacterial Plaque, Gingival Inflammation, and Dental Stains in Gingivitis

Due to limitations in mechanical plaque control methods, using chemical methods, such as mouthwashes, are used more increasingly and side effects of chemical mouthwashes have resulted in more use of herbal maouthwashes. Considering introduction of silica herbal mouthwash to the market and the manufacturer’s claim that it is be successful in removing more plaque, we decided to compare the effects of chlorhexidine mouthwashes and silica herbal mouthwash in patients with gentivitis.

A single blind, randomized, clinical trial and cross over was conducted on 60 participants with gingivitis (mean age: 27/42 ± 1/93). First, scaling and prophylaxis were done for all the people. Four weeks after scaling, plaque index, gingival inflammation, and dental stain were recorded and then the patients randomly were given chlorhexidine and silica and they were asked to use the mouthwashes for two weeks. Then, all patients were examined and clinical parameters were recorded. Once again, scaling and prophylaxis were conducted in all patients and they were asked to use their regular methods for oral hygiene for four weeks (wash out). After this period, the second mouthwash was administered for two weeks and the same parameters were recorded. Changes in three indexes were examined using Mann-U-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests.

Changes of gingival inflammation in people who used chlorhexidine mouthwash was 0/41 and 0/38 in those who used silica. The results of Mann-U-Whitney test showed that this difference was statistically significant (p <0/02). Also, the amount of dental plaque in people who used chlorhexidine mouthwash was 0/61 and 0/41 in silica group and the difference was found to be statistically significant (p <0/01). Moreover, the changes of pigment’s severity and extent in chlorhexidine group were 1/49 and 39.1, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p <0/001).

It seems that Chlorhexidine staining extent was more than that of silica, but its effect on plaque control and gingivitis index was higher than that for silica; however, patients were more satisfied with silica copared with Chlorhexidine.