Clinical effect of a mouth rinse containing Ocimum gratissimum on plaque and gingivitis control

The effect of Ocimum gratissimum (Og) on the reduction of dental plaque and gingivitis was evaluated in a randomized, parallel and double-blind clinical trial. Subjects were randomly allocated to the control group (n=10)-mouth rinse with no antiseptic agents; CLX group (n=10)-mouth rinse containing chlorhexidine digluconate or Og group (n=10)-mouth rinse containing Ocimum gratissimum. Plaque (PLI) and bleeding (BI) indexes were assessed at days 0 and after 3 months. Subjects were asked to brush their teeth with a fluoridated dentifrice, three times a day, during a 90-day period. After each brushing they rinsed with one of the three mouth rinses during 1 minute. There was a significant reduction on plaque and gingivitis in tests groups (p < 0.05), but no statistically significant difference was observed among them (p > 0.05). Mouth rinse containing Og was effective as antiplaque and antigingivitis agent, in a similar manner that chlorhexidine digluconate. Research in treatment of chronic oral diseases using natural agents must be encouraged to verify which would be a useful addition to the current range of chemotherapeutic treatment options.