Effect of Propolis Mouthwash on the Treatment of Denture Stomatitis: A Clinical Trial Study

Denture stomatitis is a chronic infectious lesion caused by Candida albicans along with other oral microflora in patients wearing dentures. A substance with fewer side effects should be established for the treatment of this lesion since it may lead to secondary complications for the patient. The present study was conducted by selecting and dividing 31 patients with denture stomatitis into case and control groups. Propolis mouthwash and Placebo were prescribed in the case and control groups, respectively. The participants were evaluated according to the severity of the lesions based on the clinical examination which was recorded in the datasheet by the examiner on the first, fifth, and tenth days after the start of the study. The results were statistically analyzed by SPSS software (version 24.0) using Shapiro-Wilk, Fisher’s Exact, One-Way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, Friedman, and Bonferroni tests. A P-value less than 0.05 is statistically significant. The two groups were homogeneous in terms of age (P=0.282), gender (P=0.890), and denture stomatitis severity (P=0.203) at the beginning of the study. However, the improvement of denture stomatitis in the case group was significant compared to that of the control group after 5 days (P=0.014) and 10 days (P<0.001). The results displayed that the severity of the lesions significantly reduced in patients who received Propolis mouthwash. Consequently, Propolis simultaneously offers antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties, and it relieves denture stomatitis without any side effects. Therefore, it can be recommended to physicians as a routine medication.