# Assessing anti-plaque efficiency of a herbal dentifrice

## TL;DR

A herbal toothpaste made with neem, clove, and tea tree oil was more effective at reducing plaque and gum inflammation than a fluoride toothpaste and a placebo.

## Contribution

Demonstrated the superior anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis efficacy of a specific herbal dentifrice in a clinical trial.

## Key findings

- Herbal dentifrice reduced plaque by 60.7% and gingivitis by 55.7% after 4 weeks.
- Fluoride dentifrice showed 48.6% plaque reduction and 41.8% gingivitis reduction.
- Placebo had minimal effect with 21.4% plaque and 13.2% gingivitis reduction.

## Abstract

Dental plaque is a key factor in gingivitis and periodontitis, requiring effective control measures. This randomized, double-blind
clinical trial compared an herbal dentifrice (neem, clove and tea tree oil), a conventional fluoride dentifrice and a placebo in 90
participants with mild gingivitis. Plaque Index (PI) and Gingival Index (GI) were recorded at baseline, 2 weeks and 4 weeks. At 4 weeks,
the herbal dentifrice showed the greatest reductions in PI (60.7%) and GI (55.7%) compared to fluoride (48.6%, 41.8%) and placebo
(21.4%, 13.2%), with significant intergroup differences (p < 0.001). The herbal dentifrice demonstrated superior anti-plaque and
anti-gingivitis efficacy, supporting its role as a natural oral hygiene alternative.