Abstract

Sushma Srinivasa*, Bhojraj Nandlal and Srilatha K. T.

Gingivitis is common in all age groups and is thought to be a non-specific inflammatory reaction to a complex indigenous microbiota. Studies indicate that the prevalence of gingivitis increases during early teenage years. Supragingival plaque control is an effective method of controlling gingivitis. Undoubtedly, the most widely practiced form of oral hygiene is tooth brushing with a dentifrice. Recently, interest in natural-based products has increased. Most of the herbal products are known to have a variety of medicinal properties. A study was conducted to evaluate plaque and gingival status in children by daily supervised tooth-brushing for a period of 21 days with commercially available herbal dentifrice in comparison with non-herbal dentifrice. 30 children between ages 8 to 10 years with full complement of dentition were subjected to the study after scaling. Plaque and gingival scores were recorded throughout the course of the study at 0, 7 and 21 days .The mean scores were subjected to statistical analyses. There was significant reduction in plaque and gingival score from day 0 to the end of the study in both groups. Though herbal dentifrice showed more effectiveness than the non-herbal dentifrice on the reduction of gingival scores, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups.